Lake Leelanau
Lake Leelanau in Leelanau County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 13.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 62 ft. Surface area: 8608.3 acres.
- Clarity
- 13.5 ft
- Max depth
- 62 ft
- Area
- 8,608 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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Why Lake Leelanau has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Lake Leelanau, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by EGLE and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Lake Leelanau is a 8,608-acre lake in Leelanau County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 62 feet. The lake supports 1 documented fish species including Lake herring. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2021-09-19. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Watch Lake Leelanau water quality
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Lake Leelanau
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 13.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 40.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Lake Leelanau
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Leelanau in Leelanau County, Michigan — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Lake Leelanau
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Planning a trip? Cabins and lodging at Lake Leelanau → · more Michigan lake trips
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 62 ft |
| Surface Area | 8,608 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- County Road 651 NPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lake Leelanau
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.026 m/yr | 5 |
Graded lakes near Lake Leelanau
Lake Leelanau has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Leelanau County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Leelanau
Where is Lake Leelanau?
- Lake Leelanau is a lake in Leelanau County, Michigan. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — there is not enough recent sampling to assign a letter.
What is the water quality grade for Lake Leelanau?
- Lake Leelanau in Leelanau County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 13.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 62 ft. Surface area: 8608.3 acres.
Is Lake Leelanau safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Lake Leelanau is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Lake Leelanau?
- Lake Leelanau has a maximum depth of 62 feet. The lake covers 8608.3 acres.
What fish are in Lake Leelanau?
- Fish species found in Lake Leelanau include Lake herring. Lake Leelanau is located in Leelanau County, Michigan.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Leelanau?
- Lake Leelanau has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include County Road 651 N. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Lake Leelanau across LakeQuality
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Planning a trip around Sleeping Bear Dunes?
Lake Leelanau is about 15 miles from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Crowds there swing hard by season, so the month you pick changes both how busy the park is and what lodging costs.
Best time to visit Sleeping Bear Dunes →More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Lakes in Michigan
Oligotrophic Lakes in Michigan
Where this data comes from
127 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2016–2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- North American Lake Management Society
NALMS127 samples · 2016–2021
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory