Wolf Lake is located in Muskegon County, western Michigan. The small community of Wolf Lake covers 3.8 square miles, 9 percent of which is made up of the water of Wolf Lake. The lake provides many recreational opportunities for visitors in summer and winter. Wolf Lake is about 125 miles from Chicago, Illinois and 93 miles from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The nearest Michigan city is Grand Rapids, 30 miles away.
According to the 2000 US census, Wolf Lake had a population of 4,455 with an average age of 34.2 years. The racial makeup of the community of Wolf Lake is 94.3 percent white, 1.0 percent African-American, 4.2 percent Hispanic, 1.2 percent Native American and 0.1 percent Asian. The average household is made up of 2.66 people, with 36.3 percent of families having children under the age of 18. A total of 79.4 percent of the population are high school graduates. According to the US Census Bureau, Wolf Lake community has a low population density of 1,306 people per square mile.
Wolf Lake provides lodging for visitors in motels, hotels, rental properties and campgrounds. RV and tent campgrounds are located alongside the lake and in the woods. Wolf Lake Resort Campground and RV Park is next to Wolf Lake and offers space for tents, trailers and electrical hook ups. The campground has showers, restrooms, fishing and boating facilities and a petting zoo with exotic animals and a playground for the kids.
Angling is a popular pastime at Wolf Lake. Fish species include northern pike, rock bass, yellow perch and brown bullhead. In season, anglers can fish for salmon and ice fishing is popular in the winter. Wolf Lake is home to the Michigan Fisheries Visitor Center, which explains the importance of fish hatcheries in keeping the lakes of Michigan stocked with fish. The center is equipped with interpretive displays and hands-on exhibits, a show pond and ecological information concerning the Great Lakes ecosystem.
Wolf Lake provides opportunities for visitors and residents to spend time on the water. In the summer, Wolf Lake buzzes with jet skis, water skis and speed boats as well as small craft, canoes and kayaks. Rowboats can be rented by the hour or day and the lake has a gravel launch site. The water is cool but the lake is suitable for swimming in the summer from beaches and boats. In summer, Wolf Lake enjoys an average temperature of 70 degrees.
Wolf Lake, with its wetland and forest habitats, is crisscrossed with trails and pathways. Hikers can walk around the lake or take a more rugged journey into the forest and backwoods.There are also trails for mountain bikes. According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Wolf Lake is one of the premier bird-watching sites in southwest Michigan. In winter, Wolf Lake provides trails for cross-country skiers.
