Updated 9 Oct 2026, 1:49 am EDT. Get alerts for Clare County lakes
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88 lakes · 5,470 acres · 32 with measured depth · 13 with a public launch · 17 stocked
Clare County has 88 lakes of 10 acres or more, 78 of them named, covering 5,470 acres of water. The largest is Eight Point Lake at 416 acres; the deepest measured is Arnold Lake at 80 ft. Michigan DNR has surveyed the depth of 32 lakes here. Several names repeat: 2 lakes are called Cranberry Lake, 2 lakes are called Perch Lake and 2 lakes are called Townline Lake.
Lake outlines: Michigan hydrography (lakes of 10 acres or more). Depths: Michigan DNR lake surveys, fetched 7 Oct 2026. County line: U.S. Census TIGER. Not for navigation.
13 lakes in Clare County cover 100 acres or more. The 12 largest are listed here; the full register of 78 named lakes follows.
| Lake | Acres | Deepest | Clarity | Launches | Last stocked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eight Point Lake | 416 | 25 ft | 11 ft | 1 | 2025 |
| Big Cranberry Lake | 311 | about 20 ft (est.) | 5 ft | ||
| Doc And Tom Lake | 295 | about 20 ft (est.) | 9 ft | ||
| Boyles Creek | 288 | 70 ft | 11 ft | 1 | |
| Big Mud Lake | 231 | 4 ft | 4 ft | 1 | 2015 |
| Long Lake | 211 | 76 ft | 13 ft | 1 | 2019 |
| Lily Lake | 190 | 8 ft | 9 ft | 1 | 1982 |
| Budd Lake | 174 | 30 ft | 14 ft | 2024 | |
| Cranberry Lake, Hayes Township | 163 | 20 ft | 14 ft | 1 | |
| Cranberry Lake | 141 | about 15 ft (est.) | 3 ft | ||
| Lake George | 129 | 25 ft | 1 | 1991 | |
| Arnold Lake | 121 | 80 ft | 17 ft | 1 | 2023 |
| Lake | Acres | Deepest | Clarity | Launches | Last stocked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eight Point Lake | 416 | 25 ft | 11 ft | 1 | 2025 |
| Big Cranberry Lake | 311 | about 20 ft (est.) | 5 ft | ||
| Doc And Tom Lake | 295 | about 20 ft (est.) | 9 ft | ||
| Boyles Creek | 288 | 70 ft | 11 ft | 1 | |
| Big Mud Lake | 231 | 4 ft | 4 ft | 1 | 2015 |
| Long Lake | 211 | 76 ft | 13 ft | 1 | 2019 |
| Lily Lake | 190 | 8 ft | 9 ft | 1 | 1982 |
| Budd Lake | 174 | 30 ft | 14 ft | 2024 | |
| Cranberry Lake, Hayes Township | 163 | 20 ft | 14 ft | 1 | |
| Cranberry Lake | 141 | about 15 ft (est.) | 3 ft | ||
| Lake George | 129 | 25 ft | 1 | 1991 | |
| Arnold Lake | 121 | 80 ft | 17 ft | 1 | 2023 |
| Five Lakes | 119 | 60 ft | 1 | 1991 | |
| Lake Thirteen | 91 | about 30 ft (est.) | 9 ft | 2024 | |
| Round Lake | 91 | about 25 ft (est.) | 12 ft | ||
| Bear Lake | 85 | about 40 ft (est.) | 11 ft | ||
| Town Line Crk. Floodin | 77 | about 15 ft (est.) | |||
| Sutherland Lake | 76 | 10 ft | 13 ft | 2008 | |
| Three Lake | 73 | about 25 ft (est.) | 7 ft | ||
| Loon Lake | 71 | 50 ft | 8 ft | ||
| Rice Pond | 70 | about 15 ft (est.) | |||
| Little Long Lake | 68 | 60 ft | 15 ft | 1 | 2019 |
| Windover Lake | 68 | 60 ft | 10 ft | 1 | |
| Half Moon Lake | 66 | 20 ft | 7 ft | ||
| Springwood Lakes (west | 66 | about 30 ft (est.) | 15 ft | ||
| Gray Lake | 62 | 24 ft | 10 ft | ||
| Shamrock Lake | 62 | 10 ft | 4 ft | 1996 | |
| Bass Lake | 56 | about 35 ft (est.) | 10 ft | ||
| Big Norway Lake | 53 | 45 ft | 12 ft | ||
| Clear Lake | 52 | about 40 ft (est.) | 12 ft | ||
| Silver Lake | 52 | 52 ft | 14 ft | 1994 | |
| Boathouse Lake | 50 | ||||
| Beebe Lake | 50 | 30 ft | 15 ft | ||
| Perch Lake, Garfield Township | 48 | 17 ft | 8 ft | 1 | |
| Mystic Lake | 46 | about 25 ft (est.) | 10 ft | ||
| Bluff Lake | 42 | 16 ft | 6 ft | ||
| Surrey Lake | 42 | about 20 ft (est.) | 9 ft | 1980 | |
| Gut Lake | 41 | 10 ft | |||
| Bailey Lake | 38 | about 25 ft (est.) | 5 ft | ||
| Bertha Lake | 36 | 17 ft | 12 ft | 2023 | |
| Lost Lake | 34 | about 25 ft (est.) | 10 ft | ||
| Townline Lake, Hamilton Township | 32 | 60 ft | 15 ft | 2019 | |
| Shingle Lake | 30 | 40 ft | 12 ft | 1986 | |
| Nestor Lake (West) | 30 | about 20 ft (est.) | 11 ft | 1 | |
| Halfmoon Lake | 28 | ||||
| Shively Lake | 26 | about 35 ft (est.) | 14 ft | ||
| Floodwood Swamp Reserv | 26 | about 20 ft (est.) | |||
| Perch Lake, Lincoln Township | 25 | 8 ft | |||
| Sand Lake | 24 | 8 ft | |||
| Springwood Lakes (east | 24 | about 25 ft (est.) | 12 ft | ||
| Elbow Lake | 24 | about 25 ft (est.) | 13 ft | ||
| McWatty Lake | 23 | about 40 ft (est.) | 10 ft | ||
| Dodge Lake | 23 | 50 ft | 14 ft | ||
| Hemlock Lake | 22 | about 20 ft (est.) | 9 ft | ||
| Haskell Lake | 22 | 14 ft | 7 ft | ||
| Mill Pond | 22 | 9 ft | |||
| Otter Lake | 21 | about 20 ft (est.) | 9 ft | ||
| Howland Lake | 20 | about 25 ft (est.) | 7 ft | ||
| Trout Lake | 20 | about 35 ft (est.) | 13 ft | ||
| Townline Lake, Freeman Township | 20 | about 25 ft (est.) | 7 ft | ||
| Deer Lake | 19 | about 25 ft (est.) | 15 ft | ||
| Grass Lake | 19 | about 30 ft (est.) | 10 ft | ||
| Bungo Lake | 19 | about 25 ft (est.) | 9 ft | ||
| Lake Taho | 18 | about 25 ft (est.) | 9 ft | ||
| Little Norway Lake | 18 | about 30 ft (est.) | 11 ft | ||
| South Lake | 18 | about 20 ft (est.) | 12 ft | ||
| Lake Enola | 18 | about 25 ft (est.) | 12 ft | ||
| Spring Lake | 16 | about 25 ft (est.) | 12 ft | ||
| Big Dollar Lake | 15 | about 25 ft (est.) | 12 ft | ||
| Spillway Lake | 15 | ||||
| Bluegill Lake | 15 | 36 ft | 15 ft | ||
| Eureka Lake | 14 | 9 ft | |||
| Nestor Lake (East) | 14 | ||||
| Cranberry Lakes | 13 | ||||
| Little Loon Lake | 12 | 10 ft | |||
| Russell Lake | 12 | 9 ft | |||
| Haven Lake | 11 | 11 ft | |||
| Pike Lake | 11 | 22 ft | 9 ft |
Acres: Michigan hydrography. Deepest: Michigan DNR survey; "est." marks an older Michigan EGLE estimate, rounded to 5 ft. Clarity: Michigan EGLE satellite averages 2018–23. Launches: Michigan DNR. Stocking: Michigan DNR Fisheries. Fetched 7–8 Oct 2026.
2 lakes in Clare County are 75 ft deep or more by Michigan DNR survey. Arnold Lake is the deepest at 80 ft, then Long Lake (76 ft), Boyles Creek (70 ft) and Five Lakes (60 ft). The depth of the other 46 named lakes has not been surveyed; where an older state estimate exists, the register gives it as an estimate.
Michigan DNR lake survey deep points, fetched 7 Oct 2026.
Clarity is the depth at which a black-and-white Secchi disk disappears from view. Across 65 lakes with satellite readings, the middle value in Clare County is 10 ft. The clearest is Arnold Lake at about 17 ft, then Beebe Lake (15 ft), Townline Lake, Hamilton Township (15 ft) and Springwood Lakes (west (15 ft). The least clear is Cranberry Lake at about 3 ft. Clarity is not a test for bacteria or algae toxins.
Michigan EGLE satellite-derived Secchi depth, averages 2018–23, fetched 7 Oct 2026.
Michigan DNR lists 13 public access sites on 13 lakes in Clare County; 12 require a Recreation Passport. The other 65 named lakes have no public access site listed by Michigan DNR.
| Lake | Site | Facilities |
|---|---|---|
| Eight Point Lake | Eight Point Lake | 1 ramp lane · 22 trailer spaces · vault toilet · accessible restroom · Recreation Passport required |
| Boyles Creek | Crooked Lake | 1 ramp lane · 10 trailer spaces · vault toilet · Recreation Passport required |
| Big Mud Lake | Mud Lake SFCG | 1 ramp lane · 3 trailer spaces |
| Long Lake | Long Lake | 1 ramp lane · 14 trailer spaces · vault toilet · Recreation Passport required |
| Lily Lake | Lily Lake | 1 ramp lane · 5 trailer spaces · vault toilet · Recreation Passport required |
| Cranberry Lake, Hayes Township | Cranberry Lake | 1 ramp lane · 7 trailer spaces · vault toilet · Recreation Passport required |
| Lake George | Lake George | 1 ramp lane · 5 trailer spaces · vault toilet · Recreation Passport required |
| Arnold Lake | Arnold Lake | 1 ramp lane · 3 trailer spaces · Recreation Passport required |
| Five Lakes | Five Lakes | 1 ramp lane · 7 trailer spaces · vault toilet · Recreation Passport required |
| Little Long Lake | Little Long Lake | 1 ramp lane · 9 trailer spaces · vault toilet · Recreation Passport required |
| Windover Lake | Windover Lake | 1 ramp lane · 6 trailer spaces · vault toilet · Recreation Passport required |
| Perch Lake, Garfield Township | Perch Lake | 1 ramp lane · 4 trailer spaces · vault toilet · Recreation Passport required |
| Nestor Lake (West) | Nester Lake | 1 ramp lane · 10 trailer spaces · Recreation Passport required |
Michigan DNR boating access sites, fetched 8 Oct 2026.
Michigan DNR has stocked 17 lakes in Clare County 325 times since 1979. Walleye went into 9 lakes: Arnold Lake, Budd Lake, Eight Point Lake, Lake George, Lake Thirteen, Long Lake, Shamrock Lake, Shingle Lake and Townline Lake, Hamilton Township. The most recent stocking was 19,564 walleye in Eight Point Lake on 18 June 2025. Rivers and smaller waters stocked in the county: Clam River, Crooked Lake, Muskegon River, Newton Creek, North Branch Tobacco River, South Branch Tobacco River and Spike Horn Creek.
| Species | Lakes | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 10 | Arnold Lake, Bertha Lake, Budd Lake, Lake George, Lake Thirteen and Lily Lake and 4 more |
| Walleye | 9 | Arnold Lake, Budd Lake, Eight Point Lake, Lake George, Lake Thirteen and Long Lake and 3 more |
| Yellow perch | 9 | Arnold Lake, Bertha Lake, Budd Lake, Eight Point Lake, Lake George and Lake Thirteen and 3 more |
| Black crappie | 7 | Arnold Lake, Bertha Lake, Budd Lake, Eight Point Lake, Lake Thirteen and Little Long Lake and 1 more |
| Largemouth bass | 7 | Arnold Lake, Bertha Lake, Budd Lake, Eight Point Lake, Lily Lake and Surrey Lake and 1 more |
| Northern pike | 5 | Big Mud Lake, Five Lakes, Lake George, Lily Lake and Sutherland Lake |
| Redear sunfish | 4 | Bertha Lake, Budd Lake, Lake Thirteen and Townline Lake, Hamilton Township |
| Hybrid sunfish | 4 | Bertha Lake, Lake Thirteen, Little Long Lake and Long Lake |
| Fathead minnow | 4 | Lake George, Lake Thirteen, Little Long Lake and Townline Lake, Hamilton Township |
| Channel catfish | 4 | Bertha Lake, Long Lake, Sutherland Lake and Townline Lake, Hamilton Township |
| Rainbow trout | 3 | Little Long Lake, Silver Lake and Townline Lake, Hamilton Township |
| Brown trout | 2 | Little Long Lake and Silver Lake |
| Smallmouth bass | 2 | Budd Lake and Lake Thirteen |
| Muskellunge | 1 | Budd Lake |
| Lake trout | 1 | Little Long Lake |
| Emerald shiner | 1 | Lake George |
| Sand shiner | 1 | Lake George |
| Tiger muskellunge | 1 | Budd Lake |
2025: 1 stocking, 19,564 fish in 1 lake.
Michigan DNR Fisheries stocking records, fetched 8 Oct 2026. Each stocking is placed by its survey section, so lakes that share a name are kept apart. How we measure
Michigan DHHS has records for 2 lakes in Clare County: water samples tested for the toxin microcystin, and bloom reports from the public that may not have been tested. 0 lakes have measured at or above the EPA swimming guideline of 8 ppb at least once.
Michigan DHHS harmful algal bloom records, fetched 7 Oct 2026; U.S. EPA 2019 recreational criteria. Beach E. coli testing is not yet covered here.
88 lakes of 10 acres or more, 78 of them named, in Michigan's hydrography layer. Smaller ponds are not counted.
Eight Point Lake, at 416 acres.
Arnold Lake, 80 ft at its deepest point by Michigan DNR survey.
Arnold Lake, with an average Secchi depth of about 17 ft (satellite readings, 2018–23).
Michigan DNR lists public access sites on Eight Point Lake, Boyles Creek, Big Mud Lake, Long Lake, Lily Lake, Cranberry Lake, Hayes Township, Lake George and Arnold Lake and 5 more.
Arnold Lake, Budd Lake, Eight Point Lake, Lake George, Lake Thirteen, Long Lake, Shamrock Lake, Shingle Lake and Townline Lake, Hamilton Township, by Michigan DNR stocking records.
Michigan DHHS has algae records for 2 lakes here; 0 measured at or above the EPA swimming guideline of 8 ppb at least once.