Cheboygan County · Michigan

Black Lake

Soundings in feet · 10,113 acres · deepest 50 ft

Where it is

8 miles north of Onaway

Cheboygan County, Michigan · 45.4687° N, 84.2804° W

One of 9 lakes named Black Lake in Michigan. See them all

Directions to Onaway State Park - Black Lake Apple Maps

Directions open in Google or Apple Maps, to the Michigan DNR public access sites (2 listed; this is the first).

Today on the lake

Updated 14 Oct 2026, 5:41 pm EDT. Get alerts for Black Lake

WEATHERThis Afternoon: partly sunny, 56°F, wind NW 15 mph. Tonight: mostly cloudy, 41°F, wind NE 5 to 10 mph.

WARNINGSNo weather or fire warnings in effect.

FIRENo wildfires or prescribed burns reported within 25 miles.

BURNINGCampfires and debris burning: check today's status with Michigan DNR.

ALGAECAUTION Satellite detected cyanobacteria across about 1% of the lake on 11 Oct 2026, the latest clear-sky image. Blooms were reported on 1 Sep 2026 and 27 Sep 2026; not tested.

LAUNCHESOnaway State Park - Black Lake and Black Lake SFCG: listed open. Michigan DNR record updated 3 Apr 2026.

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).

Depth map

10 contours, 5 to 50 ft

05101520253035404550feet

Michigan DNR survey, fetched 7 Oct 2026. Not for navigation.

Size and depth

10,113 acres · deepest 50 ft (measured) · shoreline about 21.1 mi · clarity about 11 ft

Black Lake is the 3rd largest of the 45 named lakes of 10 acres or more in Cheboygan County. By Michigan DNR survey it is the 10th deepest of the 24 with a measured depth. Its water is clearer than 27 of the other 38 lakes in the county with satellite clarity readings. Its shoreline measures about 21.1 miles along the state outline. About 55% of its area is deeper than 25 ft.

Ranks against Cheboygan County lakes in Michigan hydrography, Michigan DNR lake surveys and Michigan EGLE satellite clarity; shoreline measured from the state outline. How we measure

Getting on the water

2 public access sites on Black Lake.

Onaway State Park - Black Lake · Onaway State Park · Open

1 ramp lane · 19 trailer spaces · Recreation Passport required

Local boating rules, Cheboygan County

Black Lake SFCG · Cheboygan State Park · Open

1 ramp lane · 12 trailer spaces · 5 car spaces · vault toilet · Recreation Passport required

Local boating rules, Cheboygan County

Michigan DNR boating access, fetched 7 Oct 2026.

Fishing

Michigan DNR has stocked Black Lake 36 times since 1982. The most recent stocking was 1,000,000 walleye on 29 April 2025. Species stocked: lake sturgeon, walleye.

36 stockings, 1982 to 2025, log scale

Latest: 29 Apr 2025: 1,000,000 walleye.

29 Apr 2025STOCKED1,000,000 walleye

25 Apr 2025STOCKED1,264,000 walleye

26 Aug 2023STOCKED563 lake sturgeon

15 Jun 2023STOCKED89,105 walleye

15 Jun 2023STOCKED83,088 walleye

15 Jun 2023STOCKED95,365 walleye

Source: Michigan DNR Fisheries, fetched 7 Oct 2026. How we measure

Where the deep water is

Show water deeper than

Measured from Michigan DNR contours. How we measure

Historically recorded species, from records through 1980: common shiner, lake sturgeon, northern logperch, sand shiner, silver lamprey, smallmouth bass, spottail shiner, white sucker. Historic records, not a current survey.

Michigan Fish Atlas.

Water quality

Average water clarity is about 11 ft (Secchi depth 3.5 m, satellite readings 2018–23).

Clarity 11.3 ft of 50 ft

Michigan EGLE satellite clarity, fetched 7 Oct 2026.

Email me about Black LakeWhen it is stockedMichigan DNR has stocked Black Lake 36 times since 1982, most recently 1,000,000 walleye on 29 April 2025. None so far in 2026.When algae is reported or testedMichigan DHHS lists 10 bloom reports and 3 water samples here. 7 records in 2026, the latest on 27 Sep 2026.When satellite sees a bloom startEPA satellite, checked daily, June to October. We email when a bloom first shows on two clear days, not every day it stays. In 2026 that happened on 21 Jun and 11 Sep.Any lake in Cheboygan CountyStockings and algae records on every lake in the county. In 2026 so far: 8 emails.

In 2026 so far, these alerts would have sent you 6 emails about Black Lake: 21 Jun, 7 Jul, 6 Aug, 1 Sep, 11 Sep and 27 Sep.

Email address

At most one email a week per lake. We email you a link to confirm before any alert is sent; every email has a one-click unsubscribe.

The area around Black Lake

20 other lakes of 10+ acres within about 12 miles of Black Lake, 4 with a page here (darker blue); 2 public launches in magenta. Sources: Michigan DNR, US Census Bureau.

Nearby lakes with measured depth

Twin Lake (South)25 ft deep · 4.4 mi · Cheboygan County

no name30 ft deep · 4.4 mi · Cheboygan County

Twin Lake (Central)15 ft deep · 4.5 mi · Cheboygan County

no name34 ft deep · 4.8 mi · Cheboygan County

Twin Lake (north)73 ft deep · 5.3 mi · Cheboygan County

Long Lake61 ft deep · 7.1 mi · Cheboygan County

Michigan DNR survey; straight-line miles.

Common questions

How deep is Black Lake?

Black Lake is 50 feet at its deepest point, measured by Michigan DNR survey. It covers 10,113 acres.

Is there a public boat launch on Black Lake?

Yes. 2 public access sites are listed: Onaway State Park - Black Lake; Black Lake SFCG.

Is Black Lake stocked with fish?

Yes. Michigan DNR has stocked it 36 times since 1982, most recently 1,000,000 walleye on 29 April 2025.

How much of Black Lake is deeper than 10 feet?

About 73% of the lake's area is deeper than 10 feet, measured from Michigan DNR depth contours.