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

Clare County Lake Quality

Michigan, 47 lakes, measured by EGLE

There are 47 monitored lakes in Clare County. The mix is varied enough that the county-level average tells you the broad strokes, not the choose-this-cabin specifics. 1 of those lake carry recent nutrient and algae readings. The county-level summary describes that subset, not every water body listed. On average, Clare 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 Lake George.

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Where to stay near Clare County

Top-rated places to stay near Clare County

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Quick Answers for Clare County

Cleanest lakes in Clare County →Cleanest lakes in Michigan →Best swimming lakes in Michigan →

Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Lake George, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or check the official Michigan fishing regulations.

Fishing in Clare County

Clare County Fishing Guide

Fish species and the cleanest lakes in Clare County

All Lakes in Clare County

47 lakes · 1 ranked on readings, 46 without enough sampling1 lake ranked on readings · 46 without enough sampling, hidden

Include not-rated lakes (46)

#	Lake	Clarity	Phosphorus	Algae	Trophic	Max Depth	Access
1	Lake GeorgeClare	9.5 ft	12 µg/L	3.8 µg/L	No recent samples	25 ft	Not recorded
	Arnold LakeClare	17 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	80 ft	✓ Public
	Windover LakeClare	15.3 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	60 ft	✓ Public
	Shingle LakeClare	10.5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	40 ft	Not recorded
	Lily LakeClare	8 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	8 ft	✓ Public
	Budd LakeClare	13.5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	30 ft	✓ Public
	Elbow LakeClare	11 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Rice PondClare	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	17 ft	Not recorded
	Long LakeClare	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	70 ft	✓ Public
	Cranberry LakeClare	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	20 ft	✓ Public
	Boathouse LakeClare	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	23 ft	Not recorded
	Little Long LakeClare	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	60 ft	✓ Public
	Sutherland LakeClare	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	28 ft	✓ Public
	Springwood Lakes (westClare	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	31 ft	Not recorded
	Big Norway LakeClare	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	29 ft	Not recorded
	Doc And Tom LakeClare	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	21 ft	Not recorded
	Silver LakeClare	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	52 ft	Not recorded
	Big Mud LakeClare	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	4 ft	Not recorded
	Half Moon LakeClare	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	32 ft	Not recorded
	Loon LakeClare	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	27 ft	Not recorded
	Round LakeClare	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	27 ft	Not recorded
	Clear LakeClare	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	39 ft	Not recorded
	Big Cranberry LakeClare	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	19 ft	Not recorded
	Bear LakeClare	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	38 ft	Not recorded
	Three LakeClare	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	24 ft	Not recorded
	Five LakesClare	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	60 ft	✓ Public
	Bass LakeClare	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	34 ft	Not recorded
	Lake ThirteenClare	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	31 ft	Not recorded
	Eight Point LakeClare	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	25 ft	Not recorded
	Shamrock LakeClare	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	22 ft	Not recorded
	Gray LakeClare	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	34 ft	Not recorded
	Shively LakeClare	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Bailey LakeClare	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Beebe LakeClare	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Nestor LakesClare	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Icehouse LakeClare	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Boathouse LakeClare	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Halfmoon LakeClare	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Floodwood Swamp ReservoirClare	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Bertha LakeClare	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Lost LakeClare	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Mystic LakeClare	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Perch LakeClare	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	17 ft	✓ Public
	Boyles CreekClare	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	70 ft	Not recorded
	Bluff LakeClare	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Surrey LakeClare	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Five LakesClare	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	60 ft	Not recorded

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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Browse every Michigan lake, or the full directory of lakes across all United States (49 states), Canada (Ontario, Québec, Nova Scotia, British Columbia and Newfoundland and Labrador), and 38 other country hubs..

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