Black Lake is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Cheboygan County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 2 documented fish species including Lake sturgeon and Silver lamprey. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 6 other monitored lakes in Cheboygan County, Black Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2022-08-20. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Crystal clear, you can see 16 ft down. Trophic State Index: 37.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 16 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 37 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Black Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Black Lake in Cheboygan County, Michigan — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Black Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +8.12 m/yr | 2 |
Recreation & Access
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Black Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 50 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 7 lakes in Cheboygan County
Nearby Lakes in Cheboygan County
Explore Black Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Cheboygan County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
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Oligotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2022-08-20
Monitoring stations: 1