Houghton Lake has c. 30 miles (48 km) of total shoreline and its waters cover 20,044 acres (81.12 km2).

It is an extremely popular resort and fishing area year round.

The lake offers almost every species of game and panfish found in Michigan with the exception of the trout/salmon families, the sturgeon, the muskellunge, and white bass.

Houghton Lake is notable for the annual winter carnival, Tip Up Town USA,[3] which is held during two consecutive weekends in January.

The name for the festival originated from the flag-like devices—"tip-ups", used for ice fishing.