Houghton Lake
Houghton Lake in Roscommon County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Surface area: 17606 acres.
- Area
- 17,606 acres
Next lake in Roscommon County
Swipe left or right on this bar to open the next or previous lake.
Why Houghton Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Houghton Lake, no water-quality sampling on record for this lake.
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by EGLE and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Houghton Lake is a 17,606-acre lake in Roscommon County, Michigan.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled recent years. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Watch Houghton Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Not ratedElevated nutrients
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Houghton Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
No clarity data. Trophic State Index: undefined.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) |
Where to stay near Houghton Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Houghton Lake in Roscommon 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Houghton Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Michigan’s top lakes →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 17,606 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Houghton Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Lakeview ParkPublic
- Houghton Lake NorthPublic
- Heights MarinaSemi-private
- Laphams MarinaSemi-private
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Houghton Lake
Nearby Lakes in Roscommon County
Frequently asked questions about Houghton Lake
Where is Houghton Lake?
- Houghton Lake is a lake in Roscommon County, Michigan. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — no water-quality sampling on record for this lake.
What is the water quality grade for Houghton Lake?
- Houghton Lake in Roscommon County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Surface area: 17606 acres.
Is Houghton Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Houghton Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Houghton Lake?
- Houghton Lake has 4 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lakeview Park, Houghton Lake North, Heights Marina, Laphams Marina.
Explore Houghton Lake across LakeQuality
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Roscommon County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
Michigan's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Lakes in Michigan
Where this data comes from
Measurements for Houghton Lake come from the EPA Water Quality Portal. Per-sample source details are not recorded for this lake.
Other records on this page
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory