Outdoor Recreation

When you gaze up at the thousands of stars you can see on a clear night, you will think you are in the middle of nowhere. Nothing could be further from the truth!  There are too many activities to list ranging from walking distance to a car ride away.  Here are some of the favorites with our residents.

Pere Marquette River

Canoeing, kayaking, tubing, fishing - with so many options for things to do, you will understand why we dedicated an entire page to the Pere Marquette River.

Golf

Marquette Trails Golf and Country Club is located right across the street from The Oaks offering 18 holes of golf on a scenic, tree lined course.  During the week, you can walk up and get a tee time almost anytime, but especially on the weekends, you will want to call 231 898-2450 and make a reservation.

Lake County Trails

The trails winding through Lake County and the Manistee National Forest provide the perfect path for ATV's, hiking, cross country skiing, or just taking in nature at its best.  See our Lake County Trails page for more details.

2024 Lake County ORV Ordinance and Map
Lake County 2024 ORV Ordinance and Map -[...]
Adobe Acrobat document [614.5 KB]

Big Star Lake

Just around the corner from The Oaks you'll find Big Star Lake, a 912 acre all sport lake, the largest lake in Lake County.  Whether you are into fishing, jet skiing, water skiing, or just putzing around on a pontoon boat, Big Star is the perfect place for you.  Public access to the lake is provided at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) site on the western shore. Check out the Big Star Lake Webcam to see the current conditions.

 

Lake Michigan

A quick 45 minute drive west from The Oaks brings you to the town of Ludington located on the shores of Lake Michigan.  From there you can travel north to quaint lakeside towns like Manistee and Frankfort, or venture south and visit Silver Lake or Muskegon.  With miles of sugar sand beaches, fishing charters, lighthouses and specialty shops, you are sure to find whatever you are looking for along the shoreline.