Skip to main content
LakeQuality

Grand Traverse Region

Glacial moraines and drowned river valleys around Grand Traverse Bay hold some of Michigan's clearest and deepest inland lakes, including Torch Lake — the state's longest inland lake — the Elk River Chain of Lakes, Crystal Lake, Lake Charlevoix, and Walloon Lake. Freshwater beaches, boating, and salmon and lake-trout fishing drive a large summer resort economy centered on Traverse City, Charlevoix, and Petoskey.

Reviewed by LakeQuality Editorial Team · Updated
120
Lakes
A
Avg Grade
26
Grade A Lakes
81
With Fish Data
LakeCountyGradeClarityDepthFish
Brooks LakeLeelanauA9 ft-0
Rennie Lake; Central Basin; East Bay TownshipGrand TraverseA13 ft-9
Squaw Lake Central Basin; Blue Lake TownshipKalkaskaA16 ft-8
Upper Herring Lake; Central Basin; Blaine TownshipBenzieA8 ft-18
Spider Lake West BasinGrand TraverseA12 ft-1
Big Twin Lake Southeast Basin; Blue Lake TownshipKalkaskaA23 ft-9
Round LakeBenzieA15 ft-37
Bear Lake Southeast BasinKalkaskaA36.5 ft-9
Arbutus Lake South Central BasinGrand TraverseA19 ft-2
Cub Lake Central BasinKalkaskaA19 ft-14
Otter LakeBenzieA12 ft-30
Long Lake North Central Basin; Long Lake TownshipGrand TraverseA23.8 ft-10
North Crooked Lake South Central Basin; Blue Lake TownshipKalkaskaA13.5 ft-6
Eagle Lake Central Basin; Blue Lake TownshipKalkaskaA17 ft-5
Little Platte Lake North BasinBenzieA6.5 ft-8
Pearl Lake Central BasinBenzieA13 ft-0
South Bar Lake; Center ofLeelanauA8.5 ft-0
Lake View; Almira TwpBenzieA18 ft-0
Lower Herring Lake East Basin; Blaire TownshipBenzieA16 ft-25
Upper Woodcock Lake; Almira TwpBenzieA11 ft-9
Lower Woodcock Lake; Almira TwpBenzieA12.3 ft-9
Loon Lake; Lake TwpBenzieA12 ft-13
Lime LakeBenzieA17.5 ft-15
Ransom LakeBenzieA15 ft-0
Fisher LakeLeelanauA--0
Big Blue Lake North Basin; Blue Lake TownshipKalkaskaA--17
Loon LakeBenzieB12.1 ft-13
Bass LakeLeelanauB11.2 ft-13
Manitou LakeLeelanauB13.3 ft-0
North Bar LakeLeelanauB12.7 ft-0
Florence LakeLeelanauB8.6 ft-0
Shell LakeLeelanauB11.2 ft-0
Fox LakeCharlevoixB5 ft-9
Barneys LakeCharlevoixB10 ft-9
Papoose Lake Central Basin; Blue Lake TownshipKalkaskaB21 ft-7
Crooked LakeEmmetB--26
Lake CharlevoixCharlevoixC--3
Squaw LakeKalkaskaNR16 ft-8
Brooks LakeLeelanauNR9.5 ft-0
Glen LakeLeelanauNR15.5 ft-1
Sanford LakeBenzieNR15.8 ft-17
Clam LakeAntrimNR12.1 ft-1
Lake AnnBenzieNR13.8 ft-10
Rennie LakeGrand TraverseNR13 ft-9
Spider LakeGrand TraverseNR12 ft-1
Arbutus LakeGrand TraverseNR17 ft-0
Twin LakeKalkaskaNR23 ft-13
Little Twin LakeKalkaskaNR20 ft-0
Indian LakeKalkaskaNR16.5 ft-2
Pearl LakeBenzieNR13 ft-0
Mickey LakeGrand TraverseNR15 ft-0
Eagle LakeKalkaskaNR17 ft-5
Island LakeGrand TraverseNR15 ft-4
South Bar LakeLeelanauNR8.3 ft-0
Lake LeelanauLeelanauNR12.5 ft-1
Pickerel LakeKalkaskaNR15 ft-29
Little Platte LakeBenzieNR6.5 ft-0
Round LakeEmmetNR--2
Lake Leelanau; North BasinLeelanauNR18 ft-0
Arbutus Lake North BasinGrand TraverseNR15.8 ft-1
North Crooked LakeKalkaskaNR12.5 ft-6
Upper Herring LakeBenzieNR7.5 ft-18
Long LakeBenzieNR11.5 ft-40
Nowland LakeCharlevoixNR9.5 ft-0
Lake Leelanau; South Basin; Center ofLeelanauNR11.8 ft-0
Indian Lake Northeast Basin; Blue Lake TownshipKalkaskaNR15.5 ft-11
Crystal LakeBenzieNR32 ft-9
Long LakeGrand TraverseNR24 ft-40
Cub LakeKalkaskaNR19.5 ft-5
Arbutus Lake South BasinGrand TraverseNR13.5 ft-0
Bear LakeKalkaskaNR33 ft-4
Round LakeBenzieNR15 ft-37
Fox LakeCharlevoixNR5 ft-9
Arbutus Lake North Central BasinGrand TraverseNR16.8 ft-0
Barneys LakeCharlevoixNR10 ft-9
Otter LakeBenzieNR12 ft-30
Mickey LakeGrand TraverseNR15 ft-0
Arbutus Lake Central BasinGrand TraverseNR17.3 ft-2
Nowland Lake Central Basin; Evenline TownshipCharlevoixNR10 ft-0
Fife LakeGrand TraverseNR13.5 ft-2
Font LakeCharlevoixNR5 ft-8
Geneserath LakeCharlevoixNR16.5 ft-0
Turtle LakeBenzieNR10.8 ft-0
Walloon LakeCharlevoixNR13.3 ft-3
Lime Lake Central Basin; Cleveland TownshipLeelanauNR13 ft-0
North Crooked Lake North Central Basin; Blue Lake TownshipKalkaskaNR12.5 ft-6
Deer LakeCharlevoixNR11.5 ft-14
Loon LakeBenzieNR12 ft-13
Turtle Lake South Basin; Inland TownshipBenzieNR13 ft-0
Papoose LakeKalkaskaNR20 ft-7
Lake GeneserathCharlevoixNR16.5 ft-12
Lower Woodcock LakeBenzieNR12.3 ft-9
Lime LakeLeelanauNR15.8 ft-1
Lower Herring LakeBenzieNR13.8 ft-25
Greenes LakeCharlevoixNR2 ft-0
Torch LakeAntrimNR27.5 ft-3
Thumb LakeCharlevoixNR17 ft-3
Birch LakeAntrimNR17 ft-2
Lake ViewBenzieNR18 ft-0
Pickerel LakeEmmetNR9.5 ft-22

Showing 100 of 120 lakes.

Top-Rated Lakes in Grand Traverse Region

Brooks Lake

Leelanau County · Grade A · 9 ft clarity

Rennie Lake; Central Basin; East Bay Township

Grand Traverse County · Grade A · 13 ft clarity

Squaw Lake Central Basin; Blue Lake Township

Kalkaska County · Grade A · 16 ft clarity

Upper Herring Lake; Central Basin; Blaine Township

Benzie County · Grade A · 8 ft clarity

Spider Lake West Basin

Grand Traverse County · Grade A · 12 ft clarity

Big Twin Lake Southeast Basin; Blue Lake Township

Kalkaska County · Grade A · 23 ft clarity

Other Lake Regions

Brainerd Lakes
Minnesota
Boundary Waters Area
Minnesota
Alexandria Lakes
Minnesota
Detroit Lakes Area
Minnesota
Otter Tail County
Minnesota
Lake Vermilion Area
Minnesota
Park Rapids Area
Minnesota
Mille Lacs Area
Minnesota
Northwoods Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Hayward Lakes
Wisconsin
Minocqua Chain
Wisconsin
Door County
Wisconsin
Madison Area Lakes
Wisconsin
Finger Lakes
New York
Adirondacks
New York
Upper Peninsula
Michigan
Irish Hills
Michigan
Chain O'Lakes
Illinois
Iowa Great Lakes
Iowa
Lake of the Ozarks
Missouri
Table Rock & Branson Lakes
Missouri
Devils Lake Region
North Dakota
Northern Indiana Lake Country
Indiana

Plan a 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

Lakes near Detroit

Best-graded lakes within 50 miles of Detroit

Lakes near Grand Rapids

Best-graded lakes within 50 miles of Grand Rapids

Lakes near Traverse City

Best-graded lakes within 50 miles of Traverse City

Where to stay near Grand Traverse Region

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Grand Traverse Region — then explore the interactive map to find a place to stay close to the water.

Top-rated places to stay near Grand Traverse Region

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 Grand Traverse Region?

Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Grand Traverse Region — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.