Grand Traverse County · Michigan

Elk Lake

Soundings in feet · 8,195 acres · deepest 150 ft

Today on the lake

Updated 9 Oct 2026, 3:05 am EDT. Get alerts for Elk Lake

WEATHEROvernight: partly cloudy, 45°F, wind SW 5 mph. Friday: sunny, 62°F, wind NW 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 1% of the lake on 3 Oct 2026, the latest clear-sky image.

LAUNCHESElk Rapids Dock and Elk 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

5 contours, 10 to 150 ft

0103050100150feet

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

Size and depth

8,195 acres · deepest 150 ft (measured) · shoreline about 27.7 mi · clarity about 16 ft

Elk Lake is the largest of the 72 named lakes of 10 acres or more in Grand Traverse County. By Michigan DNR survey it is the deepest of the 34 with a measured depth. Its water is clearer than 52 of the other 60 lakes in the county with satellite clarity readings. Its shoreline measures about 27.7 miles along the state outline. About 48% of its area is deeper than 50 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

2 public access sites on Elk Lake.

Elk Rapids Dock · Village of Elk Rapids · Open

4 ramp lanes · flush toilets

Local boating rules, Grand Traverse County

Elk Lake · Open

1 ramp lane · 7 trailer spaces · 5 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 Elk Lake 87 times since 1985. The most recent stocking was 12,528 brown trout on 14 April 2026. Species stocked: brown trout, rainbow trout.

87 stockings, 1985 to 2026, log scale

Latest: 14 Apr 2026: 12,528 brown trout.

14 Apr 2026STOCKED12,528 brown trout

14 Apr 2026STOCKED12,534 brown trout

14 Apr 2026STOCKED12,533 brown trout

5 May 2025STOCKED7,902 brown trout

5 May 2025STOCKED1,098 brown trout

5 May 2025STOCKED9,000 brown trout

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 1990: blacknose shiner, bluegill, bluntnose minnow, brown bullhead, burbot, central mudminnow, common shiner, creek chub, iowa darter, johnny darter, lake herring, lake trout, lake whitefish, longnose dace, longnose gar, mottled sculpin, muskellunge, ninespine stickleback, northern logperch, northern longear sunfish, northern pike, northern redbelly dace, pumpkinseed, rainbow trout, rock bass, rosyface shiner, sand shiner, smallmouth bass, white sucker, yellow perch. Historic records, not a current survey.

Michigan Fish Atlas.

Water quality

Average water clarity is about 16 ft (Secchi depth 4.7 m, satellite readings 2018–23).

Clarity 15.6 ft of 150 ft

Michigan EGLE satellite clarity, fetched 7 Oct 2026.

Email me about Elk LakeWhen it is stockedMichigan DNR has stocked Elk Lake 87 times since 1985, most recently 12,528 brown trout on 14 April 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 3 Oct.Any lake in Grand Traverse CountyStockings and algae records on every lake in the county. In 2026 so far: 4 emails.

In 2026 so far, these alerts would have sent you 2 emails about Elk Lake: 14 Apr and 3 Oct.

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

Bass Lake25 ft deep · 2.5 mi · Antrim County

Lake Skegemog29 ft deep · 4.3 mi · Antrim County

Birch Lake50 ft deep · 4.3 mi · Antrim County

Lake Maplehurst13 ft deep · 5.3 mi · Antrim County

Thayer Lake5 ft deep · 6.3 mi · Antrim County

Torch Lake250 ft deep · 6.4 mi · County

Michigan DNR survey; straight-line miles.

Common questions

How deep is Elk Lake?

Elk Lake is 150 feet at its deepest point, measured by Michigan DNR survey. It covers 8,195 acres.

Is there a public boat launch on Elk Lake?

Yes. 2 public access sites are listed: Elk Rapids Dock; Elk Lake.

Is Elk Lake stocked with fish?

Yes. Michigan DNR has stocked it 87 times since 1985, most recently 12,528 brown trout on 14 April 2026.

How much of Elk Lake is deeper than 10 feet?

About 76% of the lake's area is deeper than 10 feet, measured from Michigan DNR depth contours.