Best Lakes for Boating Near Traverse City
Michigan
2 boating lakes within driving distance of Traverse City, 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.
Lakes near Traverse City are sparser (2 graded lakes within reach), so the choices are limited. Tippy Pond by Dam (A) is the standout.
The boating-specific ranking layered on top of the LakeGrade rubric is what produces the list below: a grade-good lake that does not also support the boating use case is less useful than a grade-decent lake that does.
| # | Lake | County | Grade | Distance | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tippy Pond by Dam | Manistee | A | 38.1 mi | - | - |
| 2 | Lake Bellaire | Antrim | NR | 23.5 mi | 8.8 ft | - |
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.