Lake Leelanau
Leelanau County, Michigan8,608 acresView mapDirections
Not Rated: one monitoring station are on record, but they measured water clarity only. LakeQuality’s A–F method grades total phosphorus, total nitrogen, chlorophyll-a, and turbidity; clarity is shown, not scored.
- 62 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Lake Leelanau in Leelanau County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 13.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 62 ft. Surface area: 8608.3 acres.
- Clarity
- 13.5 ft
- Max depth
- 62 ft
- Area
- 8,608 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays near Lake Leelanau
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Leelanau in Leelanau 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 Leelanau
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Planning a trip? Cabins and lodging at Lake Leelanau → · more Michigan lake trips
Watch Lake Leelanau’s letter
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Why Lake Leelanau has no grade
Lake Leelanau has monitoring on record from one station, but only water clarity was measured. LakeQuality’s A–F letter uses total phosphorus, total nitrogen, chlorophyll-a, and turbidity against EPA National Lakes Assessment condition classes. With none of those grading measurements on record, Lake Leelanau is Not Rated — not an F. Its 13.5-foot median from 127 readings collected 2016–2021 is still shown as clarity, but clarity alone cannot earn a letter.
Not Rated is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. 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.
Lake Leelanau is a 8,608-acre lake in Leelanau County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 62 feet. The lake supports 1 documented fish species including Lake herring. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2021-09-19. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Lake Leelanau is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water13.5 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Deep water62 ft surveyed max depth
- Big water8,608 acres
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water quality measurements for Lake Leelanau
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 13.5 ft. TSI 40.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 62 ft |
| Surface Area | 8,608 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- County Road 651 NPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lake Leelanau
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.026 m/yr | 5 |
Graded lakes near Lake Leelanau
Lake Leelanau has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Leelanau County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Leelanau
Where is Lake Leelanau?
- Lake Leelanau is a lake in Leelanau County, Michigan. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity.
What is the water quality grade for Lake Leelanau?
- Lake Leelanau in Leelanau County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 13.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 62 ft. Surface area: 8608.3 acres.
Is Lake Leelanau safe to swim in?
- The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Lake Leelanau?
- Lake Leelanau has a maximum depth of 62 feet. The lake covers 8608.3 acres.
What fish are in Lake Leelanau?
- Fish species found in Lake Leelanau include Lake herring. Lake Leelanau is located in Leelanau County, Michigan.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Leelanau?
- Lake Leelanau has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include County Road 651 N. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Lake Leelanau across LakeQuality
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Planning a trip around Sleeping Bear Dunes?
Lake Leelanau is about 15 miles from Sleeping Bear Dunes 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 Sleeping Bear Dunes →More Michigan Lake Rankings
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Where this data comes from
127 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2016–2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- North American Lake Management Society
NALMS127 samples · 2016–2021
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory