YANKEE SPRINGS
The directions to McDonald Lake are easier than they sound. A unmaintained county road heads south from M179, just east of the Norris Road intersection. There is a house with a white fence on the corner. At first glance, the road looks like the driveway to the house, but it is a public road. It’s more like a trail than a road.
When you come to the North Country Trail signage on the left, there will be a McDonald Lake signpost and a side trail on the right. The side trail will take you to a small parking area. Immediately past the parking area, the trail makes a hard left. Next, turn right on a unimproved trail that ends at the bottom of a hill, next to the lake.
I paddled McDonald Lake when I first began kayaking, many years ago. The boat landing featured a rickety-looking dock next to a small sliver of water that was more mud than water. It was difficult to get into or out of a kayak, using the dock. I encountered more difficulty paddling to and from shore.
Fast forward to May of 2026 and the dock has been removed. Launching and landing at the access looked to be more difficult than it was before. I knew that the lake bottom at the landing was deep mud. I imagined myself sinking up to my waist in the mud. It was not an appetizing thought.
Since I had already kayaked Otis Lake earlier in the day, I decided not to kayak McDonald Lake. The landing simply did not look good. Kayakers with agility, coordination, and strength would find the landing to be adequate. It’s just not for me. Why spoil a good memory. McDonald Lake is still a beautiful body of water to explore.
KAYAKING SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN 