Lake Lancer is a 977-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Gladwin County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2021. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 8 other monitored lakes in Gladwin County, Lake Lancer ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2021-09-12. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Lake Lancer water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Crystal clear, you can see 15.5 ft down. Trophic State Index: 38.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 15.5 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 38 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 977 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Lake Lancer
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Lancer in Gladwin 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 Lancer
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 to Lake Lancer?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Lake Lancer — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Michigan’s top lakes →
Fishing Lake Lancer
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +2.675 m/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.3 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 9 lakes in Gladwin County
Nearby Lakes in Gladwin County
Explore Lake Lancer across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Gladwin County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Michigan's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in Michigan
Clare County · Clarity: 17.5 ft
Roscommon County · Clarity: 35 ft
Roscommon County · Clarity: 34 ft
Roscommon County · Clarity: 34.5 ft
Crawford County · Clarity: 19 ft
Crawford County · Clarity: 19 ft
Oligotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Lancer is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Lancer Dam (completed 1976), built primarily for recreation on the Sugar River; earth-type dam, 36 ft tall and 7,175 ft long.
- Surface area
- 977 ac
- Normal storage
- 12,500 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 17,500 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 33.2 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Gladwin County Drain Commissioner
All listed purposes: Recreation;Other.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MI00471 · Operator website
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2021-09-12
Monitoring stations: 1