Gene's Pond is a small, self-contained lake in the Dickinson County state forest. Information on specific inflows or outflows is limited, but the lake sits within the broader Menominee River watershed typical of this part of the UP.
Gene's Pond is shallow throughout, which means it likely freezes early and solidly in a typical UP winter. Ice fishing is plausible, though this isn't a well-known ice fishing destination. Always check ice thickness — shallow lakes can also have inconsistent ice near springs or inflows.
How big is Gene's Pond?
What fish are in Gene's Pond?
Is there a boat launch on Gene's Pond?
Can you swim in Gene's Pond?
Is there camping at Gene's Pond?
Where is Gene's Pond?
Can you kayak on Gene's Pond?
Is Gene's Pond good for hunting?
Gene's Pond is a small, shallow lake tucked into the state forest in Dickinson County — about ten miles from the town of Sagola in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. It's the kind of place you go to disappear for a few days. The adjacent Gene's Pond State Forest Campground is rustic (pit toilets, hand-pump well water, no trash service), and reviewers consistently describe it as quiet, clean, and lightly used. Most of the lake is shallow and loggy, which makes it better suited for kayaks and small boats than anything with a big motor. Visitors report hearing wolves howling at night and loons calling in the morning — a legit remote UP experience.
Fishing is the main draw, though expect warm-water species in the weedy, shallow structure. There's a single boat launch with a dock right next to the campground, and the lake frontage near the launch is swimmable, though there's no developed sand beach. If you're hunting the UP in fall or just want a no-frills basecamp with water access, Gene's Pond delivers on solitude without requiring a two-hour drive from the nearest gas station.