Crawford County · Michigan

Lake Margrethe

Soundings in feet · 1,922 acres · deepest 65 ft

Today on the lake

Updated 9 Oct 2026, 3:09 am EDT. Get alerts for Lake Margrethe

WEATHEROvernight: mostly clear, 36°F, wind SW 5 mph. Friday: sunny, 63°F, wind W 5 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 11% of the lake on 3 Oct 2026, the latest clear-sky image.

LAUNCHESLake Margrethe 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

14 contours, 5 to 65 ft

0510152025303540454950556065feet

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

Size and depth

1,922 acres · deepest 65 ft (measured) · shoreline about 9.5 mi · clarity about 11 ft

Lake Margrethe is the largest of the 31 named lakes of 10 acres or more in Crawford County. By Michigan DNR survey it is the 2nd deepest of the 19 with a measured depth. Its water is clearer than 11 of the other 21 lakes in the county with satellite clarity readings. Its shoreline measures about 9.5 miles along the state outline. About 13% of its area is deeper than 35 ft.

Ranks against Crawford 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 Lake Margrethe.

Lake Margrethe SFCG · Hartwick Pines State Park · Open

2 ramp lanes · 44 trailer spaces · 10 car spaces · vault toilet · Recreation Passport required

Local boating rules, Crawford County

Michigan DNR boating access, fetched 7 Oct 2026.

Fishing

Michigan DNR has stocked Lake Margrethe 87 times since 1979. The most recent stocking was 62,470 walleye on 29 June 2026. Species stocked: muskellunge, northern pike, tiger muskellunge, walleye, yellow perch.

87 stockings, 1979 to 2026, log scale

Latest: 29 Jun 2026: 62,470 walleye.

29 Jun 2026STOCKED62,470 walleye

25 Jun 2025STOCKED36,594 walleye

25 Jun 2025STOCKED24,704 walleye

24 Oct 2022STOCKED2,879 muskellunge

28 Jun 2022STOCKED63,309 walleye

1 Apr 2021STOCKED15 muskellunge

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 1954: bluegill, bluntnose minnow, brown bullhead, central mudminnow, common shiner, creek chub, johnny darter, largemouth bass, mimic shiner, northern logperch, northern longear sunfish, northern pike, northern redbelly dace, pumpkinseed, rock bass, sand shiner, smallmouth bass, spottail shiner, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Historic records, not a current survey.

Michigan Fish Atlas.

Water quality

Average water clarity is about 11 ft (Secchi depth 3.2 m, satellite readings 2018–23).

Clarity 10.7 ft of 65 ft

Michigan EGLE satellite clarity, fetched 7 Oct 2026.

Email me about Lake MargretheWhen it is stockedMichigan DNR has stocked Lake Margrethe 87 times since 1979, most recently 62,470 walleye on 29 June 2026. 1 stocking 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 28 Sep.Any lake in Crawford CountyStockings and algae records on every lake in the county. In 2026 so far: 3 emails.

In 2026 so far, these alerts would have sent you 2 emails about Lake Margrethe: 29 Jun and 28 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.

Nearby lakes with measured depth

Howes Lake24 ft deep · 2.8 mi · Crawford County

Shellenbarger Lake19 ft deep · 5.3 mi · Crawford County

Bright Lake37 ft deep · 7.7 mi · Crawford County

Glory Lake47 ft deep · 7.9 mi · Crawford County

South Black Lake10 ft deep · 8.0 mi · Kalkaska County

Johnsons Lake20 ft deep · 8.1 mi · Kalkaska County

Michigan DNR survey; straight-line miles.

Common questions

How deep is Lake Margrethe?

Lake Margrethe is 65 feet at its deepest point, measured by Michigan DNR survey. It covers 1,922 acres.

Is there a public boat launch on Lake Margrethe?

Yes. 1 public access site is listed: Lake Margrethe SFCG.

Is Lake Margrethe stocked with fish?

Yes. Michigan DNR has stocked it 87 times since 1979, most recently 62,470 walleye on 29 June 2026.

How much of Lake Margrethe is deeper than 10 feet?

About 54% of the lake's area is deeper than 10 feet, measured from Michigan DNR depth contours.