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

Benzie County Lake Quality

Michigan, 31 lakes, measured by EGLE

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 recent nutrient and algae readings. The county-level summary describes that subset, not every water body listed. On average, Benzie County lakes carry some of the lowest phosphorus and chlorophyll-a readings in Michigan, with clear summer transparency across most monitored basins.

The county's lakes lean shallow, which makes the readings sensitive to wind, sediment-resuspension, and any nutrient inputs from the watershed. The cleanest measured lake is Big Platte Lake.

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Quick Answers for Benzie County

Cleanest lakes in Benzie County →Cleanest lakes in Michigan →Best 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 the cleanest lakes in Benzie County

All Lakes in Benzie County

31 lakes · 10 ranked on readings, 21 without enough sampling10 lakes ranked on readings · 21 without enough sampling, hidden

Include not-rated lakes (21)

#	Lake	Clarity	Phosphorus	Algae	Trophic	Max Depth	Access
1	Big Platte LakeBenzie	14 ft	6 µg/L	1.7 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
2	Round LakeBenzie	15 ft	6 µg/L	1.4 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
3	Otter LakeBenzie	12 ft	11 µg/L	1.4 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
4	Little Platte LakeBenzie	6.5 ft	12 µg/L	2.8 µg/L	No recent samples	8 ft	✓ Public
5	Lake ViewBenzie	18 ft	9 µg/L	2.6 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
6	Upper Woodcock LakeBenzie	11 ft	7 µg/L	1.7 µg/L	No recent samples	45 ft	Not recorded
7	Lower Woodcock LakeBenzie	12.3 ft	10 µg/L	5.4 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
8	Loon LakeBenzie	12 ft	8 µg/L	2.1 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
9	Lime LakeBenzie	17.5 ft	5 µg/L	1.3 µg/L	No recent samples	25 ft	Not recorded
10	Ransom LakeBenzie	15 ft	10 µg/L	2.5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	Sanford LakeBenzie	17 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Lower Herring LakeBenzie	13 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	50 ft	✓ Public
	Lake AnnBenzie	14.5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	75 ft	✓ Public
	Platte LakeBenzie	14 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	90 ft	Not recorded
	Upper Herring LakeBenzie	8 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	25 ft	✓ Public
	Crystal LakeBenzie	32 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	175 ft	✓ Public
	Long LakeBenzie	9 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Betsie LakeBenzie	8.8 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	Turtle LakeBenzie	11.3 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	20 ft	✓ Public
	Herendeene LakeBenzie	14 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	37 ft	✓ Public
	Pearl LakeBenzie	13 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	Lower Woodcock LakeBenzie	12.3 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Upper Woodcock LakeBenzie	11 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	45 ft	Not recorded
	Mud LakeBenzie	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	23 ft	Not recorded
	Rush LakeBenzie	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	16 ft	Not recorded
	Grass LakeBenzie	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	23 ft	Not recorded
	Garey LakeBenzie	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	33 ft	✓ Public
	Bass LakeBenzie	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Bronson LakeBenzie	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Mud LakeBenzie	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Stevens LakeBenzie	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	50 ft	✓ Public

NR = no nutrient or algae reading on record. The measurements are published as the authority reports them. Where the data comes from.

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Source: the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). See data sources.