Manitou Lake Water Temperature
Manitou Lake in Leelanau County, Michigan typically sits around 65°F at the surface in September — warmest in Jul (~66°F) and coldest in Jun (~62°F). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Typical water temperature by month
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 830 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. Months with too few readings are left blank.
Is Manitou Lake warm enough to swim?
Brisk but swimmable for short dips — most people acclimate after the first few minutes.
Want more than temperature? Manitou Lake scored B on water quality — clarity, algae, phosphorus, depth, fish species, and swimming safety, all on one report card.
Water temperatures at nearby Michigan lakes
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Where to stay near Manitou Lake
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Frequently asked questions
What is the water temperature of Manitou Lake?
Manitou Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in September, from 830 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
When is Manitou Lake warmest?
Surface water at Manitou Lake is typically warmest in July, reaching about 66°F. Lake surface temperature lags air temperature by several weeks, so the warmest water usually arrives in mid-to-late summer even though the hottest air can come earlier.
Is Manitou Lake warm enough to swim?
At its typical summer peak of about 65°F, Manitou Lake rates as "cool" for swimming. Brisk but swimmable for short dips — most people acclimate after the first few minutes.
Where does this Manitou Lake water temperature data come from?
Every temperature on this page is a typical (climatological) value computed from real surface-water field readings collected by state and federal agencies and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal — 830 readings from 5 monitoring stations between 2010 and 2024. They describe what is typical for each month, not the temperature right now.
About this data
Water temperatures are a climatology — the typical value for each month, averaged from real surface-water field readings collected by state and federal agencies and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. They tell you what to expect, not the temperature at this moment. Actual conditions vary with recent weather, depth, and time of day.