Discover The 8 Cleanest Lakes in Michigan

Michigan is synonymous with impressive lakes, not just the Great Lakes, but also its vast number of inland lakes. With over 11,000 lakes bigger than five acres, Michigan offers a paradise for those seeking unique experiences and breathtaking scenery.

The state’s almost 3,300 miles of shoreline make Michigan the state with the highest freshwater coastline in the United States. However, with so many choices, how can you possibly narrow down a list of the top cleanest lakes?

To answer this, we must take water quality testing and monitoring into account. Water clarity alone is not a reliable indicator of the overall cleanliness of a lake. Knowing this, we have compiled a list of the 10 cleanest lakes in Michigan!

Whether you’re a water sports enthusiast or prefer a leisurely swim, you’ll enjoy a worry-free experience in Michigan’s cleanest lakes. Join us as we explore the natural beauty and recreational opportunities of these eight pristine lakes in Michigan!

1. Lake Huron

This Great Lake is known for having less algae-laden water than many other Michigan lakes, along with numerous clean beaches. Organizations such as Healthy Lake Huron have also promoted and emphasized clean water and beaches around the lake. The water quality of Lake Huron appears to be improving as well. It has been marked as good for ecosystems, suggesting that it is relatively healthy.

Lake Huron is also known for its clear waters. The lack of significant amounts of algae blooms or pollution sources contributes to water clarity. Additionally, its location in the Great Lakes system contributes to its water quality. Clarity is one of the lake’s most valuable assets, attracting tourists and residents alike to enjoy its crystal-clear waters!

Aquatic Activities:

Lake Huron offers diverse aquatic activities. The clear waters and numerous public beaches attract many swimmers and beachgoers.

Water sports like boating, kayaking, and water skiing are also popular activities on the lake. Boat ramps and marinas offer easy lake access. Several ports around Lake Huron provide docks and facilities for recreational boating.

Fishing is also a popular activity, and Lake Huron is home to a variety of species, like trout and salmon. In winter, ice fishing is popular, and some of the bays around the lake offer snowmobiling and cross-country skiing opportunities.

Additionally, many organizations around Lake Huron offer educational programs. These include aquatic ecology, boating safety, and fishing techniques. Each program enhances visitors’ overall knowledge and experience of Lake Huron’s ecological importance and recreational potential.

2. Lake Superior

Lake Superior has consistently been regarded as one of the cleanest Great Lakes. The lake has managed to maintain its cleanliness due to a relatively low amount of pollution within its basin.

The lake’s pristine condition makes it a popular destination for tourism and water sports. However, the lake does face some environmental challenges. Invasive species and climate change are factors which may threaten its ecological health and water quality in the long run. Nonetheless, Lake Superior remains one of the cleanest, purest, and unspoiled natural water resources in North America and worldwide.

Aquatic Activities:

Lake Superior offers numerous aquatic activities for visitors to enjoy. Fishing is popular, due in part to the lake’s variety of fish, including trout, salmon, and walleye.

Boating is common, and there are plenty of ports and marinas around the lake that provide docking facilities. Kayaking and canoeing are also fun. The lake offers tranquil, scenic waters, especially along the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

During the winter season, ice fishing, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing are available. They make use of the thick layer of ice that forms on the lake’s surface.

Additionally, Lake Superior is one of the best spots in North America for scuba diving. Its clean, clear waters and numerous shipwrecks, such as the Edmund Fitzgerald, make for interesting diving.

Visitors can also enjoy swimming and sunbathing on the beaches of Lake Superior. Beautiful stretches of sand are found at Bluefin Bay and Temperance Landing. Water sports and beach activities such as volleyball are also available.

These and many other aquatic activities make Lake Superior an ideal destination for outdoor enthusiasts and recreation seekers.

3. Big Glen Lake

Located in Northern Michigan, Big Glen Lake is considered relatively clean and clear. The Glen Lake Association, a non-profit organization maintaining the health of Glen Lake, emphasizes clean water. Additionally, some visitors and vacation rental providers noted that the water is crystal clear and perfect for swimming and boating.

However, it is important to bear in mind that water quality can change over time. It may be impacted by certain factors, such as pollution and algal blooms that can occur during certain seasons. Nonetheless, it can be concluded that Big Glen Lake appears to have relatively good water quality.

Aquatic Activities:

Big Glen Lake is a clean and healthy body of water that offers numerous opportunities for outdoor recreation. Swimming, fishing, boating, and kayaking are all common here.

The lake’s crystal-clear waters offer a perfect spot for swimming, and there are several popular beaches to choose from. Otter Creek Beach and Glenmere Beach are two options where visitors can enjoy sunbathing, beach volleyball, and other activities.

Boat rentals are also available for those who want to explore areas such as the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

Apart from swimming and boating, Big Glen Lake offers excellent fishing, with an abundance of species. Rock bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, and brown trout are all common catches.

Kayaking and paddleboarding are also popular activities, with paddleboards and kayaks readily available for rent.

4. Crystal Lake

Located in Michigan, Crystal Lake is considered to be one of the state’s cleanest lakes by the Crystal Lake & Watershed Association. This organization is dedicated to maintaining its water quality. Crystal Lake is an oligotrophic lake, which indicates that it has low nutrient content, making it fairly clear and healthy. Also, visitors who have stayed at resorts and rentals nearby report that the lake is clean and well-maintained, with excellent water quality.

It is also worth noting that Crystal Lake Township runs regular clean-up days to keep the area around the lake clean. Based on the information available, it can be assumed that Crystal Lake is an ideal destination for visitors looking for a beautiful and pristine local lake!

Aquatic Activities:

The lake’s crystal-clear waters make it an ideal spot for swimming and water sports such as water skiing, kayaking, and fishing. Visitors can enjoy the beauty of the lake while taking a kayaking tour with local outfitters or renting watercraft to explore the shoreline. Fishing is another popular activity at Crystal Lake, with ample populations of lake trout and other species.

The lake is also surrounded by small towns with quaint shops and restaurants, offering visitors a chance to explore the surrounding areas.

5. Lake Leelanau

The lakes and streams in Leelanau County, including Lake Leelanau, are described as oligotrophic, which means they are relatively clean and clear. The Lake Leelanau Lake Association is dedicated to protecting and enhancing the quality and beauty of Lake Leelanau and its surrounding watershed. This includes emphasizing the importance of proper boat cleaning to prevent the spread of invasive species in the lake, indicating that there is an effort to maintain cleanliness.

Aquatic Activities:

Lake Leelanau offers boating, fishing, swimming, and water sports. Boating is quite popular, and lake-goers can rent boats to explore the lake.

Fishing is also well-liked in a lake that features trout, bass, and pike. In addition, sandy beaches lie along the lake’s 800 ft. shoreline that are perfect for swimming. Water sports such as jet skiing and speed boating are also available.

6. Bass Lake

Bass Lake is regarded as clean and safe for swimming and fishing. Swim locations on Bass Lake have been described as clean, safe, and private. Bass Lake is also noted for its sand bottom, which is often associated with a feeling of cleanliness. Overall, this lake is a desirable location for recreational activities.

Aquatic Activities:

Bass Lake is a great choice for fishing and camping. Ferwerda’s Bass Lake Resort offers vacation rentals and activities for families, while campsites are available near the lake in Hiawatha National Forest.

The Bass Lake Outlet, located between Bass Lake and Lake Michigan, is suitable for swimming and a variety of water fun including canoeing and kayaking, with access to both lakes.

7. Elk Lake

Elk Lake is generally clean. As an oligotrophic lake, it is unpolluted and clear. Additionally, Elk Rapids, a village near Elk Lake, has been certified as a Clean Marina by the Michigan Clean Marina Program. The areas engage in ongoing efforts to improve and maintain its water quality.

Aquatic Activities:

Elk Lake is known for boating, fishing, swimming, and water sports!

Elk Lake Resort offers various watersports, like paddleboarding, boating, and fishing. White Birch Lodge is an all-inclusive family resort located on the lake’s shores. There are also opportunities for camping at Whitewater Township Park.

The Whitewater Township Park Trailhead at Elk Lake has a developed boat launch, parking, restrooms, a picnic area with a pavilion, a camping area, and a swimming beach. The lake is known for its population of lake trout, which can be fished in all five of the Great Lakes and many large, deep, cold-water inland lakes of Michigan.

8. Gull Lake

The water of Gull Lake is clear and kept clean by strong wave action making the lake well-suited for swimming, boating, and fishing. The Michigan Clean Water Corps, a network of volunteer water quality monitoring programs, indicates that there are efforts to maintain and improve the cleanliness of Gull Lake.

It should be noted that there are potential limits on fish consumption due to mercury contamination in some Michigan lakes, Gull Lake included.

Aquatic Activities:

Swimming, boating, fishing, golfing, and water sports are all consistently practiced at Gull Lake.

Visitors can take advantage of the lake’s clear waters, and several resorts and marinas offer rental docks for water sports.

Gull Lake Ministries is a Christian family resort that provides magical lake views along with a range of water activities. In contrast, Gull Lake View Resort specializes in golf and does not have a swimming pool or dedicated activities for young children. Lastly, Cragun’s Resort is a family vacation resort that offers golf, fishing, and water sports.

In Conclusion

The lakes chosen for this article are considered some of the cleanest lakes in the state of Michigan based on a variety of indicators. Although many lakes have undergone significant restoration and cleanup efforts, such as Torch Lake and Lake Michigan, many of these did not make the list due to mixed information on the level of cleanliness. This proves that water clarity is not always an indicator of a lake’s cleanliness.

While we cannot definitively state that any lakes are clean or not clean, the ones listed here are relatively free from pollution and well-suited for recreational activities. As with any natural resource, it is important to stay informed and follow guidelines to protect both the environment and the health of those who use the facilities.

It is important to note that the water quality of Michigan lakes varies and depends on multiple environmental factors. Each lake may have unique water quality parameters. Visitors should consult detailed water quality reports or contact relevant state agencies for specific information about a particular lake.

Summary of The 8 Cleanest Lakes in Michigan