Sunset Lake is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Iron County, Michigan. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 38 other monitored lakes in Iron County, Sunset Lake ranks #23 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2022-09-17. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Good clarity, visible to about 14.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 39.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 14.5 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 39 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Sunset Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Sunset Lake in Iron 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.
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Fishing Sunset Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +2.207 m/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +1.2 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Recreation & Access
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Sunset Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 54 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #23 of 39 lakes in Iron County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Sunset Lake holds Grade B. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
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Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
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Other Grade B Lakes in Michigan
Marquette County · Clarity: 12 ft
Gogebic County · Clarity: 11 ft
Gogebic County · Clarity: 10 ft
Gogebic County · Clarity: 9.5 ft
Gogebic County · Clarity: 11.8 ft
Gogebic County · Clarity: 11.5 ft
Oligotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Sunset Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040301060307-06 · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Sunset Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Krist Oil CompanyIron River · 4.1 mi away · NPDES MIG080323
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2022-09-17
Monitoring stations: 1