While this map, courtesy of Mapquest, doesn't show it clearly, you can drive quite close to the lake along the west side on nice paved roads of US 31.

Map of Torch Lake

 

The Torch Lake Drive

Torch Lake MichiganMichigan is a destination for thousands of visitors interested in color tours and scenic drives.  The drive around Torch Lake in Antrim county Michigan is spectacular in every season of the year.  Torch Lake has been ranked by National Geographic as “the third most beautiful lake in the world.” At 18 miles long, it is Michigan’s longest lake, and is the state’s second largest lake, covering an area of 29 square miles. Torch Lake is located in northwestern Michigan’s lower peninsula in what is referred to as the area’s “chain of lakes” region. Many lakes and rivers run through the rolling hills from the town of Central Lake through Bellaire, Alden and Eastport.

One of the things that makes Torch Lake so beautiful is its’ unusual color – a mixture of pastel green, blue and turquoise. Some have called it a “Caribbean Blue.” The Torch Lake area provides beautiful winding roads that take you on a tour of the lake year round.  County road 593 hugs the eastern shore and opens onto several awesome vistas of this ever changing body of water.