What to know about Michigan's deepest, largest and best inland lakes

Mika Travis, Detroit Free Press
·3 min read
13

Michigan's inland lakes offer a variety of recreational activities and attractions for hundreds of thousands of Michiganders and visitors.

Inland lakes do not include the Great Lakes, Lake St. Clair or any lakes with less than 5 acres of surface area. Though Michigan is known for its ties to the Great Lakes, inland lakes could be a good option to visitors looking for smaller lakes to explore.

Whether you’re looking for a summer getaway or a day trip, here are some things you should know about our state’s inland lakes.

Torch Lake at sunset in 2021.
Torch Lake at sunset in 2021.

How many inland lakes are there in Michigan?

According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Michigan has an estimated 11,000 inland lakes, many covering 1,000 acres or more.

Michigan is ranked fourth among the states with the most lakes — only falling behind Alaska, Wisconsin and Minnesota, according to LakeHub.

What are the most common names for inland lakes in Michigan?

Many Michigan inland lakes have the same name. There are 21 Long Lakes, making it the most common name. There are also 10 Indian Lakes, nine Silver Lakes, six Mud Lakes, five Crooked Lakes and four Round Lakes.

Related: How deep are the Great Lakes? Here's how they stack up

What is Michigan’s largest inland lake?

Houghton Lake covers 20,044 acres, making it the largest inland lake in the state.

Located in Roscommon County, the Houghton Lake area offers a variety of activities including canoeing, kayaking, fishing, boating, hiking and geocaching. Despite its size, the lake is one of the shallowest in the state, averaging less than nine feet in depth, with a maximum depth of 21 feet.

The top 5 largest inland lakes in Michigan:

  1. Houghton Lake (20,044 acres)

  2. Torch Lake (18,770)

  3. Lake Charlevoix (17,200)

  4. Burt Lake (17,120)

  5. Mullett Lake (16,630)

What is Michigan’s deepest inland lake?

Torch Lake has an average depth of 111 feet and a maximum depth of 285 feet. That makes it deeper than Lake Erie, which has an average depth of 62 feet and a maximum depth of 210 feet.

It's also Michigan's longest inland lake and stretches about 19 miles. Located in Antrim County, popular activities include ski boats, jet skis, canoeing, kayaking, windsurfing, paddle boarding and fishing, according to TouristSecrets. The lake is also known for its 2-mile sandbar at its south end.

What fish are found in Michigan’s inland lakes?

According to Michigan Lakes and Streams Association, 154 freshwater fish species can be found in Michigan’s inland lakes. This includes:

  • Walleye

  • Bass

  • Perch

  • Pike

  • Trout

  • Salmon

  • Panfish

Walleye fishing in Michigan: Tournament, regulations and prime locations

What is the best inland lake in Michigan?

Though the best inland lake is a matter of personal opinion, Detroit Free Press readers voted Higgins Lake the best inland lake in Michigan in a 2017 tournament-style contest.

In Roscommon County, Higgins Lake is a clear, spring-fed body of water that is home to two state parks. Visitors might spend their day kayaking, fishing, tubing, boating or relaxing at the beach.

Other lakes that were popular in the 2017 contest included Torch Lake, Lake Charlevoix and Houghton Lake.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan's inland lakes: The deepest, largest and best