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

Lake County Lake Quality

Michigan, 38 lakes, measured by EGLE

The county-level average smooths over real differences — a single agricultural watershed near the southwest corner can pull the average down even if the rest of the county runs clean. 6 of those lakes carry recent nutrient and algae readings. The county-level summary describes that subset, not every water body listed. On average, Lake 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 Star Lake.

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Top-rated places to stay near Lake County

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Quick Answers for Lake County

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

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

Fishing in Lake County

Lake County Fishing Guide

Fish species and the cleanest lakes in Lake County

All Lakes in Lake County

38 lakes · 6 ranked on readings, 32 without enough sampling6 lakes ranked on readings · 32 without enough sampling, hidden

Include not-rated lakes (32)

#	Lake	Clarity	Phosphorus	Algae	Trophic	Max Depth	Access
1	Big Star LakeLake	9 ft	9 µg/L	4 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
2	List LakeLake	5.5 ft	8 µg/L	3.6 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
3	Elbow LakeLake	13 ft	8 µg/L	2.3 µg/L	No recent samples	30 ft	Not recorded
4	Big Bass LakeLake	14.5 ft	7.5 µg/L	5.3 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
5	Little Bass LakeLake	18.3 ft	7 µg/L	3.1 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
6	Wolf LakeLake	10.5 ft	10 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Cool LakeLake	19.5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	43 ft	Not recorded
	List LakeLake	5.5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Sand LakeLake	19 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	50 ft	Not recorded
	Bass LakeLake	14.8 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	45 ft	✓ Public
	Harper LakeLake	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	59 ft	✓ Public
	Syers LakeLake	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	20 ft	Not recorded
	Loon LakeLake	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	35 ft	Not recorded
	Noud LakeLake	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	21 ft	Not recorded
	Wingleton LakeLake	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	26 ft	Not recorded
	Idlewild LakeLake	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	22 ft	Not recorded
	North LakeLake	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	25 ft	✓ Public
	Cecilia LakeLake	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	44 ft	Not recorded
	Little Lake Number OneLake	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	39 ft	Not recorded
	Oxbow LakeLake	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Basford LakeLake	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	25 ft	Not recorded
	Gifford LakeLake	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	35 ft	Not recorded
	Orchard LakeLake	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	15 ft	Not recorded
	Reed LakeLake	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	45 ft	✓ Public
	Conna-Mara LakeLake	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Mench LakeLake	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	15 ft	Not recorded
	Whalen LakeLake	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	26 ft	Not recorded
	Little Star LakeLake	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	25 ft	Not recorded
	Paradise LakeLake	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	30 ft	✓ Public
	Big Spring LakeLake	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Rockwell LakeLake	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Bluegill LakeLake	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	30 ft	Not recorded
	Twin LakesLake	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Sauble LakesLake	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Sauble LakesLake	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Sauble LakesLake	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Nugent LakeLake	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	30 ft	Not recorded
	Lake OlgaLake	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	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.