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LakeQuality

Best Lakes Near Grand Rapids, MI

50 lakes within 50 miles of Grand Rapids ranked by water quality grade.

Grand Rapids sits in a lake-rich part of the upper Midwest: 50 graded lakes within reach, average grade B. Cobb Lake Central Basin (A) leads the cluster.

The lakes below are sorted by composite LakeGrade rubric score. If you have a specific activity in mind — swimming, kayaking, ice-fishing, family-fishing — the activity-specific sub-pages will filter further.

50
Lakes Within 50 mi
13
Grade A Lakes
22
With Fish Data
0
Public Access
LakeDistanceCountyGradeDepthFish
Cobb Lake Central Basin22.5 miBarryA-0
Cobb Lake22.5 miBarryA-0
Whitefish Lake Southeast Basin; Pierson Township25.8 miMontcalmA-21
Whitefish Lake26.2 miMontcalmA-21
Bills Lake Central Basin29.7 miNewaygoA-0
Bills Lake29.8 miNewaygoA-0
Brush Lake46.6 miNewaygoA-0
Long Lake Northeast Basin; Hope Twsp.31.8 miBarryA-0
Little Long Lake Central Basin; Prairieville Township39.1 miBarryA-1
Eagle Lake North Central Basin39.5 miAlleganA-0
Crystal Lake Central Basin; Crystal Township42.2 miMontcalmA-0
Duck Lake; Center of Deepest Basin; Fruitland Township45 miMuskegonA-22
Blue Lake North Central Basin49.4 miMecostaA-0
Emerald Lake4.6 miKentB-15
Emerald Lake4.6 miKentB-15
Big Crooked Lake South Basin; Grattan Township15 miKentB-0
Big Crooked Lake15.3 miKentB-0
Murray Lake East Basin; Grattan Township15.6 miKentB-29
Big Pine Island Lake North Central Basin18 miKentB-0
Scram Lake19 miKentB-14
Scram Lake East Basin; Oakfield Township19.1 miKentB-14
Barlow Lake21.6 miBarryB-10
Payne Lake23.7 miBarryB-0
Payne Lake North Central Basin23.7 miBarryB-0
Maston Lake Northeast Basin; Spencer Township26.8 miKentB-0
Newcomb Lake27.5 miMontcalmB-0
Bass Lake27.7 miMontcalmB-13
Newcomb Lake27.7 miMontcalmB-0
Miner Lake West Central Basin,Allegan Township28 miAlleganB-0
Long Lake31.9 miBarryB-1
Emerald Lake34.7 miNewaygoB-15
Crooked Lake34.8 miBarryB-27
Pickerel Lake34.9 miNewaygoB-1
Sylvan Lake35 miNewaygoB-14
Sylvan Lake West Central Basin; Brooks Township35.2 miNewaygoB-0
Muskegon Lake36.6 miMuskegonB-10
Fremont Lake36.8 miNewaygoB-0
Eagle Lake39.6 miAlleganB-30
Gull Lake40.9 miKalamazooB-0
Crystal Lake42.4 miMontcalmB-16
Owasippe Lake; Central Basin; Whitehall Township42.9 miMuskegonB-0
Owasippe Lake42.9 miMuskegonB-0
Duck Lake44.8 miMuskegonB-22
Rogers Dam Pond; Central Basin; Mecosta Township46.4 miMecostaB-0
Mecosta Lake North Basin; Morton Township48.9 miMecostaB-0
Blue Lake49.3 miMecostaB-3
Ingerson Lake25.1 miAlleganB-0
Indian Lake43.4 miKalamazooB-1
Boot Lake44 miKalamazooB-0
White Lake Middle Basin; Fruitland Township46 miMuskegonB-0

Top-Rated Lakes Near Grand Rapids

Cobb Lake Central Basin

22.5 mi · Barry County · Grade A

Cobb Lake

22.5 mi · Barry County · Grade A

Whitefish Lake Southeast Basin; Pierson Township

25.8 mi · Montcalm County · Grade A

Whitefish Lake

26.2 mi · Montcalm County · Grade A

Bills Lake Central Basin

29.7 mi · Newaygo County · Grade A

Bills Lake

29.8 mi · Newaygo County · Grade A

Lakes Near Other Cities

Minneapolis, MNSt. Paul, MNDuluth, MNRochester, MNBrainerd, MNSt. Cloud, MNMankato, MNBemidji, MNGrand Rapids, MNAlexandria, MNMoorhead, MNWillmar, MNPark Rapids, MNDetroit Lakes, MNEly, MNMilwaukee, WIMadison, WIGreen Bay, WIEau Claire, WIWausau, WILa Crosse, WIAppleton, WIOshkosh, WIStevens Point, WIRhinelander, WIMinocqua, WIHayward, WIEagle River, WIWisconsin Dells, WIChicago, ILRockford, ILDetroit, MITraverse City, MIDes Moines, IACedar Rapids, IAColumbus, OHCleveland, OHPittsburgh, PAErie, PASyracuse, NYRochester, NYAlbany, NYSt. Louis, MOKansas City, MOSpringfield, MOIndianapolis, INFort Wayne, INFargo, NDBismarck, NDDevils Lake, NDSioux Falls, SD

Frequently Asked Questions

How many lakes are near Grand Rapids?

There are 50 graded lakes within 50 miles of Grand Rapids, Michigan. 13 of these have an A water quality grade (excellent).

What are the best lakes near Grand Rapids for fishing?

22 lakes near Grand Rapids have documented fish species data. The best fishing lakes combine good water quality grades with diverse fish populations. 17 lakes within 50 miles have 5 or more documented fish species.

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.