Late afternoon sun over Slim Lake, scattering a bright path across wind-textured water

Benzie County Lake Quality

Michigan, 31 lakes, average grade A (Excellent)

There are 31 monitored 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. 10 of those lakes carry an A–F grade. The county-level summary describes that subset, not every water body listed. The county's average grade is A — among the cleanest in Michigan. 10 lakes pull an A on their own, and almost none fall into the D or F brackets.

The county's lakes lean shallow, which makes the grades sensitive to wind, sediment-resuspension, and any nutrient inputs from the watershed. The cleanest lake on the books is Big Platte Lake (A); the most-stressed is Big Platte Lake (A).

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Top-rated places to stay near Benzie County

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Quick Answers for Benzie County

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

Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Big Platte Lake — or check the official Michigan fishing regulations.

Fishing in Benzie County

Benzie County Fishing Guide

Fish species and best-graded lakes in Benzie County

All Lakes in Benzie County

31 lakes · 10 graded, 21 not rated10 graded lakes · 21 not rated, hidden

Include not-rated lakes (21)

#	Lake	Grade	Clarity	Phosphorus	Algae	Trophic	Max Depth	Access
1	ABig Platte LakeBenzie	A	14 ft	6 µg/L	1.7 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
2	ARound LakeBenzie	A	15 ft	6 µg/L	1.4 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
3	AOtter LakeBenzie	A	12 ft	11 µg/L	1.4 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
4	ALittle Platte LakeBenzie	A	6.5 ft	12 µg/L	2.8 µg/L	No recent samples	8 ft	✓ Public
5	ALake ViewBenzie	A	18 ft	9 µg/L	2.6 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
6	AUpper Woodcock LakeBenzie	A	11 ft	7 µg/L	1.7 µg/L	No recent samples	45 ft	Not recorded
7	ALower Woodcock LakeBenzie	A	12.3 ft	10 µg/L	5.4 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
8	ALoon LakeBenzie	A	12 ft	8 µg/L	2.1 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
9	ALime LakeBenzie	A	17.5 ft	5 µg/L	1.3 µg/L	No recent samples	25 ft	Not recorded
10	ARansom LakeBenzie	A	15 ft	10 µg/L	2.5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	NRSanford LakeBenzie	NR	17 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRLower Herring LakeBenzie	NR	13 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	50 ft	✓ Public
	NRLake AnnBenzie	NR	14.5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	75 ft	✓ Public
	NRPlatte LakeBenzie	NR	14 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	90 ft	Not recorded
	NRUpper Herring LakeBenzie	NR	8 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	25 ft	✓ Public
	NRCrystal LakeBenzie	NR	32 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	175 ft	✓ Public
	NRLong LakeBenzie	NR	9 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRBetsie LakeBenzie	NR	8.8 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	NRTurtle LakeBenzie	NR	11.3 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	20 ft	✓ Public
	NRHerendeene LakeBenzie	NR	14 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	37 ft	✓ Public
	NRPearl LakeBenzie	NR	13 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	NRLower Woodcock LakeBenzie	NR	12.3 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRUpper Woodcock LakeBenzie	NR	11 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	45 ft	Not recorded
	NRMud LakeBenzie	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	23 ft	Not recorded
	NRRush LakeBenzie	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	16 ft	Not recorded
	NRGrass LakeBenzie	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	23 ft	Not recorded
	NRGarey LakeBenzie	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	NRBass LakeBenzie	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRBronson LakeBenzie	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRMud LakeBenzie	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRStevens LakeBenzie	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public

NR = not rated: there is not enough recent sampling to support a letter. That is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 (insufficient information), not a failing grade. How grading works.

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Other Counties in Michigan

Dickinson County

43 lakes · Avg grade A

Clare County

47 lakes · Avg grade A

Ogemaw County

50 lakes · Avg grade A

Cheboygan County

31 lakes · Avg grade A

Roscommon County

26 lakes · Avg grade A

Gladwin County

29 lakes · Avg grade A

See how Benzie County stacks up in the national county water-quality rankings, or browse the full directory of graded lakes across all United States (49 states), Canada (Ontario, Québec, Nova Scotia, British Columbia and Newfoundland and Labrador), and 38 other country hubs..

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.