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LakeQuality

Best Lakes Near Traverse City, MI

50 lakes within 50 miles of Traverse City ranked by water quality grade.

Traverse City sits in a lake-rich part of the upper Midwest: 50 graded lakes within reach, average grade A. Long Lake North Central Basin; Long Lake Township (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
39
Grade A Lakes
31
With Fish Data
22
Public Access
LakeDistanceCountyGradeDepthFish
Long Lake North Central Basin; Long Lake Township7.2 miGrand TraverseA-10
Spider Lake West Basin8.5 miGrand TraverseA-1
Arbutus Lake South Central Basin8.7 miGrand TraverseA-2
Rennie Lake; Central Basin; East Bay Township10 miGrand TraverseA-9
Ransom Lake10.6 miBenzieA-0
Lake View; Almira Twp12.1 miBenzieA-0
Upper Woodcock Lake; Almira Twp13.5 miBenzieA-9
Lower Woodcock Lake; Almira Twp13.6 miBenzieA-9
Pearl Lake Central Basin14.6 miBenzieA-0
Lime Lake15.3 miBenzieA-15
Brooks Lake17.1 miLeelanauA-0
Fisher Lake18.5 miLeelanauA-0
Otter Lake21.7 miBenzieA-30
Little Platte Lake North Basin22 miBenzieA-8
South Bar Lake; Center of22.1 miLeelanauA-0
Loon Lake; Lake Twp25.3 miBenzieA-13
Round Lake28.1 miBenzieA-37
Upper Herring Lake; Central Basin; Blaine Township30.9 miBenzieA-18
Lower Herring Lake East Basin; Blaire Township32.1 miBenzieA-25
Big Twin Lake Southeast Basin; Blue Lake Township32.5 miKalkaskaA-9
Pleasant Lake Central Basin32.8 miWexfordA-0
Cub Lake Central Basin32.9 miKalkaskaA-14
Eagle Lake Central Basin; Blue Lake Township33.4 miKalkaskaA-5
Bear Lake Southeast Basin33.5 miKalkaskaA-9
Squaw Lake Central Basin; Blue Lake Township34.5 miKalkaskaA-8
Bear Lake Central Basin North; Pleasanton Township35.1 miManisteeA-0
North Crooked Lake South Central Basin; Blue Lake Township35.2 miKalkaskaA-6
Big Blue Lake North Basin; Blue Lake Township35.8 miKalkaskaA-17
Tippy Pond Pine Arm37.9 miManisteeA-0
Tippy Pond by Dam38.1 miManisteeA-0
Tippy Pond Manistee Arm39.1 miManisteeA-0
Star Lake; Norman Twp41.9 miManisteeA-0
Higgins Lake Northwest Basin46.2 miRoscommonA-12
Perch Lake46.5 miOtsegoA-1
Houghton Lake49.2 miRoscommonA-6
Little Bass Lake49.4 miLakeA-1
Big Bass Lake North Basin; Elk Township49.6 miLakeA-1
Rose Lake East Basin; Rose Lake Township49.7 miOsceolaA-0
Manistee Lake South49.8 miManisteeA-7
Bass Lake16.9 miLeelanauB-13
Shell Lake18.7 miLeelanauB-0
North Bar Lake22.5 miLeelanauB-0
Loon Lake25.3 miBenzieB-13
Florence Lake29.9 miLeelanauB-0
Manitou Lake32 miLeelanauB-0
Papoose Lake Central Basin; Blue Lake Township33.8 miKalkaskaB-7
Lake Charlevoix41.4 miCharlevoixC-3
Long Lake7.1 miGrand TraverseNR-40
Mickey Lake7.4 miGrand TraverseNR-0
Mickey Lake7.4 miGrand TraverseNR-0

Top-Rated Lakes Near Traverse City

Long Lake North Central Basin; Long Lake Township

7.2 mi · Grand Traverse County · Grade A

Spider Lake West Basin

8.5 mi · Grand Traverse County · Grade A

Arbutus Lake South Central Basin

8.7 mi · Grand Traverse County · Grade A

Rennie Lake; Central Basin; East Bay Township

10 mi · Grand Traverse County · Grade A

Ransom Lake

10.6 mi · Benzie County · Grade A

Lake View; Almira Twp

12.1 mi · Benzie 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, MIGrand Rapids, 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

Plan a lake trip in Michigan

The State of Michigan's Lakes

Michigan's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked A–F

Michigan Fishing Guide

Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan

Lake Fishing Forecast

Species activity outlook by water temperature and season

Michigan Lake Trips

Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade

Frequently Asked Questions

How many lakes are near Traverse City?

There are 50 graded lakes within 50 miles of Traverse City, Michigan. 39 of these have an A water quality grade (excellent).

What are the best lakes near Traverse City for fishing?

31 lakes near Traverse City have documented fish species data. The best fishing lakes combine good water quality grades with diverse fish populations. 25 lakes within 50 miles have 5 or more documented fish species.

Where to stay near Traverse City

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Traverse City — book a place close to the best-rated lakes in the area.

Top-rated places to stay near Traverse City

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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.