Where is Houghton Lake?

Houghton Lake is a lake in Roscommon County, Michigan. Its water-quality measurements are published by EGLE and shown on this page as reported.

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. Public access is listed as yes.

Can I fish at Houghton Lake?

Houghton Lake has 4 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Michigan's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.

Houghton Lake

Roscommon County, Michigan17,606 acresView map Directions

No nutrient or algae sampling on record from EGLE for this lake.

Area

17,606 acres

Surface area

Shoreline

28.7 mi

Measured length

Impaired · PCBs
Public access

See the measurements Directions Where to stay

Houghton Lake in Roscommon County, Michigan has water-quality measurements published by EGLE, shown here as reported. Surface area: 17606 acres.

Loading map…

Houghton Lake is a 17,606-acre lake in Roscommon County, Michigan. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 4 public boat landings.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE. Methodology: how these readings are compared.

What Houghton Lake is good for

From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.

Boat launch4 documented ramps
Big water17,606 acres

Swimming conditions

No reading

Not rated

Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Houghton Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.

Whether Houghton Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.

Compare swimming lakes near Traverse City →

Get alerts for Houghton Lake →

Water quality measurements for Houghton Lake

These are the measurements EGLE publishes for Houghton Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.

No clarity data. TSI undefined.

Ask about Houghton Lake

Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.

Lake Details

Surface area

17,606 acres

Shoreline

28.7 mi

Public access

Yes

Listed by EGLE

No bathymetric survey has been published for Houghton Lake, so its depth is not documented here.

Recreation & Access

Boat Landings

Yes

Public 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

Stays via Stay22

Stays 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

Prices for Oct 16–18, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.

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 trip? Cabins and lodging at Houghton Lake → · more Michigan lake trips

Follow Houghton Lake’s readings

Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.

Or email

Fishing Houghton Lake

→ Houghton Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)

EPA Impairment Status

Houghton Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).

Causes of impairment

PCBs

Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption.

A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.

Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040601020104-02 · Official waterbody report

Nearby Lakes in Roscommon County

Houghton Lake5 ft clear · Oligotrophic3.8 miView →North Bay Houghton Lake4 ft clear4.2 miView →Marl Lake6.5 miView →Lake James6.8 ft clear5.9 miView →Wraco Lodge Lake—View →Little Mud Lake Flooding6.3 miView →

Frequently asked questions about Houghton Lake

Where is Houghton Lake?: Houghton Lake is a lake in Roscommon County, Michigan. Its water-quality measurements are published by EGLE and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Houghton Lake?: Houghton Lake in Roscommon County, Michigan has water-quality measurements published by EGLE, shown here as reported. Surface area: 17606 acres.
Is Houghton Lake safe to swim in?: Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Houghton Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
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. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Houghton Lake?: Houghton Lake has 4 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Michigan's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.