Lake Charlevoix
Charlevoix County, Michigan17,256 acresView mapDirections
EGLE publishes the water-quality measurements for Lake Charlevoix. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- 122 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Lake Charlevoix in Charlevoix County, Michigan has water-quality measurements published by EGLE, shown here as reported. Phosphorus: 31 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 122 ft. Surface area: 17255.9 acres.
Free interactive depth-contour map of Lake Charlevoix, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 122 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
Lake Charlevoix is a 17,256-acre mesotrophic lake in Charlevoix County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 122 feet. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Lake whitefish, Rainbow smelt, and Round whitefish. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Charlevoix County, Lake Charlevoix ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2020-10-20. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
At about 17,000 acres, Lake Charlevoix is large enough that where you stay decides which shore you see most of. It has 2 public boat landings, so a lakefront rental is not the only way to get a boat on the water. For a place on the water, look through cabin and lake-house rentals near Lake Charlevoix on Vrbo. For a hotel or motel room, Booking.com and Expedia both search around the lake.
What Lake Charlevoix is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
- Fishing3 species recorded
- Deep water122 ft surveyed max depth
- Big water17,256 acres
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Lake Charlevoix 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.
Water quality measurements for Lake Charlevoix
These are the measurements EGLE publishes for Lake Charlevoix, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
No clarity data. Phosphorus 31 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 3.4 µg/L. TSI 48.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | No reading How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. | |
| Total phosphorus | 31µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 3.4µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 48 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Lake Charlevoix
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Lake Charlevoix typically sits around 59°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 69°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 69°F) and coldest in Feb (about 34°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (34°F) to its warmest (69°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 56 field readings (2015–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lake Charlevoix water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
Max depth
122 ft
Surface area
17,256 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by EGLE
Recreation & Access
- Whiting ParkPublic
- IrontonPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Lake Charlevoix
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Charlevoix in Charlevoix 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 Lake Charlevoix
Prices for Oct 30–Nov 1, 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 Lake Charlevoix → · more Michigan lake trips
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lake Charlevoix
Nearby Lakes in Charlevoix County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Charlevoix
Where is Lake Charlevoix?
- Lake Charlevoix is a lake in Charlevoix County, Michigan. Its water-quality measurements are published by EGLE and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Lake Charlevoix?
- Lake Charlevoix in Charlevoix County, Michigan has water-quality measurements published by EGLE, shown here as reported. Phosphorus: 31 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 122 ft. Surface area: 17255.9 acres.
Is Lake Charlevoix safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Lake Charlevoix?
- Lake Charlevoix typically sits around 59°F at the surface in October, from 56 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2015–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Lake Charlevoix?
- Lake Charlevoix has a maximum depth of 122 feet. The lake covers 17255.9 acres.
What fish are in Lake Charlevoix?
- Fish species found in Lake Charlevoix include Lake whitefish, Rainbow smelt, Round whitefish. Lake Charlevoix is located in Charlevoix County, Michigan.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Charlevoix?
- Lake Charlevoix has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Whiting Park, Ironton. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Lake Charlevoix?
- Lake Charlevoix has 2 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.
Explore Lake Charlevoix across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
30 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2017–2020. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians
LTBBWATR_WQX30 samples · 2017–2020
Analytical methods
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory