Grand Traverse County · Michigan

Arbutus Lake

Soundings in feet · 378 acres · deepest 44 ft

Where it is

5 miles north of Kingsley

Grand Traverse County, Michigan · 44.6639° N, 85.5199° W

Directions to Arbutus Lake #4 Apple Maps

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

Today on the lake

Updated 10 Oct 2026, 12:20 am EDT. Get alerts for Arbutus Lake

WEATHEROvernight: partly cloudy, 47°F, wind SE 5 to 10 mph. Saturday: sunny, 78°F, wind S 10 to 15 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.

ALGAENo cyanobacteria detected by satellite on 8 Oct 2026, the latest clear-sky image.

LAUNCHESArbutus Lake #4: 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

9 contours, 5 to 44 ft

051015202530354044feet

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

Size and depth

378 acres · deepest 44 ft (measured) · shoreline about 10.1 mi

Arbutus Lake is the 9th largest of the 72 named lakes of 10 acres or more in Grand Traverse County. By Michigan DNR survey it is the 12th deepest of the 34 with a measured depth. Its shoreline measures about 10.1 miles along the state outline. About 20% of its area is deeper than 25 ft.

Ranks against Grand Traverse 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 Arbutus Lake.

Arbutus Lake #4 · Open

1 ramp lane · 15 trailer spaces · 10 car spaces · vault toilet · accessible restroom · Recreation Passport required

Local boating rules, Grand Traverse County

Michigan DNR boating access, fetched 7 Oct 2026.

Fishing

Michigan DNR has stocked Arbutus Lake 1 times since 2005. The most recent stocking was 1,000 northern pike on 24 June 2005. Species stocked: northern pike.

24 Jun 2005STOCKED1,000 northern pike

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 1936: bluegill, pumpkinseed. Historic records, not a current survey.

Michigan Fish Atlas.

Water quality

Email me about Arbutus LakeWhen it is stockedMichigan DNR has stocked Arbutus Lake 1 time since 2005, most recently 1,000 northern pike on 24 June 2005. None in the last five years.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. It has not happened in 2026.Any lake in Grand Traverse CountyStockings and algae records on every lake in the county. In 2026 so far: 4 emails.

Arbutus Lake has had no stockings or algae records in 2026, so its own alerts would have sent nothing this year. The county alert is on by default.

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 Arbutus Lake

33 other lakes of 10+ acres within about 9 miles of Arbutus Lake, 3 with a page here (darker blue); 1 public launch in magenta. Sources: Michigan DNR, US Census Bureau.

Nearby lakes with measured depth

Spring Lake13 ft deep · 0.8 mi · Grand Traverse County

Brown Bridge Pond29 ft deep · 1.4 mi · Grand Traverse County

High Lake25 ft deep · 1.6 mi · Grand Traverse County

Bass Lake20 ft deep · 2.2 mi · Grand Traverse County

Denzer Lake10 ft deep · 2.4 mi · Grand Traverse County

Rennie Lake27 ft deep · 2.7 mi · Grand Traverse County

Michigan DNR survey; straight-line miles.

Common questions

How deep is Arbutus Lake?

Arbutus Lake is 44 feet at its deepest point, measured by Michigan DNR survey. It covers 378 acres.

Is there a public boat launch on Arbutus Lake?

Yes. 1 public access site is listed: Arbutus Lake #4.

Is Arbutus Lake stocked with fish?

Yes. Michigan DNR has stocked it 1 times since 2005, most recently 1,000 northern pike on 24 June 2005.

How much of Arbutus Lake is deeper than 10 feet?

About 59% of the lake's area is deeper than 10 feet, measured from Michigan DNR depth contours.