Chippewa County · Michigan

Caribou Lake

Soundings in feet · 829 acres · deepest 15 ft

Where it is

4 miles west of De Tour Village

Chippewa County, Michigan · 45.9988° N, 83.9967° W

Directions to Caribou Lake Apple Maps

Directions open in Google or Apple Maps, to the Michigan DNR public access site.

Today on the lake

Updated 14 Oct 2026, 5:33 pm EDT. Get alerts for Caribou Lake

WEATHERThis Afternoon: partly sunny, 55°F, wind NW 10 mph. Tonight: mostly cloudy, 40°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 7% of the lake on 11 Oct 2026, the latest clear-sky image.

LAUNCHESCaribou Lake: 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

3 contours, 5 to 15 ft

051015feet

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

Size and depth

829 acres · deepest 15 ft (measured) · shoreline about 5.7 mi · clarity about 9 ft

Caribou Lake is the largest of the 112 named lakes of 10 acres or more in Chippewa County. By Michigan DNR survey it is the 16th deepest of the 38 with a measured depth. Its water is clearer than 83 of the other 96 lakes in the county with satellite clarity readings. Its shoreline measures about 5.7 miles along the state outline. About 6% of its area is deeper than 10 ft.

Ranks against Chippewa 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

1 public access site on Caribou Lake.

Caribou Lake · DeTour State Harbor · Open

1 ramp lane · 11 trailer spaces · vault toilet · Recreation Passport required

Local boating rules, Chippewa County

Michigan DNR boating access, fetched 7 Oct 2026.

Fishing

Michigan DNR has stocked Caribou Lake 31 times since 1979. The most recent stocking was 29,950 walleye on 2 July 2026. Species stocked: bluegill, tiger muskellunge, walleye.

31 stockings, 1979 to 2026, log scale

Latest: 2 Jul 2026: 29,950 walleye.

2 Jul 2026STOCKED29,950 walleye

10 Jun 2026STOCKED23,067 walleye

19 Jun 2024STOCKED55,970 walleye

17 Jun 2022STOCKED43,010 walleye

15 Jun 2021STOCKED53,375 walleye

13 Jun 2018STOCKED52,998 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 1953: bluntnose minnow, common shiner, golden shiner, iowa darter, mimic shiner, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, yellow perch. Historic records, not a current survey.

Michigan Fish Atlas.

Water quality

Average water clarity is about 9 ft (Secchi depth 2.7 m, satellite readings 2018–23).

Clarity 8.9 ft of 15 ft

Michigan EGLE satellite clarity, fetched 7 Oct 2026.

Email me about Caribou LakeWhen it is stockedMichigan DNR has stocked Caribou Lake 31 times since 1979, most recently 29,950 walleye on 2 July 2026. 2 stockings so far in 2026.When algae is reported or testedMichigan DHHS has no records for this lake yet. We email when the first one is posted.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 22 Jun and 22 Sep.Any lake in Chippewa CountyStockings and algae records on every lake in the county. In 2026 so far: 5 emails.

In 2026 so far, these alerts would have sent you 4 emails about Caribou Lake: 10 Jun, 22 Jun, 2 Jul and 22 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 Caribou Lake

10 other lakes of 10+ acres within about 6 miles of Caribou Lake; 1 public launch in magenta. Sources: Michigan DNR, US Census Bureau.

Nearby lakes with measured depth

Big Trout Lake24 ft deep · 5.3 mi · Presque Isle County

Big Trout Lake24 ft deep · 5.3 mi · Chippewa County

Bender Lake2 ft deep · 6.5 mi · Chippewa County

Parish Lake10 ft deep · 7.1 mi · Chippewa County

Stringham Lake3 ft deep · 7.4 mi · Chippewa County

Jones Lake9 ft deep · 7.5 mi · Chippewa County

Michigan DNR survey; straight-line miles.

Common questions

How deep is Caribou Lake?

Caribou Lake is 15 feet at its deepest point, measured by Michigan DNR survey. It covers 829 acres.

Is there a public boat launch on Caribou Lake?

Yes. 1 public access site is listed: Caribou Lake.

Is Caribou Lake stocked with fish?

Yes. Michigan DNR has stocked it 31 times since 1979, most recently 29,950 walleye on 2 July 2026.

How much of Caribou Lake is deeper than 10 feet?

About 6% of the lake's area is deeper than 10 feet, measured from Michigan DNR depth contours.