Lake Gogebic sits in two time zones, central and eastern. Bergland, the town on its north shore, keeps Eastern time. Gogebic County, home to the state park on the western shore, is one of four Michigan counties on Central. Same water, two clocks.
The water is the bigger number. Lake Gogebic covers 13,380 acres, runs 14 miles long and up to 2.5 miles wide, and holds the title of largest natural inland lake of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. For all that surface, it stays shallow. The deepest point is 38 feet and the average is 17.5.
Fifteen Species, One Main Event
A 2005 Department of Natural Resources survey listed 15 fish species in the lake, by our own count, from black bullhead and burbot to cisco, rock bass and yellow perch. The DNR’s park page sells it on four: perch, walleye, smallmouth bass and northern pike. A DNR tagging program produced a 1994 estimate of 62,497 walleye, counted mainly among males on the east shore at spawning time.
Yellow perch are the main forage for those walleye, according to a DNR fisheries report. The state planted 1,000 pounds of shiners in 1988 to add to the menu, and riparian owners stocked 1.2 million fathead minnows in both 1995 and 1996. The walleye minimum size went to 15 inches in 1996, after a population model showed that limit produced the best fishery.
The Name, the Dam and the Fine Print
Gogebic County takes its name from the lake, which was originally rendered Agogebic. Sources agree the name is Ojibwe and differ on what it meant, and the county’s own reading is “body of water hanging on high.” Drop the qualifiers from the lake’s title and it breaks, because Michigan’s largest inland lake is Houghton Lake, in Roscommon County, at 20,044 acres.
The natural lake still has a hand on the tap. The Upper Peninsula Power Company regulates its level through the Bergland Dam, downstream on the West Branch of the Ontonagon River. Visitors have been arriving since 1884, when the Milwaukee, Lakeshore and Western Railroad built a hotel resort on the south end.
The Park on the West Shore
Lake Gogebic State Park covers 360 acres. Gogebic County bought the land in 1926 and gave it to the state, and the park opened in 1930. It has nearly a mile of beach, a buoyed swim area, a paved launch built for crafts of all sizes and a two-mile nature trail that loops back to the campgrounds. Two gravestones found in the park in 1962, engraved “1822 JOHN KEY” and “1824 WHITH,” are thought by researchers to belong to fur traders or others dealing with Native Americans.
Camping runs to 105 modern sites, 22 semi-modern sites and an ADA accessible tiny house that sleeps four. The DNR pitches the park as a home base for Bond Falls and Agate Falls to the east, the Presque Isle River to the northeast and the Porcupine Mountains to the north.
Go See It
Where: Lake Gogebic State Park, N9995 State Hwy M-64, Marenisco, MI 49947, on M-64 between M-28 and US-2.
Hours: Day use 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Only registered campers may be in the campgrounds after 10 p.m.
Cost: A Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry. In 2026 it is $15 for a Michigan vehicle at plate renewal, $12 a day or $42 a year for nonresidents.
Season: The modern campground is closed Oct. 13, 2026, through June 7, 2027, to remove about 800 trees infested by emerald ash borer.
Drive: About 2 hours 10 minutes and 126 miles from Marquette to the state park, per Google Maps (read Sept. 26, 2026).
Access: The paved launch handles crafts of all sizes, and the swim area on Lake Gogebic is buoyed.
Sources: Wikipedia’s articles on Lake Gogebic, Lake Gogebic State Park, Gogebic County, Bergland and Houghton Lake; the Michigan DNR’s Lake Gogebic State Park page, Recreation Passport page and state parks general rules FAQ; the DNR Fisheries Division technical report “Status of The Lake Gogebic Walleye Fishery, 1986 – 96” by Barry R. Miller; and John Pepin’s June 6, 2018 Mining Journal piece “At the U.P.’s largest inland lake.”
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Sources, credits, and reporting details
Sources & accountability
How this story was reported
Editorial methodAggregation
Last verifiedSep. 26, 2026
Corrections statusNo material correction note is recorded on this article.
AI assistanceResearched and drafted with AI tools. Reviewed and approved by editor Keegan O’Brien.
Verification note: Sources read and checked Sept. 26, 2026.
Primary sources
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Lake Gogebic — Wikipedia
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: Lake Gogebic sits in two time zones, central and eastern
"The lake is also in two time zones, central and eastern."
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Lake Gogebic State Park — Wikipedia
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: The state park is in Gogebic County
"Location: Upper Peninsula, Gogebic County, Michigan, United States"
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Lake Gogebic — Wikipedia
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: The state park is on the western shore
"Lake Gogebic State Park is located along its western shore."
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Lake Gogebic — Wikipedia
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: Lake Gogebic covers 13,380 acres
"Surface area: 13,380 acres (54 km²)"
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Lake Gogebic — Wikipedia
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: 14 miles long
"Max. length: 14 mi (23 km)"
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Lake Gogebic — Wikipedia
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: Up to 2.5 miles wide
"Max. width: 2.5 mi (4.0 km)"
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Lake Gogebic — Wikipedia
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: Largest natural inland lake of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (all three qualifiers)
"Lake Gogebic is the largest natural inland lake of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan."
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Lake Gogebic — Wikipedia
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: Deepest point 38 feet
"Max. depth: 38 ft (12 m)"
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Lake Gogebic — Wikipedia
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: Average depth 17.5 feet
"Average depth: 17.5 ft (5.3 m)"
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Lake Gogebic — Wikipedia
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
"In 2005 a state Department of Natural Resources survey found Black bullhead, Black crappie, Brown bullhead, Burbot, Cisco, Common shiner, Creek chub, Golden shiner, Northern pike, Pumpkinseed, Rock bass, Smallmouth bass, Walleye, White sucker, and Yellow perch in the lake."
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Lake Gogebic State Park — Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: DNR park page names perch, walleye, smallmouth bass and northern pike
"The angler will find excellent fishing for perch, walleye, smallmouth bass and northern pike."
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Status of The Lake Gogebic Walleye Fishery, 1986 – 96 (Technical Report 97-6) — Michigan DNR Fisheries Division (Barry R. Miller)
Published Jun. 1, 2001. Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: Tagging produced a 1994 estimate of 62,497 walleye, mainly males on the east shore at spawning
"In 1993, 1,025 walleye were tagged and a population estimate was made in 1994 based on tag returns. The estimate of 62,497 walleye was nearly identical to an estimate made in 1984. These estimates were mainly for males on the east shore of the lake during spawning"
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Status of The Lake Gogebic Walleye Fishery, 1986 – 96 (Technical Report 97-6) — Michigan DNR Fisheries Division (Barry R. Miller)
Published Jun. 1, 2001. Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: Yellow perch are the main forage for Lake Gogebic walleye
"Yellow perch Perca flavescens is the main forage for walleye in Lake Gogebic."
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Status of The Lake Gogebic Walleye Fishery, 1986 – 96 (Technical Report 97-6) — Michigan DNR Fisheries Division (Barry R. Miller)
Published Jun. 1, 2001. Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: 1,000 pounds of shiners planted in 1988
"One thousand pounds of shiners were introduced in 1988"
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Status of The Lake Gogebic Walleye Fishery, 1986 – 96 (Technical Report 97-6) — Michigan DNR Fisheries Division (Barry R. Miller)
Published Jun. 1, 2001. Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: Riparian owners stocked 1.2 million fathead minnows in both 1995 and 1996
"They stocked 1.2 million fathead minnow in both 1995 and 1996"
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Status of The Lake Gogebic Walleye Fishery, 1986 – 96 (Technical Report 97-6) — Michigan DNR Fisheries Division (Barry R. Miller)
Published Jun. 1, 2001. Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: Walleye minimum went to 15 inches in 1996 after a population model
"The 15-in size limit appeared to produce the best fishery, so the minimum size for walleye in Lake Gogebic was changed to 15 inches in 1996."
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Gogebic County, Michigan — Wikipedia
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: County named for the lake, originally rendered Agogebic; name is Ojibwe, meaning disputed
"The county's name derives from a lake of the same name, which was originally rendered Agogebic. Sources agree that the name is from Ojibwe, but differ on the original meaning."
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Gogebic County, Michigan — Wikipedia
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: County's own reading: 'body of water hanging on high'
"body of water hanging on high"
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Houghton Lake (Michigan) — Wikipedia
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: CORRECTION: Michigan's largest inland lake is Houghton Lake
"It is the largest inland lake in the state of Michigan"
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Houghton Lake (Michigan) — Wikipedia
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: Houghton Lake is 20,044 acres, in Roscommon County
"Surface area: 20,044 acres; Roscommon County, Michigan"
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Lake Gogebic — Wikipedia
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: Level regulated by UPPCO's Bergland Dam on the West Branch of the Ontonagon River
"Though the lake is a natural body of water, the level is regulated by the Upper Peninsula Power Company through its Bergland Dam located downstream on the West Branch of the Ontonagon River."
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At the U.P.'s largest inland lake — The Mining Journal (John Pepin)
Published Jun. 6, 2018. Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: 1884 railroad hotel resort on the south end
"since the Milwaukee, Lakeshore and Western Railroad came to the area and built a hotel resort on the south end in 1884"
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Lake Gogebic State Park — Wikipedia
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: Park covers 360 acres
"Area: 360 acres (150 ha)"
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Lake Gogebic State Park — Wikipedia
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: County bought land in 1926 and gave it to the state; opened 1930
"In 1926, Gogebic County purchased land on Lake Gogebic, which it gave to the State of Michigan. … in 1930 the park opened"
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Lake Gogebic State Park — Wikipedia
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: Nearly a mile of beach; 2-mile nature trail
"The park offers nearly a mile of beach front access, fishing, swimming, boat launch, camping, picnicking, and a 2-mile (3.2 km) nature trail through the Ottawa National Forest."
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Lake Gogebic State Park — Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: Buoyed swim area (body and Go See It Access line)
"A buoyed swim area is located on Lake Gogebic."
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Lake Gogebic State Park — Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: Paved launch for crafts of all sizes (body and Go See It Access line)
"This launch is paved and capable of handling crafts of all sizes."
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Lake Gogebic State Park — Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: Two-mile trail loops back to the campgrounds
"Two mile scenic nature trail that loops back to the campgrounds."
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Lake Gogebic State Park — Wikipedia
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: 1962 gravestones, 1822 JOHN KEY and 1824 WHITH, thought to be fur traders
"Two gravestones discovered in the park in 1962, engraved '1822 JOHN KEY' and '1824 WHITH', are thought by researchers to be those of fur traders or others dealing with Native Americans."
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Lake Gogebic State Park — Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: 105 modern sites
"Lake Gogebic Modern Campground … Number of sites: 105"
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Lake Gogebic State Park — Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: 22 semi-modern sites
"Lake Gogebic Semi-Modern Campground … Number of sites: 22"
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Lake Gogebic State Park — Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: ADA accessible tiny house that sleeps four
"an ADA accessible tiny house sleeps four"
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Lake Gogebic State Park — Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: Home base for Bond Falls, Agate Falls, Presque Isle River, Porcupine Mountains
"Lake Gogebic State Park is an ideal homebase while exploring the western Upper Peninsula, including Bond Falls and Agate Falls are to the east, Presque Isle River to the northeast and the Porcupine Mountains to the north."
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Lake Gogebic State Park — Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: Go See It / Where: N9995 State Hwy M-64, Marenisco, MI 49947
"N 9995 State Hwy M-64, Marenisco, Michigan, 49947-9722"
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State parks – general rules — Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: Go See It / Hours: day use 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; only registered campers after 10 p.m.
"State parks and recreation area day-use hours are open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily."
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Lake Gogebic State Park — Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: Go See It / Cost: Recreation Passport required for vehicle entry
"A Recreation Passport (park pass) is required for vehicle entry into all state park and forest campgrounds."
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Recreation Passport — Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
"Effective Jan. 1, 2026, the cost of the Recreation Passport increased by $1 … $15 … $12 … $42"
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Lake Gogebic State Park — Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
"Lake Gogebic's modern campground closed Oct.13, 2026 through June 7, 2027 to remove approximately 800 trees infested by emerald ash borer"
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Google Maps driving directions from Marquette — Google Maps
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Read live in Chrome Sep 26, 2026 (Saturday), fastest route shown.
Additional reporting
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Bergland, Michigan — Wikipedia
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: Bergland is on the north shore of Lake Gogebic
"It is situated on the north shore of Lake Gogebic, the largest natural inland lake on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan."
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Bergland, Michigan — Wikipedia
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: Bergland keeps Eastern time
"Time zone: UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))"
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Gogebic County, Michigan — Wikipedia
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: Gogebic County is one of four Michigan counties on Central time
"one of four Michigan counties within the Central Time Zone"
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Gogebic County, Michigan — Wikipedia
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: Evidence the title gets shortened (drops 'natural' and 'inland')
"Lake Gogebic– the largest lake in the Upper Peninsula."
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At the U.P.'s largest inland lake — The Mining Journal (John Pepin)
Published Jun. 6, 2018. Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: Go See It / Where: on M-64 between M-28 and US-2
"along M-64 between M-28 and U.S. 2 in Gogebic County"
Photo and media credits
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Lake Gogebic.JPG (featured, media 2838) — Wikimedia Commons / Skye Marthaler
Featured image record. Accessed Sep. 26, 2026. CC BY-SA 3.0.
Supports: Image credit and licence.
Commons API Sep 26: 3216×1812, CC BY-SA 3.0. Already in the media library.
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Boardwalk at Lake Gogebic State Park (29940616062) (media 2998) — Wikimedia Commons / Tony Webster
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026. CC BY-SA 2.0.
Supports: Image credit and licence.
Commons API Sep 26: 5760×3840, CC BY-SA 2.0.
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Lake Gogebic State Park – Autumn (53741508459) (media 1574) — Wikimedia Commons / Tony Webster
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026. CC BY 2.0.
Supports: Image credit and licence.
Commons API Sep 26: 3936×2952, CC BY 2.0. Media 1574 matches the aspect ratio exactly.
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