Grand Sable Lake
Alger County, Michigan656 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae sit in the clean band for this region.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- #6 of 8 in the county
- 85 ft max depth
- Public access
Grand Sable Lake in Alger County, Michigan has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 85 ft. Surface area: 655.7 acres.
- Clarity
- 8 ft
- Typical in September
- 60°F
- Max depth
- 85 ft
- Area
- 656 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 10.8 µg/L
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays near Grand Sable Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Grand Sable Lake in Alger 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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Free interactive depth-contour map of Grand Sable Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 85 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
Grand Sable Lake is a 656-acre mesotrophic lake in Alger County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 85 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2024. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 7 other monitored lakes in Alger County, Grand Sable Lake ranks #6 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2024-08-20. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Grand Sable Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Camping2 public campgrounds nearby
- Deep water85 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
The B is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Grand Sable Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8 ft. Phosphorus 10.8 µg/L. TSI 43. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 10.8 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Water Temperature
Grand Sable Lake typically sits around 60°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 59°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 61°F) and coldest in May (about 48°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 1,423 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Grand Sable Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 85 ft |
| Surface Area | 656 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
Public campgrounds near Grand Sable Lake
- Woodland Park4.2 km
- Woodland Park4.2 km
Nearest public campgrounds in the USGS National Map inventory, within about 3 miles. An empty list means USGS records no campground that close, which is not the same as camping being unavailable. Where the source gives an official reservation link, it is used; the cabin and hotel search does not cover campsites. More camping lakes
Fishing Grand Sable Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 9 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.141 m/yr | 9 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.46 µg/L/yr | 7 |
EPA Impairment Status
Grand Sable 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 MI040202010209-04 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #6 of 8 lakes in Alger County
Nearby Lakes in Alger County
Frequently asked questions about Grand Sable Lake
Where is Grand Sable Lake?
- Grand Sable Lake is a lake in Alger County, Michigan. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Grand Sable Lake?
- Grand Sable Lake in Alger County, Michigan has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 85 ft. Surface area: 655.7 acres.
Is Grand Sable Lake safe to swim in?
- The B is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Grand Sable Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Grand Sable Lake?
- Grand Sable Lake typically sits around 60°F at the surface in September, from 1,423 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Grand Sable Lake?
- Grand Sable Lake has a maximum depth of 85 feet. The lake covers 655.7 acres.
Are there campgrounds on Grand Sable Lake?
- Grand Sable Lake has 2 public campgrounds from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Woodland Park, Woodland Park. This is a location join, not a booking. Cabins and hotels are listed separately; campsite reservations use the official link when the source provides one.
Explore Grand Sable Lake across LakeQuality
1.6 mi away · 75 ft
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Alger County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Planning a trip around Pictured Rocks?
Grand Sable Lake is about 15 miles from Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Crowds there swing hard by season, so the month you pick changes both how busy the park is and what lodging costs.
Best time to visit Pictured Rocks →More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Michigan
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
Compare Grand Sable Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
52 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2016–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- National Park Service Water Resources Division
11NPSWRD_WQX52 samples · 2016–2024
Analytical methods
- Secchi Disk
- Alkaline Persulfate Digestion for Total N and P in Water
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles