Little Platte Lake
Benzie County, Michigan896 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.
↑ up from B at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- #12 of 21 in the county
- 8 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Little Platte Lake in Benzie County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 6.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 12 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 8 ft. Surface area: 896 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.5 ft
- Typical in September
- 71°F
- Max depth
- 8 ft
- Area
- 896 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Little Platte Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Little Platte Lake in Benzie 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 Little Platte Lake
Prices for Sep 11–13, 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 whole trip? See where to stay at Michigan’s top lakes →
Watch Little Platte Lake’s letter
Email me if this lake’s grade moves. Grades stay free.
Or email
Little Platte Lake is a 896-acre mesotrophic lake in Benzie County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 8 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2021. The lake supports 8 documented fish species including Bluntnose minnow, Common shiner, and Johnny darter. Public access is available. Compared to the 20 other monitored lakes in Benzie County, Little Platte Lake ranks #12 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2021-09-09. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Little Platte Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Fishing8 species recorded
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Little Platte Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Murky, only visible to about 6.5 ft. Phosphorus 12 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 2.8 µg/L. TSI 44. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 12 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.8 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 44 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Water Temperature
Little Platte Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in May (about 71°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 24 field readings (2021–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Little Platte Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 8 ft |
| Surface Area | 896 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Little Platte Lake
EPA Impairment Status
Little Platte Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040601040206-03 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.92 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #12 of 21 lakes in Benzie County
Nearby Lakes in Benzie County
Frequently asked questions about Little Platte Lake
Where is Little Platte Lake?
- Little Platte Lake is a lake in Benzie County, Michigan. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Little Platte Lake?
- Little Platte Lake in Benzie County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 6.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 12 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 8 ft. Surface area: 896 acres.
Is Little Platte Lake safe to swim in?
- The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Little Platte Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Little Platte Lake?
- Little Platte Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in September, from 24 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2021–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Little Platte Lake?
- Little Platte Lake has a maximum depth of 8 feet. The lake covers 896 acres.
What fish are in Little Platte Lake?
- Fish species found in Little Platte Lake include Bluntnose minnow, Common shiner, Johnny darter, Largemouth bass, Northern longear sunfish, Pumpkinseed, Smallmouth bass, Yellow perch. Little Platte Lake is located in Benzie County, Michigan.
Explore Little Platte Lake across LakeQuality
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Benzie County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Grand Traverse Region area
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Michigan's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
Planning a trip around Sleeping Bear Dunes?
Little Platte Lake 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
Other Grade A Lakes in Michigan
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
Where this data comes from
17 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Michigan EGLE - MiCorps
21MICH_MICORPS17 samples · 2021
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database