Many kayakers consider Ely and Little Tom Lakes too small to bother with. If you combine paddling both lakes in one trip, you will find it to be a relaxing way to spend an afternoon. I did just that in early May of 2021 and it made for a fun outing. I revisited the lakes in June of 2024, so some of the photos show summertime foliage.
The two lakes are less than four tenths of a mile apart, but they are not connected. Both lakes can be accessed from Ely Lake Park, part of the Allegan County park system. The entrance to the park is on the south side of 116th Avenue, between 48th Street and 51st Street. The park is shaped like a “U” around the east end of Ely Lake. Campgrounds are on both sides of the “U” and a swimming beach is on the bottom of the “U”.
ELY LAKE
The boat landing is in the campground on the south side of the “U”.
The campground can be busy and noisy during the summer months, especially on weekends. I recommend kayaking the lake in the spring or fall, or on a week day. I visited the lake on a Thursday in early May and I had the lake and the park pretty much to myself. I paddled the shoreline all the way around the lake and found it to be very scenic.
LITTLE TOM LAKE
Access to the lake is a unimproved trail that begins in the Ely Lake Park campground on the south side of the “U”. The trail meanders through the forest for about a half mile and dead ends at the lake.
Little Tom Lake is remote. Most of the shoreline is swampy and is backed by woods.
A large wetland on the southeast side of the lake extends all the way to Crooked Lake. The swamp is not navigable.
There is a small marshy area on the west side of the lake.
From the landing, I didn’t think Little Tom Lake looked very interesting. My opinion changed once I got in my kayak and paddled the shoreline around the lake. I found it to be picturesque and well worth the visit.
KAYAKING SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN 