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Rose Lake is located in Rose Lake Township in Osceola County. It is conveniently located an equal distance east from Leroy (exit #162 US 131) or Tustin (exit #168 US 131).  Rose Lake is a 370 acre all sports lake with reported depths of 30 feet.  

Fisherman will enjoy Black Crappie, Bluegill, Large Mouth Bass, Northern Pike, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, Walleye and Yellow Perch.

The Michigan DNR maintains a public access site,  with a hard surface boat launch, parking and restroom. The access site is located off 18 Mile Road, between 150^th and 140^th Ave.    Rose Lake Map   

Osceola County maintains a nice county park on the north side on Rose Lake:  Rose Lake Park , Here you will find 160 campsites.  Most of the campsites have water and electric, although some primitive sites are found here.  There is a picnic area with two lake view shelters, two large pavilions for groups and modern restrooms with showers.  The 1300 feet of sandy beach lakefront provides great swimming and the footpaths through the 48 acres of hard woods provide scenic hiking through the white birch, poplar, and pine trees.

New addition to the post, Thanks to a reader who pointed out two additional points of interest regarding Rose Lake. The lakefront owners have formed the Rose Lake Owners Association.     

The lake is also home to the Rose Lake Youth Camp, a former Girls Scout camp, now a summer camp for youth.   

Negaunee Lake is well located in  Evart Township in southern central Osceola County. Negaunee Lake is one of those little known, but very enjoyable, Michigan lakes. Although it is only 85 acres in size, this sandy bottom lake is home to a nice mix of year round and seasonal cottages.

Negaunee is a Native American term that means “pioneer”. Only six miles south of Evart Michigan, you are close enough for those summer or winter supplies. But, no matter what the season, when you are on the lake you will feel you are a long way from from the rat race.

Negaunee Lake is a private lake, with no known public access.

Indian lake is located in Cedar Township, in central Osceola County. This wonderful Michigan Lake has 85 acres of surface waters with reported depths of up to 50 feet.

Indian Lake is a private lake with no public access. The interesting thing about Indian Lake is that all the homes and cottages are on the east side of the lake while, the west side of the lake is natural with no development.

Indian Creek flows out of the lake and then into Todd Lake. From there, the waters flow into Lincoln Lake and then into Lincoln Creek, eventually into the Hershey River and then into the Muskegon River.

For some, one of the disadvantages of Indian Lake is that 10 Mile Road is a rather bumpy, rutted, gravel road.  For some people, though, that is part of the charm of living on the lake.  I keep hearing that Osceola County is going to pave that stretch of road, but I will believe it when I see it.

It’s Saturday.  It’s still summer. It is time to enjoy a Michigan lake.

Big Lake is located in Orient Township in Eastern Osceola County, just a few miles South of Evart Michigan. Big Lake has 218 acres of surface water with reported depths of up to 85 feet. 

Osceola County maintains a very nice county park on Big Lake. Crittenden Park has plenty of  lake frontage on 10 wooded  acres. Camping, picnic areas, shelter and a boat launch make this a very popular park.

Fishermen report finding Bluegill, Crappie and Largemouth Bass. 

The Michigan DNR maintains a public access site with a hard surface boat launch,parking and restrooms. Located off 50^th Avenue, just south of 4 Mile Road, this launch is right next to the County Park.   Big Lake Map 

The lakefront of Big Lake is lined with a nice mix of seasonal and year round homes. It is a sought after lake for year round enjoyment.

Recently I found myself passing through Reed City, Michigan. As I drove through the town, I was reminded of a previous visit to Reed City and a post I wrote about the new Reed City Depot, that was about to open.  I was curious to see if it was completed, so I decided to go check it out.

It has opened and it is impressive! This all new brick depot is located at the intersection of the Pere Marquette Trail and the White Pine Trails. These former rail lines have been turned into trails for walkers, runners and bicyclists.

This site offers plenty of paved parking and restrooms for those using the trails. The team that thought, planned and built the depot did a wonderful job. This will be a landmark for the Reed City community for years to come.

You will not even find a “Welcome to Dighton” sign on the edge of town. In fact, if you are not careful you may not even recognize it is a Michigan town. Much of the original town is long gone except for a store known as The Dighton Store.

You can find Dighton in Sherman Township in northern Osceola county on 130th Avenue, 1/2 mile south of 20 Mile Road.

What is so unique about Dighton? Dighton is considered to be the highest elevation in southern Michigan, which provides some beautiful, sweeping views of the surrounding area. This fall, be sure to check out the view on 20 Mile Road, just before it turns south. It will take your breath away!

Reed City Michigan is located at the crossroads of US10 and US131 (exit #153). Even before there was a US10 or a US131, Reed City was at the crossroads of the Pere Marquette and the Northern Michigan rail lines. The Pere Marquette ran from Ludington to Midland, while the Northern Michigan ran from Rockford to Caddillac. Today, Reed City is still at the crossroads with the intersection of two popular rails to trails; the White Pine Trail and the Pere Marquette Trail.

There is ample trailhead parking available adjacent to the soon to open new Reed City Depot. This is impressive building will house offices, as well as 24 hour restooms for the trails. Grand Opening July 12, 1-4 p.m.

Complementing the natural beauty of the area, the Hersey River runs thru Reed City and continues thru to Hersey Michigan where it flows into the Muskegon River.

Reed City serves as the county seat for Osceola county. County administration offices, the county courthouse as well as the county road commissions operation are located there. This often provides a source of ecomically stability for the area.

The Rev. George Beverly Shaw, who authored the popular hymn “The Old Rugged Cross” made Reed City his home. He is now remembered at the Reed City Museum.

Quality health care is available at Spectrum Health’s Reed City Hospital. A Yoplait Yougart (a division of General Mills) plant also is located in Reed City.

Reed City is far more than just another exit of US131!

Evart Michigan: A town large enough for a McDonalds and a traffic light, but small enough not to lose its small town character and freindliness.

Birthed in the 1870’s during the rise of Michigan’s lumber years, Deloros A. Blodgett used the Muskegon River to float harvested logs down state. Over the years other industry moved into Evart, including Dean Foods, Evart Glass, Ventra and many other business.

Today Evart is a thriving community of some 1700 people. Conveniently located in central Osceola County, it is thirteen miles east of Exit # 153 on US 131, six miles west of M66. Evart is surrounded by many recreational opportunities which include the Osceola County fairgrounds, the popular Spring Hill Camp, the Pere Marquette State forest, the Pere Marquette Trail system, the Muskegon River and more than twenty lakes within ten miles. It earns our “Waterland’s Naturally Cool Area” award.

A blend of year around residents, complemented by the seasonal migration of downstaters for the summer lakefront season, gives Evart the sense of Hometown USA. It is an unique blend of old and new. The frequent glimpses of the local Amish with their horse drawn buggies is a reminder of a life style past. On Evart’s main street, some still leave their keys in the ignition while they run in to pick up goods from their local merchants.

Evart hosts many outdoor summer events, including the Dulcimer Festival. Not quite sure about Dulcimers? Check out: Dulcimers 

When visiting Evart, check out the Riverside City Park. The park is right off Main Street where Twin Creek meanders into the Muskegon River. You can enjoy the frontage on the river, the canoe launch, have a cook out, of if you prefer visit the Mac Donalds on US 10. But, we recommend the “Cup of Joe”, located next to Masons Food store (across the street from Macs) for a little local flavor.

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