Torch Lake
Antrim County, Michigan18,714 acresView mapDirections
EGLE publishes the water-quality measurements for Torch Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Impaired · Dioxins
- 250 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Torch Lake in Antrim County, Michigan has water-quality measurements published by EGLE, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 30 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 250 ft. Surface area: 18713.5 acres.
Free interactive depth-contour map of Torch Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 250 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
Torch Lake is a 18,714-acre lake in Antrim County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 250 feet. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Atlantic salmon, Deepwater sculpin, and Lake herring. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2022-09-13. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
At about 19,000 acres, Torch Lake is large enough that where you stay decides which shore you see most of. It has one public boat landing. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Torch Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What Torch Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water30 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing3 species recorded
- Deep water250 ft surveyed max depth
- Big water18,714 acres
Swimming conditions
No readingLimited data
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Torch Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for dioxins, mercury, pesticides, pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Torch Lake 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 Torch Lake
These are the measurements EGLE publishes for Torch Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Crystal clear, you can see 30 ft down. TSI 28.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 30ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | No reading The nutrient that most limits algae growth in freshwater. More phosphorus, more algae potential. | |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | No reading The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. | |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 28 | Oligotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. No reading is a swimming clearance.
Ask about Torch Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Lake Details
Max depth
250 ft
Surface area
18,714 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by EGLE
Recreation & Access
- Maplehurst Natural AreaPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Torch Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Torch Lake in Antrim 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 Torch Lake
Prices for Oct 16–18, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Torch Lake
Water Quality Trend: Stable
Based on 5 years of monitoring (2016–2022).
Water clarity
Stable5 years
EPA Impairment Status
Torch Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040601050305-01 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Antrim County
Frequently asked questions about Torch Lake
Where is Torch Lake?
- Torch Lake is a lake in Antrim County, Michigan. Its water-quality measurements are published by EGLE and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Torch Lake?
- Torch Lake in Antrim County, Michigan has water-quality measurements published by EGLE, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 30 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 250 ft. Surface area: 18713.5 acres.
Is Torch Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Torch Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for dioxins, mercury, pesticides, pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Torch Lake?
- Torch Lake has a maximum depth of 250 feet. The lake covers 18713.5 acres.
What fish are in Torch Lake?
- Fish species found in Torch Lake include Atlantic salmon, Deepwater sculpin, Lake herring. Torch Lake is located in Antrim County, Michigan.
Are there boat ramps on Torch Lake?
- Torch Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Maplehurst Natural Area. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Torch Lake?
- Torch Lake has 1 documented boat landing 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 Torch Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Antrim County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its readings
Michigan's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Where this data comes from
96 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2016–2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- North American Lake Management Society
NALMS96 samples · 2016–2022
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory