Situated in the suburban area of Traverse City, just south of Lake Michigan's Grand Traverse Bay, this scenic lake offers lots of opportunity for paddling and other types of outdoor recreation. There are multiple parks around the lake that offer boat launches and picnic areas as well as the Boardman Lake Trail. The terrain around the lake is mostly wooded with residential developments. The area also offers additional water for paddling in Grand Traverse Bay and on the Boardman River.