Lake Gogebic's quieter, northern half

Lake Gogebic is the largest inland lake in the Upper Peninsula, and though it lends its name to the county next door, its northern half actually reaches up into Ontonagon County’s Bergland Township. The little community of Bergland sits right at the top of the lake, a handy stop for gas, food, and lodging and a launching point for anglers after the lake’s famous walleye, jumbo perch, and pike.

Here’s the quirk that catches first-time visitors: Lake Gogebic is so big that it spans two counties and two time zones. The southern end, in Gogebic County, runs on Central time; up here at the northern end in Ontonagon County, you’re on Eastern time. Snowmobile straight across the frozen lake in winter and you’ll arrive an hour later than your watch expects — or an hour earlier, depending on which way you’re headed. Locals have made a small tradition of it on New Year’s, celebrating midnight twice.

The lake is ringed by the Ottawa National Forest and dotted with resorts that have welcomed anglers for well over a century. The Bergland side gives you the calmer, less-developed end of the lake, with a public boat launch and easy access to some of the best fishing in the western U.P. (For the lake’s big state park and the full story, see our note on Lake Gogebic over in Gogebic County.)