Elk Lake is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Antrim County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2025. The lake supports 27 documented fish species including Blacknose shiner, Bluegill, and Bluntnose minnow. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 5 other monitored lakes in Antrim County, Elk Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2025-06-10. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 10.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 38.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No data | |
| Phosphorus | 10.3 µg/L | A |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 38 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Elk Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Elk Lake
Recreation & Access
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 6 lakes in Antrim County
Nearby Lakes in Antrim County
Explore Elk Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Antrim County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
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Other Grade A Lakes in Michigan
Grand Traverse County · Clarity: 15 ft
Grand Traverse County · Clarity: 13 ft
Grand Traverse County · Clarity: 12 ft
Grand Traverse County · Clarity: 15.8 ft
Grand Traverse County · Clarity: 16.8 ft
Grand Traverse County · Clarity: 17.3 ft
Oligotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Elk Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040601050404-02 · Official waterbody report
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
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: 2025-06-10
Monitoring stations: 1