9 miles north of Chatham
Alger County, Michigan · 46.4778° N, 86.9698° W
Directions to Deer LakeApple Maps
Directions open in Google or Apple Maps, to the Michigan DNR public access site.
Updated 14 Oct 2026, 6:25 pm EDT. Get alerts for Deer Lake
National Weather Service; National Interagency Fire Center; U.S. EPA CyAN satellite; Michigan DHHS; Michigan DNR. Weather, warnings, fires and satellite refresh when you open the page (checked at most hourly).
Michigan DNR survey, fetched 7 Oct 2026. Not for navigation.
266 acres · deepest 70 ft (measured) · shoreline about 4.4 mi · clarity about 8 ft
Deer Lake is the 9th largest of the 169 named lakes of 10 acres or more in Alger County. By Michigan DNR survey it is the 2nd deepest of the 87 with a measured depth. Its water is clearer than 85 of the other 123 lakes in the county with satellite clarity readings. Its shoreline measures about 4.4 miles along the state outline. About 39% of its area is deeper than 40 ft.
Ranks against Alger County lakes in Michigan hydrography, Michigan DNR lake surveys and Michigan EGLE satellite clarity; shoreline measured from the state outline. How we measure
1 public access site on Deer Lake.
Michigan DNR boating access, fetched 7 Oct 2026.
Average water clarity is about 8 ft (Secchi depth 2.5 m, satellite readings 2018–23).
Michigan EGLE satellite clarity, fetched 7 Oct 2026.
17 other lakes of 10+ acres within about 14 miles of Deer Lake, 1 with a page here (darker blue); 1 public launch in magenta. Sources: Michigan DNR, US Census Bureau.
Michigan DNR survey; straight-line miles.
Deer Lake is 70 feet at its deepest point, measured by Michigan DNR survey. It covers 266 acres.
Yes. 1 public access site is listed: Deer Lake.
About 82% of the lake's area is deeper than 10 feet, measured from Michigan DNR depth contours.