Treasure Island is a small public island in Higgins Lake, in Roscommon County, Michigan, reachable only by boat — there is no bridge, no ferry, and no road. It sits within the Higgins Lake State Park system, which manages the launch sites and day-use areas from which visitors depart. The island offers a short nature trail, picnicking, and shoreline access, but no overnight camping, no potable water, and no services. Most visitors reach it by kayak, canoe, or powerboat from the North Higgins Lake or South Higgins Lake state park launches. That is the whole answer in one paragraph; what follows is how to actually do it.
What Treasure Island Actually Is on Higgins Lake
Treasure Island is a state-managed day-use island, not an amusement attraction, not a resort, and not a place with concessions. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources lists it within the Higgins Lake State Park holdings, and its practical footprint is tiny — a short walk covers the maintained portion. The name invites assumptions the island doesn't meet.
Plan around three facts: there are no restrooms on the island, no drinking water, and no trash service beyond what you pack out. The DNR's carry-in/carry-out ethic applies here more strictly than at mainland day-use areas because no crew services the island. Bring water, bring a bag for your refuse, and plan restroom stops at the mainland park before you launch.
The "treasure" framing is local color, not a documented story of buried gold. If a specific legend circulates in your family or circle of friends, treat it as folklore until you find a primary source in Roscommon County historical records. The DNR's own materials describe the island in recreational terms, not historical ones. I'd rather tell you that plainly than dress up a campfire story as fact.
How You Get There: Launch Points, Distances, and Access Rules
There are two realistic departure points: the North Higgins Lake State Park day-use area and boat launch, and the South Higgins Lake State Park launch off County Road 100 near Higgins Lake. Both are Michigan state park facilities, so a Recreation Passport is required on your vehicle — Michigan residents can add it at license plate renewal, and nonresidents can buy it at the park. Confirm current fees on the DNR's parks page, since they change.
Distance matters more than people expect. Higgins Lake runs roughly 9,900 acres across about 2.5 miles at its widest, so the crossing from either launch to the island is a real paddle or a short powerboat run — not a five-minute hop. Wind direction determines which launch is easier on a given day. An outgoing paddle into a south wind from the north launch will feel twice as long as the return.
Use this quick comparison to pick your launch:
| Factor | North Higgins Lake launch | South Higgins Lake launch |
|---|---|---|
| Best wind condition | South or southwest wind | North or northwest wind |
| Typical craft | Kayak, canoe, small powerboat | Kayak, canoe, pontoon, powerboat |
| Nearest mainland amenities | Day-use area, restrooms | Day-use area, restrooms |
| Suited to | Paddlers comfortable on open water | Mixed groups, families with a boat |
The verdict is simple. Paddlers with a weather window should launch from whichever side puts the wind at their back on the return leg. Groups with a pontoon or powerboat should default to the South launch for parking ease and ramp capacity.
Paddling Versus Powerboating: Which Approach Fits Your Group
Paddling is the quieter option and the one most first-timers picture. It's also the one that demands a real weather check. Higgins Lake is exposed — a 2.5-mile-wide lake with no significant islands to break wind — and afternoon chop builds fast on a sunny summer day when the sea breeze kicks in. Launch early, and treat a building whitecap line as your signal to head back.
Powerboating gets you there in minutes and carries gear a kayak can't — a cooler, chairs, a shade canopy. The trade-off is anchoring. The island's shoreline is not a marina, and Michigan law requires you to operate at no-wake speed within 100 feet of a dock, raft, buoy, or shore. Read the DNR's boating rules before you assume you can beach a boat anywhere you like. Anchor offshore and wade, or use the designated landing area if one is marked.
Best for paddlers: early morning departures, calm-wind days, small groups with dry bags Best for boaters: families, anyone carrying food and chairs, groups with kids or older adults Skip both if: wind is sustained over roughly 15 mph or storms are forecast — the lake turns ugly quickly
What to Do Once You Land: Trail, Picnicking, and Swimming
The island's main draw is simply being on it. A short loop trail covers the interior, and the shoreline gives you a place to sit, swim, and eat. There are picnic tables in the day-use tradition of Michigan state parks, but don't count on a specific number or a reserved spot — first-come, first-served is the reality at small state day-use sites. Confirm what's maintained on the DNR's Higgins Lake State Park page before you build a plan around a table.
Swimming off the island is possible but unsupervised. There is no lifeguard, and the drop-off around natural lake islands can be steeper than at the mainland beaches. Keep non-swimmers in life jackets, and check depth before you wade in. That isn't a scare tactic — it's the reason the DNR posts swim-at-your-own-risk signage at unguarded state park beaches.
One sensory detail worth knowing: on a still July morning, the island's interior is noticeably cooler and quieter than the mainland launch, and the shallow water along the eastern shore warms first. Anglers work the weed edges around the island for bluegill, smallmouth bass, and perch — Higgins Lake is a noted fishery, and the island's structure attracts fish. Bring a Michigan fishing license if you plan to cast.
The Season, the Weather Window, and When the Island Closes
Michigan state park day-use areas at Higgins Lake operate seasonally. The North and South Higgins Lake state parks run their campgrounds and day-use facilities from roughly late April into October, with the exact opening and closing dates set annually by the DNR and adjusted for weather and staffing. Don't plan a November paddle to the island — the launches may be open for walk-in access but facilities will be winterized.
The reliable window is late May through early September. Late September is quiet and beautiful but cold on the water. July and August bring the crowds to the mainland beaches; the island itself absorbs visitors well because most people never leave the beach.
A worked time budget keeps a day trip realistic: a 40-minute paddle each way, two to three hours on the island, plus 30 minutes for parking, unloading, and the Recreation Passport check. Call it a five-hour outing from the South launch. A powerboat trip compresses that to three hours. Neither number includes the drive to Roscommon County, so build that in separately.
Common Mistakes and the Failure Cases That Ruin a Trip
The most common failure isn't dramatic — it's a family arriving at the launch with a rented kayak, no water, and a forecast that shifted. Higgins Lake's afternoon wind is the single biggest trip-wrecker. A calm 9 a.m. forecast can become a 15 mph chop by 2 p.m., and a beginner paddler fighting that on the return leg is a genuine safety problem.
The second failure is underestimating the crossing. People look at the island from the beach and assume it's close. It's closer than you'd think from some angles and farther than you'd think from others, and the open-water gap is the part that catches people out. If you can't swim comfortably in deep water, wear a life jacket the whole time — Michigan law requires one aboard for every person regardless.
A third failure is timing the trip on a holiday weekend. The South launch parking lot fills early on summer Saturdays, and once it's full, you're circling. Arrive before 9 a.m. or pick a weekday. And check the DNR's closures page for the lake before you drive — drawdowns, algae advisories, or ramp maintenance occasionally affect launch access, and a phone call to the Higgins Lake State Park office is faster than guessing.
Who Treasure Island Suits — and Who Should Skip It
Treasure Island suits people who want a quiet paddle, a picnic, and a swim away from the crowded mainland beaches. It suits anglers working the weed lines. It suits families with a pontoon and kids who want to explore a real island for an afternoon. It's a good half-day, not a destination.
Skip it if you need amenities — restrooms, food, rentals, a beach with a lifeguard. Skip it if you can't handle open water or you're traveling with someone who can't swim. Skip it if your only boat is an inflatable pool toy. And skip it in a thunderstorm, which on Higgins Lake in July can roll in within 20 minutes.
How Treasure Island Compares With Other Michigan State Park Islands
Michigan has several state-managed islands in inland lakes, and they differ sharply in access. Some have bridges, some allow camping, some are wildlife refuges with landing restrictions. Treasure Island's profile — day-use only, boat-access only, no services, short trail — puts it on the low-effort, low-amenity end.
| Island characteristic | Treasure Island (Higgins Lake) | Comparable Michigan lake islands |
|---|---|---|
| Overnight camping | Not permitted | Varies by site — some allow rustic camping |
| Bridge or road access | None | Some bridged; most boat-only |
| Facilities | None on island | Varies; some have pit toilets |
| Primary use | Picnic, swim, trail, fishing | Varies widely |
The comparison row the top results skip: Treasure Island is more of a shoreline picnic stop than a hiking destination. Its trail is short. If you want an island walk, plan for under an hour of actual walking and build the day around the water instead.
Planning a Full Day Around the Island
Build the day around the water, not the island. Launch early, cross when the wind is calm, eat and swim at midday, and head back before the afternoon chop. Pack more water than you think you need — there's no refill on the island. Bring sun protection; the island has shade but the open crossing does not. And leave the mainland beach time for the way back, when the state park day-use area is a comfortable wind-down.
A realistic pack list: two liters of water per person, food that doesn't need refrigeration, a dry bag for phones, life jackets, sunscreen, a trash bag, and a first-aid kit if you're paddling. A portable radio or a fully charged phone in a dry bag covers the emergency case, though cell coverage on Higgins Lake is generally fine. Tell someone on shore your plan and return time.
One last planning point that isn't about gear: the Recreation Passport covers your vehicle, not your boat. If you launch a registered powerboat at the state park ramp, the launch itself may carry a separate fee for nonresidents — confirm at the park office rather than assuming. That's the kind of detail that turns a smooth trip into a surprise at the ramp.
FAQ
Is there buried treasure on Treasure Island?
No documented treasure is associated with the island in state records. The name is local color rather than a marker of a known buried hoard, and the Michigan DNR describes the island in recreational terms. If a specific legend circulates locally, verify it against Roscommon County historical society records before repeating it as fact.
Can you camp overnight on Treasure Island?
No — it's day-use only. Camping in the Higgins Lake area happens at the North and South Higgins Lake state park campgrounds, which require reservations through the Michigan DNR reservation system and fill months ahead for summer weekends. Plan your overnight stay on the mainland and treat the island as a daytime destination.
Do you need a permit or pass to visit?
You need a Recreation Passport on your vehicle to enter the state park day-use areas and launches, and Michigan residents can add it at plate renewal. A separate launch fee may apply to registered powerboats, particularly for nonresidents, and the park office is the fastest way to confirm current charges.
How far is the paddle from the launch to the island?
It's an open-water crossing of roughly a mile from the nearest state park launch, depending on which side you start from. That's a genuine paddle, not a quick hop, and wind direction should dictate which launch you choose so the return leg isn't a fight.
What's the biggest risk on this trip?
Afternoon wind and open-water chop, not the island itself. Higgins Lake is exposed and builds waves fast on sunny summer afternoons, so an early launch and a conservative turnaround time matter more than any gear choice. Beginners should paddle with a partner and wear a life jacket.
Is the island good for kids?
Yes, with a boat and life jackets — a pontoon makes it easy. The lack of restrooms and drinking water means you'll manage kids' needs from the mainland, so pack accordingly and keep the visit to a half day rather than a full one.
Can you fish from the island?
Yes, with a valid Michigan fishing license. The weed edges and structure around the island hold bluegill, perch, and smallmouth bass, and Higgins Lake is a well-known fishery. Fish from shore or anchor offshore, and follow the no-wake rule within 100 feet of shore.