Best Lakes for Kayaking Near Traverse City
Michigan
14 kayaking lakes within driving distance of Traverse City, Michigan, ranked by water quality and kayaking-specific filters. Filtered for favourable clarity and algae readings, public access, and ideal paddling size (30-3,000 acres).
A moderate cluster of 14 measured lakes lies within reach of Traverse City. Spider Lake has the lowest nutrient and algae readings of the set.
The kayaking-specific ranking layered on top of the readings is what produces the list below: a lake with clean readings that does not also support the kayaking use case is less useful than a decent one that does.
| # | Lake | County | Distance | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spider Lake | Grand Traverse | 8.5 mi | 12 ft | - |
| 2 | Rennie Lake | Grand Traverse | 10 mi | 14 ft | 27 ft |
| 3 | Lake View | Benzie | 12.1 mi | 18 ft | - |
| 4 | Upper Woodcock Lake | Benzie | 13.5 mi | 11 ft | 45 ft |
| 5 | Fisher Lake | Leelanau | 18.5 mi | - | - |
| 6 | Otter Lake | Benzie | 21.7 mi | 12 ft | - |
| 7 | Little Platte Lake | Benzie | 22 mi | 6.5 ft | 8 ft |
| 8 | South Bar Lake | Leelanau | 22.1 mi | 8.5 ft | 13 ft |
| 9 | Loon Lake | Benzie | 25.3 mi | 12 ft | - |
| 10 | Bass Lake | Leelanau | 16.9 mi | 11.2 ft | - |
| 11 | Shell Lake | Leelanau | 18.7 mi | 11.4 ft | 12 ft |
| 12 | North Bar Lake | Leelanau | 22.5 mi | 12.7 ft | - |
| 13 | Florence Lake | Leelanau | 29.9 mi | 8.2 ft | - |
| 14 | Manitou Lake | Leelanau | 32 mi | 13.3 ft | - |
Other activities near Traverse City
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
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip to Traverse City?
Get lake water-quality updates plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Traverse City — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.