- Elk Rapids Township sits on the east shore of the Grand Traverse Bay about 15 miles north of Traverse City and just over 30 miles south of Charlevoix. It is bounded on the east almost entirely by Elk Lake and, in total, is only a little over seven square miles of territory. The incorporated Village of Elk Rapids divides the township in two, the northern section containing most of Bass Lak ...www.elkrapids.com