Skip to main content
LakeQuality

Safest Lakes to Swim In in Michigan

50 lakes in Michigan qualify as safest for swimming, all hold grade A or B and report chlorophyll-a (algae) under 10 µg/L. Always check local advisories on the day you swim.

Ranked List

#LakeCountyGradeClarityPhosphorusAlgae
1Windover Lake South Basin; Freeman TownshipClareA15 ft-2.5 µg/L
2Moon Lake Central Basin; Watersmeet TownshipGogebicA18 ft-3.2 µg/L
3Sunset Lake West Central Basin; Bates TownshipIronA15.5 ft-2.2 µg/L
4Ellen Lake South Central Basin; Mansfield TownshipIronA17 ft-2.8 µg/L
5Smoky LakeIronA24 ft8.3 µg/L-
6Whitefish Bay Deep LakeChippewaA34.4 ft16 µg/L2.5 µg/L
7Little Bass LakeLakeA18.3 ft-3.1 µg/L
8Whitefish Lake Southeast Basin; Pierson TownshipMontcalmA16 ft-3.4 µg/L
9Cobb Lake Central BasinBarryA16 ft-1.8 µg/L
10Big Twin Lake Southeast Basin; Blue Lake TownshipKalkaskaA23 ft-2.3 µg/L
11Bills Lake Central BasinNewaygoA15.5 ft-1.7 µg/L
12Arbutus Lake South Central BasinGrand TraverseA19 ft-2.1 µg/L
13Cub Lake Central BasinKalkaskaA19 ft-1.7 µg/L
14Lake Mary Northwest Basin; Mastodon TownshipIronA18 ft-3 µg/L
15Round LakeBenzieA15 ft-2.7 µg/L
16Bear Lake Southeast BasinKalkaskaA36.5 ft-2.4 µg/L
17Higgins Lake East BasinRoscommonA35 ft-1 µg/L
18Long Lake North Central Basin; Long Lake TownshipGrand TraverseA23.8 ft-1.4 µg/L
19Eagle Lake Central Basin; Blue Lake TownshipKalkaskaA17 ft-1.6 µg/L
20Indian Lake Northeast Basin; Blue Lake TownshipKalkaskaA15.5 ft-4.3 µg/L
21Beaver Lake Central Basin; Ossineke TownshipAlpenaA16 ft-1.7 µg/L
22Eagle Lake East Basin; Paw Paw TownshipVan BurenA17 ft-3.8 µg/L
23Lake View; Almira TwpBenzieA18 ft-3 µg/L
24Lower Herring Lake East Basin; Blaire TownshipBenzieA16 ft-2.4 µg/L
25Twin Lakes; Grayling TwpCrawfordA19 ft-4.5 µg/L
26O'Rourke Lake; Bagley TwpOtsegoA15 ft-1.3 µg/L
27Lime LakeBenzieA17.5 ft-1.3 µg/L
28Ransom LakeBenzieA15 ft-2.5 µg/L
29Island Lake Central Basin; Sherman TownshipGladwinA16.5 ft-3.2 µg/L
30Saint Mary'S River Offshore LakeChippewaA-17.5 µg/L1.8 µg/L
31Crooked LakeEmmetA-9 µg/L2 µg/L
32Spring LakeEmmetA-3.2 µg/L3.9 µg/L
33Chippewa Lake Northeast Basin; Chippewa TownshipMecostaA12.8 ft-3.3 µg/L
34Loon LakeBenzieA12.1 ft15 µg/L-
35West Twin Lake East Basin; Albert TownshipMontmorencyA13 ft-1.8 µg/L
36East Twin Lake South Central Basin; Albert TownshipMontmorencyA10 ft-4.1 µg/L
37Silver LakeWashtenawA11.5 ft-2.5 µg/L
38Bass LakeLeelanauA11.2 ft11.7 µg/L-
39Rennie Lake; Central Basin; East Bay TownshipGrand TraverseA13 ft-3.7 µg/L
40Ore Lake West Basin; Hamburg TownshipLivingstonA10 ft-3.3 µg/L
41Squaw Lake Central Basin; Blue Lake TownshipKalkaskaA16 ft-8.3 µg/L
42Manitou LakeLeelanauA13.3 ft13.5 µg/L-
43Farewell Lake West Basin; Hanover TownshipJacksonA11.8 ft-2.3 µg/L
44Crystal Lake Central Basin; Crystal TownshipMontcalmA10.5 ft-3.5 µg/L
45Rose Lake East Basin; Rose Lake TownshipOsceolaA11.5 ft-4.8 µg/L
46Beaver LakeAlgerA14.7 ft7.8 µg/L-
47Lake HarveyKeweenawA10.5 ft11.6 µg/L-
48Sargent LakeKeweenawA10.4 ft17.3 µg/L-
49North Bar LakeLeelanauA12.7 ft14.7 µg/L-
50Siskiwit LakeKeweenawA19.3 ft24.5 µg/L-

More Answers for Michigan

Cleanest lakes →Safest swimming lakes →Lakes with algae →All Michigan lakes →