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

Hillsdale County Lake Quality

Michigan, 47 lakes, average grade B (Good)

There are 47 monitored lakes in Hillsdale County. The mix is varied enough that the county-level average tells you the broad strokes, not the choose-this-cabin specifics. 2 of those lakes carry an A–F grade. The county-level summary describes that subset, not every water body listed. With an average grade of B, Hillsdale 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. Crystal Lake (A) is the cleanest in the county.

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Where to stay near Hillsdale County

Top-rated places to stay near Hillsdale County

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Quick Answers for Hillsdale County

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

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

Fishing in Hillsdale County

Hillsdale County Fishing Guide

Fish species and best-graded lakes in Hillsdale County

All Lakes in Hillsdale County

47 lakes · 2 graded, 45 not rated2 graded lakes · 45 not rated, hidden

Include not-rated lakes (45)

#	Lake	Grade	Clarity	Phosphorus	Algae	Trophic	Max Depth	Access
1	ACrystal LakeHillsdale	A	9.5 ft	11 µg/L	4 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
2	DLake DianeHillsdale	D	2.5 ft	51 µg/L	20 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	NRFawn LakeHillsdale	NR	4.5 ft	38 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRPaw Paw LakeHillsdale	NR	8 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRPerch LakeHillsdale	NR	3.3 ft	15 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	NRLake Le AnnHillsdale	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRLake Le AnnHillsdale	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	45 ft	Not recorded
	NRLake SomersetHillsdale	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	38 ft	✓ Public
	NRGoose LakeHillsdale	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	36 ft	Not recorded
	NRLombard LakeHillsdale	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	29 ft	Not recorded
	NRNorth Sand LakeHillsdale	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	30 ft	Not recorded
	NRMiddle Sand LakeHillsdale	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	29 ft	Not recorded
	NRLake AdamsHillsdale	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	25 ft	Not recorded
	NRSouth Sand LakeHillsdale	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	34 ft	Not recorded
	NRBaw Beese LakeHillsdale	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	70 ft	Not recorded
	NRHemlock LakeHillsdale	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	60 ft	✓ Public
	NRRound LakeHillsdale	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	30 ft	✓ Public
	NRBankers LakeHillsdale	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	36 ft	Not recorded
	NRBoot LakeHillsdale	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	29 ft	Not recorded
	NRLong LakeHillsdale	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	40 ft	Not recorded
	NRPleasant LakeHillsdale	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	36 ft	Not recorded
	NRLake WilsonHillsdale	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	39 ft	Not recorded
	NRBear LakeHillsdale	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	50 ft	✓ Public
	NRBird LakeHillsdale	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	60 ft	✓ Public
	NRCub LakeHillsdale	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	40 ft	Not recorded
	NRLime LakeHillsdale	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	44 ft	Not recorded
	NRLong LakeHillsdale	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	NRLake DianeHillsdale	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	51 ft	Not recorded
	NRMerry LakeHillsdale	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	25 ft	Not recorded
	NRMoon LakeHillsdale	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRMallory LakeHillsdale	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRFourth LakeHillsdale	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRCub LakeHillsdale	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	NRCambria MillpondHillsdale	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRBerry LakeHillsdale	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRLong LakeHillsdale	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRCarpenter LakeHillsdale	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRKing LakeHillsdale	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRWinona LakeHillsdale	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRDuck LakeHillsdale	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRCobb LakeHillsdale	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRHastings LakeHillsdale	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRBullhead LakeHillsdale	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRBraxee LakeHillsdale	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRWillet LakeHillsdale	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRMead LakeHillsdale	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRRebeck LakeHillsdale	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded

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

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43 lakes · Avg grade A

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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 Hillsdale 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.