Benzie County Lake Quality

Wisconsin, 35 lakes, average grade B (Good)

There are 35 graded lakes in Benzie County. The mix is varied enough that the county-level average tells you the broad strokes, not the choose-this-cabin specifics. With an average grade of B, Benzie County sits comfortably above the Michigan median.

Most of the county's monitored lakes are shallow — under 50 feet — which means wind keeps the water column mixed all summer and sediment-bound phosphorus releases back into the surface layer whenever the bottom is disturbed. Sanford Lake (A) is the cleanest in the county.

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Quick Answers for Benzie County

Cleanest lakes in Benzie County →Cleanest lakes in Wisconsin →Safest swimming lakes in Wisconsin →

Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Sanford Lake, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or browse the full Wisconsin regulations index.

All Lakes in Benzie County

Rank	Lake	Grade	Clarity	Max Depth	Phosphorus
1	Sanford Lake	A	15.8 ft	-	-
2	Crystal Lake Central Basin; Lake Township Section 12	A	32 ft	-	-
3	Round Lake	A	15 ft	-	-
4	Crystal Lake	A	32 ft	-	-
5	Mi41m Lake	A	44 ft	-	-
6	Round Lake	A	15 ft	-	-
7	Lake View; Almira Twp	A	18 ft	-	-
8	Lower Herring Lake East Basin; Blaire Township	A	16 ft	-	-
9	Lake View	A	18 ft	-	-
10	Lime Lake	A	17.5 ft	-	-
11	Ransom Lake	A	15 ft	-	-
12	Lake Ann Southeast Basin; Almira Township Section 26	A	13.5 ft	-	-
13	Loon Lake	A	12.1 ft	-	15 µg/L
14	Long Lake; Lake Township; Section 31	A	10.5 ft	-	-
15	Otter Lake	A	12 ft	-	-
16	Pearl Lake Central Basin	A	13 ft	-	-
17	Upper Woodcock Lake; Almira Twp	A	11 ft	-	-
18	Loon Lake; Lake Twp	A	12 ft	-	-
19	Lake Ann	B	13.8 ft	-	-
20	Pearl Lake	B	13 ft	-	-
21	Long Lake	B	11.5 ft	-	-
22	Otter Lake	B	12 ft	-	-
23	Turtle Lake	B	10.8 ft	-	-
24	Loon Lake	B	12 ft	-	-
25	Turtle Lake South Basin; Inland Township	B	13 ft	-	-
26	Lower Woodcock Lake	B	12.3 ft	-	-
27	Lower Herring Lake	B	13.8 ft	-	-
28	Lower Woodcock Lake; Almira Twp	B	12.3 ft	-	-
29	Sanford Lake	B	14.5 ft	-	-
30	Upper Woodcock Lake	B	11 ft	-	-
31	Upper Herring Lake; Central Basin; Blaine Township	B	8 ft	-	-
32	Little Platte Lake North Basin	B	6.5 ft	-	-
33	Upper Herring Lake	C	7.5 ft	-	-
34	Betsie River Lake	C	8 ft	-	-
35	Little Platte Lake	D	6.5 ft	-	-

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.