Gun Lake has no other spot on this map within 40 km of it. straight-line distance
When it fills in
No onset time is published for this spot.
The wind
Direction
Character
synoptic
Strength
Dominant direction
Any direction can work; east is more challenging at launch.
Forecast
Month by month
- Jan8
- Feb28
- Mar21
- Apr25
- May11
- Jun8
- Jul3
- Aug2
- Sep0
- Oct8
- Nov7
- Dec8
windy days per month (3 h+ at 12 kn+)
- 8%Jan
- 28%Feb
- 21%Mar
- 25%Apr
- 11%May
- 8%Jun
- 3%Jul
- 2%Aug
- 0%Sep
- 8%Oct
- 7%Nov
- 8%Dec
windy days per month (3 h+ at 12 kn+) · season highlighted
| Month | Windy days | Force 4+ | 12 kn or more | Knots | From | Peaks at | Air | Readings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 8% | 23% | 16% | 8.8 kt | W | 14:00 | -3.4°C | 62 |
| Feb | 28% | 40% | 39% | 10.5 kt | SW | 15:00 | -1.1°C | 57 |
| Mar | 21% | 39% | 34% | 10.6 kt | W | 15:00 | 2.9°C | 62 |
| Apr | 25% | 50% | 43% | 11 kt | WSW | 15:00 | 8.5°C | 60 |
| May | 11% | 15% | 11% | 8.7 kt | WNW | 15:00 | 16°C | 62 |
| Jun | 8% | 33% | 23% | 9.9 kt | WNW | 15:00 | 20.8°C | 60 |
| Jul | 3% | 13% | 8% | 8.2 kt | W | 16:00 | 22.2°C | 62 |
| Aug | 2% | 19% | 13% | 8.5 kt | W | 15:00 | 21.3°C | 62 |
| Sep | 0% | 10% | 3% | 7.3 kt | S | 15:00 | 18.5°C | 60 |
| Oct | 8% | 21% | 13% | 9.1 kt | WNW | 14:00 | 11.7°C | 62 |
| Nov | 7% | 28% | 18% | 9.1 kt | SSW | 13:00 | 5.4°C | 60 |
| Dec | 8% | 16% | 15% | 8.7 kt | WSW | 14:00 | 0.5°C | 62 |
modelled
A weather model's cell over this place, not a station on it. Good for comparing places, weaker for one beach.
Modelled from the operational forecast archive at 1.5–7 km (2023-2024), daylight hours only, not a ground station: it resolves thermal, lake and valley winds far better than coarse reanalysis but still tends to understate a strong local thermal. A windy day has at least three consecutive daylight hours at 12 knots or more. The typical daily max and the direction are columns of the table above, month by month. Highlighted months are the riding season from the spot record.
High-resolution weather model (modelled) · Open-Meteo historical forecast archive — best-match operational model (ICON-D2 / AROME / ICON-EU / GFS by region), not a ground station · 2023-2024
The water
Type
lake
Standing depth
Relatively shallow: around 4-5 ft over the majority of the lake.
Tides
Tide independent inland lake.
Temperature
24°C summer
Wetsuit
The shallow water heats fast in spring and freezes early in winter. Thickness by month is unconfirmed.
Your level
The scene
What riders come here for
Launch and rules
three ways on to the water, and what each one asks of you
With a school or a boat
1 school names this spot
On your own
Room to launch: small
Somewhere else
No neighbour on record
No other spot in the atlas sits within reach of this one.
Launch
The water launch is Goose Poop Beach, a clearing with a small opening to the water about 75 yards north of the picnic area at the end of State Park Drive, past the boat launch.
Space
small
Rules & access
Access rules drift faster than anything else we hold — check locally, and propose an edit if this has changed.
Rider tips
- Keep the kite down on land: the tree line comes right to the water and the gap is small.
- Expect a technical launch on east wind, or wait for a different direction.
- Skip summer weekend afternoons unless it is blowing hard; the boats thin out when it does.
- On snow, walk your lines in close to the kite so snowmobilers can see them.
- Find the clearing about 75 yards north of the picnic area; the boat launch itself is not the spot.
Getting there
Airport
Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR)
Route
Gun Lake sits between Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. Take US 131 to Exit 61, head east about 8 miles, turn onto Briggs Road South, then State Park Drive, pass the boat launch and carry on to the picnic area.
Transfer
32 min
Cost level
medium
Staying
Yankee Springs Recreation Area has camping, and there are hotels near Gun Lake; the towns to look in are Wayland, Middleville, Kalamazoo or Grand Rapids.
No-wind days
Yankee Springs Recreation Area · boating · fishing · picnic area · swimming areas · hiking · mountain biking · horseback riding · Grand Rapids or Kalamazoo nightlife
Photos
FAQ
Is Gun Lake good for beginners?
The shallow 4-5 foot water suits beginners, but the launch clearing is small with a close tree line, so first-timers should get local or instructor help at launch.
What is the wind like at Gun Lake?
Any wind direction can work at Gun Lake, though east wind makes launching noticeably harder.
Where do you launch at Gun Lake?
The launch is Goose Poop Beach, a small clearing about 75 yards north of the picnic area at the end of State Park Drive, past the boat launch.
What are the hazards at Gun Lake?
A close tree line and small water opening limit ground handling, summer weekends bring heavy boat traffic, and winter sessions must watch for snowmobiles on the ice.
Last updated: August 2026