Best Lakes for Boating Near Grand Rapids
Michigan
30 boating lakes within driving distance of Grand Rapids, Michigan, ranked by water quality and boating-specific filters. Filtered for at least 100 acres and public access. The largest lakes with boat-worthy water are listed first.
Grand Rapids sits in a lake-rich part of the upper Midwest: 30 measured lakes within reach. Bostwick Lake carries the lowest nutrient and algae readings of the cluster.
Filtered for boating, the nearby-lake list narrows further. boating-specific signals, fish species, public access, depth profile, motor-boat congestion, interact with the water-quality readings in different ways depending on the use case.
| # | Lake | County | Distance | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bostwick Lake | Kent | 13.8 mi | 8.8 ft | 24 ft |
| 2 | Murray Lake | Kent | 15.6 mi | 9 ft | - |
| 3 | Duncan Lake | Barry | 16.3 mi | 3.5 ft | 55 ft |
| 4 | Big Pine Island Lake | Kent | 18 mi | 9.3 ft | 40 ft |
| 5 | Bills Lake | Newaygo | 29.7 mi | 13 ft | 90 ft |
| 6 | Derby Lake | Montcalm | 34.6 mi | 14 ft | 87 ft |
| 7 | Little Long Lake | Barry | 39.1 mi | 13 ft | 30 ft |
| 8 | Crystal Lake | Montcalm | 42.2 mi | 10 ft | 70 ft |
| 9 | Duck Lake | Muskegon | 45 mi | 11 ft | - |
| 10 | School Section Lake | Mecosta | 48.2 mi | 11.8 ft | 33 ft |
| 11 | Mecosta Lake | Mecosta | 48.9 mi | 9.5 ft | 39 ft |
| 12 | Round Lake | Mecosta | 49.1 mi | 9 ft | 45 ft |
| 13 | Hutchins Lake | Allegan | 35.3 mi | 13 ft | - |
| 14 | Reeds Lake | Kent | 3.4 mi | - | 51 ft |
| 15 | Little Pine Island Lake | Kent | 9 mi | - | 62 ft |
| 16 | Cranberry Lake | Ottawa | 11.6 mi | - | 30 ft |
| 17 | Grass Lake | Kent | 11.7 mi | - | 30 ft |
| 18 | Silver Lake | Kent | 12.6 mi | - | 60 ft |
| 19 | Bostwick Lake | Kent | 13.8 mi | 8.8 ft | 24 ft |
| 20 | Camp Lake | Kent | 14.7 mi | - | 50 ft |
| 21 | Green Lake | Allegan | 15.1 mi | 8 ft | 60 ft |
| 22 | Big Crooked Lake | Kent | 15.3 mi | 11.5 ft | - |
| 23 | Crockery Lake | Ottawa | 16.9 mi | 4 ft | 54 ft |
| 24 | Pratt Lake | Kent | 18.4 mi | - | 14 ft |
| 25 | Wabasis Lake | Kent | 19 mi | - | 50 ft |
| 26 | Lowell Impoundment | Ionia | 19.6 mi | - | - |
| 27 | Monterey Lake | Allegan | 20.5 mi | - | 29 ft |
| 28 | Barlow Lake | Barry | 21.6 mi | 11 ft | 60 ft |
| 29 | Morrison Lake | Ionia | 24.2 mi | - | 15 ft |
| 30 | Lincoln Lake | Kent | 24.9 mi | - | 55 ft |
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.