Best Lakes for Swimming Near Detroit
Michigan
10 swimming lakes within driving distance of Detroit, Michigan, ranked by water quality and swimming-specific filters. Filtered for grade A or B water quality, low algae (chlorophyll-a under 15 µg/L), and public access. Always check local advisories on the day you swim.
A moderate cluster of 10 graded lakes lies within reach of Detroit, averaging a grade of B. Square Lake Central Basin; Bloomfield Township (A) is the cleanest of the set.
Filtered for swimming, the nearby-lake list narrows further. swimming-specific signals — fish species, public access, depth profile, motor-boat congestion — interact with the LakeGrade rubric in different ways depending on the use case.
| # | Lake | County | Grade | Distance | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Square Lake Central Basin; Bloomfield Township | Oakland | A | 23.5 mi | 25 ft | - |
| 2 | Square Lake | Oakland | A | 23.5 mi | 23 ft | - |
| 3 | Upper Long Lake Northwest Basin; Bloomfield Township | Oakland | B | 23.1 mi | 8 ft | - |
| 4 | Cass Lake | Oakland | B | 25.2 mi | 12 ft | - |
| 5 | Otter Lake North Basin; Waterford Township | Oakland | B | 25.7 mi | 10 ft | - |
| 6 | Otter Lake | Oakland | B | 25.7 mi | 10 ft | - |
| 7 | Middle Straits Lake Central Basin; West Bloomfield Township | Oakland | B | 25.9 mi | 11 ft | - |
| 8 | Middle Straits Lake | Oakland | B | 26.2 mi | 11 ft | - |
| 9 | Wormer Lake | Oakland | B | 29.1 mi | 10 ft | - |
| 10 | Mohawk Lake | Oakland | B | 29.1 mi | 11 ft | - |
Other activities near Detroit
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.