Corey Lake, Michigan, USA

Corey Lake is a natural 630-acre lake in southwestern Michigan near the community of Three Rivers. Most of Corey Lake is located in St. Joseph County with a small portion located in Cass County. The lake is named after Joshua Corry, the first pioneer to settle along the shoreline, although it is unknown why the spelling of his name evolved into Corey. The woods around Corey Lake…
Keep scrolling to read more.

Welcome to the ultimate guide to Corey Lake! Article topics include:

Looking for Corey Lake cabins or other accommodations? Save time and use this interactive map to find, compare and book at the best rates. Or explore more of our favorite travel partners.

This post contains affiliate links. If you click and purchase, we may earn a small referral fee at no extra cost to you. Read our full disclosure.

Explore Area Hotels

Nearby offer more hotel accommodations:

  • Check TripAdvisor
  • Check Expedia
  • Check Hotels.com
  • Check Booking.com

    • All About Corey Lake, MI

    Lake Locations: USA - US Midwest Region - Michigan - Southwest Michigan -

    Corey Lake is a natural 630-acre lake in southwestern Michigan near the community of Three Rivers. Most of Corey Lake is located in St. Joseph County with a small portion located in Cass County. The lake is named after Joshua Corry, the first pioneer to settle along the shoreline, although it is unknown why the spelling of his name evolved into Corey. The woods around Corey Lake were the hunting grounds of the Sangamon Indians; Sangamon is the Indian word for “good hunting grounds.” From the air, the topography of Corey Lake looks like Mickey Mouse, with the northern and western bays resembling Mickey’s famous ears.

    Although Corey Lake is a natural lake in the St. Joseph River watershed, a water level control structure maintains the legal level of 874 feet above sea level, established under the Inland Lake Level Act of 1974. The single dammed inlet connects 122-acre Harwood Lake to the west with Corey Lake. The lake has two outlets on the south shore which flow into Kaiser Lake and Curtis Creek. The St. Joseph River watershed is comprised of rolling hills, farmland, forested areas, wetlands, and small urban communities. Residential development on Corey Lake is along the eastern, southern, and southwestern shores. Most of the north shore is undeveloped with a large wetland area and two YMCA camps, Camp Eberhart and Camp Wakeshema. Although Corey Lake has a maximum depth of 80 feet, about 45 percent of the lake area is 15 feet or less.

    Public access to Corey Lake is provided by a state-owned boat ramp with limited parking for about ten vehicles with trailers. A marina is located in the protected western bay near Harwood Lake. Fishing is a popular Corey Lake activity. The lake’s fish population was first surveyed in 1887, at which time cisco, yellow perch, bluegill, and largemouth bass were present. The last official record of cisco presence was in 1966. The State of Michigan stocked the lake with largemouth bass, bluegill, and yellow perch during the 1930’s and 40’s. Stocking of rainbow trout, begun in 1949, has been successful. Walleye stocking, begun in 1985, was discontinued in 1992 because of low returns. Surveys show that the fish population has changed very little over the past century, except with the addition of rainbow trout. Cold weather brings out the ice fishermen who report good catches of crappie. However, although the lake environment remains healthy with good water quality, anglers have reported overall low catch rates in recent years.

    Although modest in size, Corey Lake is big on water recreation such as canoeing, sailing, boating, water skiing, and wakeboarding. The Corey Lake Association sponsors several events during the summer, including an ice cream social, boat parade, and fireworks display. Three Rivers hosts triathlon and duathlon races on the third Saturday in August; the swim portion takes place in Corey Lake. The Three Rivers Water Festival takes place in June with a car show, carnival midway, ox roast, live bands, sidewalk sales, and a petting zoo. Take some time to tour the community of Three Rivers where many of the downtown buildings are on the National Historic Register.

    When temperatures begin to dip, the fall colors around Corey Lake turn vibrant. Local orchards sell delicious apples and other produce. And when temperatures fall below freezing, winter sports activity heats up. Downhill skiing and snowboarding are just minutes away in the community of Jones, Michigan. Cross-country skiing is popular in Meyer Broadway Park in Three Rivers. So bundle up and enjoy the picturesque winter wonderland.

    Things to Do at Corey Lake

    These are some activities in the Corey Lake, MI area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Boating
    • Sailing
    • Swimming
    • Canoeing
    • Water Skiing
    • Wakeboarding
    • Camping
    • Downhill Skiing
    • Snowboarding
    • Cross-Country Skiing
    • Hunting

    What Kind of Fish Are in Corey Lake?

    Corey Lake has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Bass
    • Black Bass
    • Bluegill
    • Cisco
    • Crappie
    • Largemouth Bass
    • Perch
    • Rainbow Trout
    • Sunfish
    • Trout
    • Walleye
    • Yellow Perch
    divider

    Find Places to Stay at Corey Lake

    If you’re considering a Corey Lake lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

    Note: These are affiliate links and we may earn a small commission if you click and make a purchase. Read our full disclosure policy here.

    More Sites to Book a Corey Lake Vacation

    Our interactive Corey Lake lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

    Check TripAdvisor
    Check Expedia
    Find a Campspot
    All Travel Resources

    Corey Lake Statistics & Helpful Links

    divider

    Lake Type: Natural Freshwater Lake, Dammed

    Water Level Control: State of Michigan, St. Joseph County

    Surface Area: 630 acres

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 874 feet

    Maximum Depth: 80 feet

    Water Residence Time: 4.4 years

    Drainage Area: 7 sq. miles

    Trophic State: Mesotrophic

    Corey Lake Map
    Local Weather Forecast

    More local lakes to explore in this area:

    LakeLubbers heart icon

    Cedar Lake MI

    LakeLubbers heart icon

    Coldwater Lake MI

    LakeLubbers heart icon

    Diamond Lake MI

    We strive to keep information on LakeLubbers as accurate as possible. If you’ve found something here that needs updating, please touch base by filling out our Content Correction form.

    Shop Corey Lake Gifts

    Custom Lake Tumblers

    Create Your Own Captain / First Mate Custom 20oz Tumbler

    ORDER HERE
    Custom Lake T Shirt

    Create Your Personalized My Boat My Rules Unisex T-Shirt

    ORDER HERE
    Custom Lake Coffee Mug - On Lake Time

    Create a Custom Coffee Mug – 11oz or 15oz

    ORDER HERE
    VIEW ALL CUSTOM LAKE PRODUCTS

    More Corey Lake news from LakeLubbers.com

    • Advertise your vacation rental property or local business: DETAILS HERE
    • The Corey Lake forum has been discontinued: HERE’S WHY
    • New Corey Lake photos coming soon!
    • You’re invited to join our lake-lovin’ community on Facebook and Instagram!
    • Share this Corey Lake article with your fellow LakeLubbers: