Best Kayaking Lakes in Michigan, Clean Water + Public Access

Kayaking-friendly rankings prefer lakes with low motor-boat congestion, interesting shoreline, decent water clarity, and public access. Bear Lake Southeast Basin (A) tops the Michigan list.

Kayaking favors lakes with shoreline interest — bays, islands, undeveloped stretches — which tends to correlate with the larger, more remote Michigan lakes rather than the small, residential ones.

Rank	Lake	County	State	Grade	Clarity	Area	Depth
1	Bear Lake Southeast Basin	Kalkaska	MI	A	36.5 ft	-	-
2	Big Twin Lake Southeast Basin; Blue Lake Township	Kalkaska	MI	A	23 ft	-	-
3	Arbutus Lake South Central Basin	Grand Traverse	MI	A	19 ft	-	~24 ft est.
4	Moon Lake Central Basin; Watersmeet Township	Gogebic	MI	A	18 ft	-	-
5	Lake Mary Northwest Basin; Mastodon Township	Iron	MI	A	18 ft	-	-
6	Ellen Lake South Central Basin; Mansfield Township	Iron	MI	A	17 ft	-	-
7	Eagle Lake East Basin; Paw Paw Township	Van Buren	MI	A	17 ft	-	-
8	Squaw Lake Central Basin; Blue Lake Township	Kalkaska	MI	A	16 ft	-	-
9	Whitefish Lake Southeast Basin; Pierson Township	Montcalm	MI	A	16 ft	-	-
10	Cobb Lake Central Basin	Barry	MI	A	16 ft	-	-
11	Beaver Lake Central Basin; Ossineke Township	Alpena	MI	A	16 ft	-	~19 ft est.
12	Lower Herring Lake East Basin; Blaire Township	Benzie	MI	A	16 ft	-	~17 ft est.
13	Sunset Lake West Central Basin; Bates Township	Iron	MI	A	15.5 ft	-	~18 ft est.
14	Bills Lake Central Basin	Newaygo	MI	A	15.5 ft	-	-
15	Windover Lake South Basin; Freeman Township	Clare	MI	A	15 ft	-	~214 ft est.
16	Barnes Lake	Lapeer	MI	A	14.5 ft	110 acres	-
17	Big Bass Lake North Basin; Elk Township	Lake	MI	A	14 ft	-	-
18	Gun Lake Central Basin; Freesoil Township	Mason	MI	A	14 ft	-	~19 ft est.
19	Eagle Lake North Central Basin	Allegan	MI	A	14 ft	-	~16 ft est.
20	Sand Lake Central Basin; Cambridge Township	Lenawee	MI	A	13.5 ft	-	~25 ft est.
21	Lancer Lake Southeast	Gladwin	MI	A	13.2 ft	-	~20 ft est.
22	West Twin Lake East Basin; Albert Township	Montmorency	MI	A	13 ft	-	~20 ft est.
23	Rennie Lake; Central Basin; East Bay Township	Grand Traverse	MI	A	13 ft	-	~16 ft est.
24	Birch Lake Central Basin; Porter Township	Cass	MI	A	13 ft	-	~21 ft est.
25	Pearl Lake Central Basin	Benzie	MI	A	13 ft	-	~17 ft est.
26	Cedar Lake Central Basin; Porter Township	Van Buren	MI	A	13 ft	-	-
27	Chippewa Lake Northeast Basin; Chippewa Township	Mecosta	MI	A	12.8 ft	-	~15 ft est.
28	Little Long Lake Central Basin; Prairieville Township	Barry	MI	A	12.5 ft	-	~15 ft est.
29	North Lake North Central Basin; Dexter Township	Washtenaw	MI	A	12 ft	-	~13 ft est.
30	Spider Lake West Basin	Grand Traverse	MI	A	12 ft	-	~15 ft est.
31	Otter Lake	Benzie	MI	A	12 ft	-	-
32	Chain Lakes East Basin	Iosco	MI	A	12 ft	-	-
33	Round Lake Central Basin	Lenawee	MI	A	12 ft	-	-
34	Loon Lake; Lake Twp	Benzie	MI	A	12 ft	-	-
35	Long Lake	Gogebic	MI	A	12 ft	-	~12 ft est.
36	Farewell Lake West Basin; Hanover Township	Jackson	MI	A	11.8 ft	-	~13 ft est.
37	Silver Lake	Washtenaw	MI	A	11.5 ft	-	~14 ft est.
38	Rose Lake East Basin; Rose Lake Township	Osceola	MI	A	11.5 ft	-	~16 ft est.
39	Scram Lake East Basin; Oakfield Township	Kent	MI	A	11.5 ft	-	-
40	Long Lake Northeast Basin; Hope Twsp	Barry	MI	A	11 ft	-	~18 ft est.
41	Blue Lake North Central Basin	Mecosta	MI	A	11 ft	-	~14 ft est.
42	Big Maggie Lake; Mastodon Township	Iron	MI	A	11 ft	-	-
43	Bear Lake Central Basin North; Pleasanton Township	Manistee	MI	A	10.8 ft	-	~18 ft est.
44	Devils Lake Central Basin North	Lenawee	MI	A	10.8 ft	-	~16 ft est.
45	Long Lake South Central Basin	Cass	MI	A	10.5 ft	-	~16 ft est.
46	Crystal Lake Central Basin; Crystal Township	Montcalm	MI	A	10.5 ft	-	-
47	Duck Lake; Center of	Muskegon	MI	A	10.5 ft	-	~21 ft est.
48	Coldwater Lake Southeast Basin; Nottawa Township	Isabella	MI	A	10.5 ft	-	-
49	Fishers Lake North Central Basin; Park Township	St. Joseph	MI	A	10.5 ft	-	-
50	Jewell Lake West Basin	Alcona	MI	A	10.5 ft	-	~12 ft est.

All-states list →Minnesota version →Wisconsin version →Illinois version →All Michigan lakes →

Where to stay near Michigan kayaking lakes

Find cabins, campgrounds, and rentals near Michigan's clearest paddling water — live availability and prices for your kayak trip.

Top-rated places to stay near Michigan paddling lakes

Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.

Planning a trip to Michigan paddling lakes?

Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Michigan paddling lakes — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.