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LakeQuality
Sunset over the pine treeline on Slim Lake, the sun reflected on light chop

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
81
With Fish Data
LakeCountyClarityDepthFish
Brooks LakeLeelanau9 ft-0
Rennie Lake; Central Basin; East Bay TownshipGrand Traverse13 ft-9
Squaw Lake Central Basin; Blue Lake TownshipKalkaska16 ft-8
Upper Herring Lake; Central Basin; Blaine TownshipBenzie8 ft-18
Spider Lake West BasinGrand Traverse12 ft-1
Big Twin Lake Southeast Basin; Blue Lake TownshipKalkaska23 ft-9
Round LakeBenzie15 ft-37
Bear Lake Southeast BasinKalkaska36.5 ft-9
Arbutus Lake South Central BasinGrand Traverse19 ft-2
Cub Lake Central BasinKalkaska19 ft-14
Otter LakeBenzie12 ft-30
Long Lake North Central Basin; Long Lake TownshipGrand Traverse23.8 ft-10
North Crooked Lake South Central Basin; Blue Lake TownshipKalkaska13.5 ft-6
Eagle Lake Central Basin; Blue Lake TownshipKalkaska17 ft-5
Little Platte Lake North BasinBenzie6.5 ft-8
Pearl Lake Central BasinBenzie13 ft-0
South Bar Lake; Center ofLeelanau8.5 ft-0
Lake View; Almira TwpBenzie18 ft-0
Lower Herring Lake East Basin; Blaire TownshipBenzie16 ft-25
Upper Woodcock Lake; Almira TwpBenzie11 ft-9
Lower Woodcock Lake; Almira TwpBenzie12.3 ft-9
Loon Lake; Lake TwpBenzie12 ft-13
Lime LakeBenzie17.5 ft-15
Ransom LakeBenzie15 ft-0
Fisher LakeLeelanau--0
Big Blue Lake North Basin; Blue Lake TownshipKalkaska--17
Loon LakeBenzie12.1 ft-13
Bass LakeLeelanau11.2 ft-13
Manitou LakeLeelanau13.3 ft-0
North Bar LakeLeelanau12.7 ft-0
Florence LakeLeelanau8.6 ft-0
Shell LakeLeelanau11.2 ft-0
Fox LakeCharlevoix5 ft-9
Barneys LakeCharlevoix10 ft-9
Papoose Lake Central Basin; Blue Lake TownshipKalkaska21 ft-7
Crooked LakeEmmet--26
Lake CharlevoixCharlevoix--3
Squaw LakeKalkaska16 ft-8
Brooks LakeLeelanau9.5 ft-0
Glen LakeLeelanau15.5 ft-1
Sanford LakeBenzie15.8 ft-17
Clam LakeAntrim12.1 ft-1
Lake AnnBenzie13.8 ft-10
Rennie LakeGrand Traverse13 ft-9
Spider LakeGrand Traverse12 ft-1
Arbutus LakeGrand Traverse17 ft-0
Twin LakeKalkaska23 ft-13
Little Twin LakeKalkaska20 ft-0
Indian LakeKalkaska16.5 ft-2
Pearl LakeBenzie13 ft-0
Mickey LakeGrand Traverse15 ft-0
Eagle LakeKalkaska17 ft-5
Island LakeGrand Traverse15 ft-4
South Bar LakeLeelanau8.3 ft-0
Lake LeelanauLeelanau12.5 ft-1
Pickerel LakeKalkaska15 ft-29
Little Platte LakeBenzie6.5 ft-0
Round LakeEmmet--2
Lake Leelanau; North BasinLeelanau18 ft-0
Arbutus Lake North BasinGrand Traverse15.8 ft-1
North Crooked LakeKalkaska12.5 ft-6
Upper Herring LakeBenzie7.5 ft-18
Long LakeBenzie11.5 ft-40
Nowland LakeCharlevoix9.5 ft-0
Lake Leelanau; South Basin; Center ofLeelanau11.8 ft-0
Indian Lake Northeast Basin; Blue Lake TownshipKalkaska15.5 ft-11
Crystal LakeBenzie32 ft-9
Long LakeGrand Traverse24 ft-40
Cub LakeKalkaska19.5 ft-5
Arbutus Lake South BasinGrand Traverse13.5 ft-0
Bear LakeKalkaska33 ft-4
Round LakeBenzie15 ft-37
Fox LakeCharlevoix5 ft-9
Arbutus Lake North Central BasinGrand Traverse16.8 ft-0
Barneys LakeCharlevoix10 ft-9
Otter LakeBenzie12 ft-30
Mickey LakeGrand Traverse15 ft-0
Arbutus Lake Central BasinGrand Traverse17.3 ft-2
Nowland Lake Central Basin; Evenline TownshipCharlevoix10 ft-0
Fife LakeGrand Traverse13.5 ft-2
Font LakeCharlevoix5 ft-8
Geneserath LakeCharlevoix16.5 ft-0
Turtle LakeBenzie10.8 ft-0
Walloon LakeCharlevoix13.3 ft-3
Lime Lake Central Basin; Cleveland TownshipLeelanau13 ft-0
North Crooked Lake North Central Basin; Blue Lake TownshipKalkaska12.5 ft-6
Deer LakeCharlevoix11.5 ft-14
Loon LakeBenzie12 ft-13
Turtle Lake South Basin; Inland TownshipBenzie13 ft-0
Papoose LakeKalkaska20 ft-7
Lake GeneserathCharlevoix16.5 ft-12
Lower Woodcock LakeBenzie12.3 ft-9
Lime LakeLeelanau15.8 ft-1
Lower Herring LakeBenzie13.8 ft-25
Greenes LakeCharlevoix2 ft-0
Torch LakeAntrim27.5 ft-3
Thumb LakeCharlevoix17 ft-3
Birch LakeAntrim17 ft-2
Lake ViewBenzie18 ft-0
Pickerel LakeEmmet9.5 ft-22

Showing 100 of 120 lakes.

Ways to pick a Grand Traverse Region lake

Cleanest water

Documented game fish

Cleanest Lakes in Grand Traverse Region

Brooks Lake

Leelanau County · 9 ft clarity

Rennie Lake; Central Basin; East Bay Township

Grand Traverse County · 13 ft clarity

Squaw Lake Central Basin; Blue Lake Township

Kalkaska County · 16 ft clarity

Upper Herring Lake; Central Basin; Blaine Township

Benzie County · 8 ft clarity

Spider Lake West Basin

Grand Traverse County · 12 ft clarity

Big Twin Lake Southeast Basin; Blue Lake Township

Kalkaska County · 23 ft clarity

Other Lake Regions

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Boundary Waters Area
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Detroit Lakes Area
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Otter Tail County
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Lake Vermilion Area
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Park Rapids Area
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Mille Lacs Area
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Northwoods Wisconsin
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Hayward Lakes
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Minocqua Chain
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Door County
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Madison Area Lakes
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Finger Lakes
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Adirondacks
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Upper Peninsula
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Irish Hills
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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 lakes, ranked on agency measurements

Michigan Fishing Guide

Fish species and the cleanest 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 readings

Lakes near Detroit

Cleanest lakes within 50 miles of Detroit

Lakes near Grand Rapids

Cleanest lakes within 50 miles of Grand Rapids

Lakes near Traverse City

Cleanest lakes within 50 miles of Traverse City

Frequently Asked Questions

The Grand Traverse Region area has 120 lakes with water-quality records from state and federal monitoring. 105 of them have a clarity reading and 81 have documented fish species.

Cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals around Grand Traverse Region are on the map below with live availability. A lake with low nutrient and algae readings is the better swim and cabin pick when water quality is part of the trip.

The lakes with the lowest nutrient and algae readings lead the table above. Each lake page shows its own phosphorus, chlorophyll-a and clarity readings beside the EPA condition class; none of it is a same-day swim clearance.

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

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 Grand Traverse Region?

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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.