Updated 9 Oct 2026, 1:59 am EDT. Get alerts for Houghton County lakes
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87 lakes · 18,640 acres · 29 with measured depth · 14 with a public launch · 22 stocked
Houghton County has 87 lakes of 10 acres or more, 65 of them named, covering 18,640 acres of water. The largest is Portage Lake at 10,808 acres; the deepest measured is Emily Lake at 90 ft. Michigan DNR has surveyed the depth of 29 lakes here. Several names repeat: 4 lakes are called Mud Lake and 2 lakes are called Pine 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.
11 lakes in Houghton County cover 100 acres or more. The 12 largest are listed here; the full register of 65 named lakes follows.
| Lake | Acres | Deepest | Clarity | Launches | Last stocked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portage Lake | 10,808 | about 30 ft (est.) | 10 ft | 5 | 2025 |
| Torch Lake | 2,400 | about 125 ft (est.) | 9 ft | 1 | 2012 |
| Otter Lake | 863 | 29 ft | 8 ft | 1 | 2025 |
| Prickett Lake | 747 | 56 ft | 5 ft | 1 | |
| Rice Lake | 656 | 5 ft | 5 ft | 1 | 1991 |
| Lake Gerald | 356 | 40 ft | 8 ft | 2018 | |
| Portage Entry | 276 | 8 ft | 1 | ||
| Lake Roland | 258 | 40 ft | 6 ft | 1 | 2024 |
| Mud Lake, Torch Lake Township | 173 | 11 ft | 5 ft | ||
| Bob Lake | 130 | about 15 ft (est.) | 5 ft | 2006 | |
| Sandy Lake | 101 | 21 ft | 4 ft | 1 | 2003 |
| Bear Lake | 99 | 4 ft | 4 ft |
| Lake | Acres | Deepest | Clarity | Launches | Last stocked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portage Lake | 10,808 | about 30 ft (est.) | 10 ft | 5 | 2025 |
| Torch Lake | 2,400 | about 125 ft (est.) | 9 ft | 1 | 2012 |
| Otter Lake | 863 | 29 ft | 8 ft | 1 | 2025 |
| Prickett Lake | 747 | 56 ft | 5 ft | 1 | |
| Rice Lake | 656 | 5 ft | 5 ft | 1 | 1991 |
| Lake Gerald | 356 | 40 ft | 8 ft | 2018 | |
| Portage Entry | 276 | 8 ft | 1 | ||
| Lake Roland | 258 | 40 ft | 6 ft | 1 | 2024 |
| Mud Lake, Torch Lake Township | 173 | 11 ft | 5 ft | ||
| Bob Lake | 130 | about 15 ft (est.) | 5 ft | 2006 | |
| Sandy Lake | 101 | 21 ft | 4 ft | 1 | 2003 |
| Bear Lake | 99 | 4 ft | 4 ft | ||
| Pike Lake | 83 | 51 ft | 5 ft | 1 | 2003 |
| Red Ridge Dam Pond | 76 | ||||
| Lake Thirteen | 75 | 20 ft | 7 ft | 1979 | |
| Boston Lake | 73 | about 5 ft (est.) | 6 ft | 1 | 2002 |
| Lake Eva | 67 | about 30 ft (est.) | 16 ft | ||
| Lily Pond | 63 | 14 ft | 1 | 2025 | |
| Emily Lake | 60 | 90 ft | 6 ft | 1 | 2026 |
| Markey Lake | 45 | 65 ft | 8 ft | ||
| Echo Lake | 42 | 50 ft | 7 ft | ||
| Hager Lake | 40 | 20 ft | 6 ft | 1980 | |
| Calumet Lake | 39 | 10 ft | 5 ft | ||
| Lake Perrault | 38 | 38 ft | 10 ft | 1 | 2025 |
| Little Rice Lake | 36 | about 20 ft (est.) | 5 ft | ||
| Lake Annie | 33 | about 25 ft (est.) | 10 ft | ||
| Portage Canal | 32 | 14 ft | 1993 | ||
| Deer Lake | 31 | about 30 ft (est.) | 7 ft | ||
| Mud Lake, Portage Township | 27 | about 25 ft (est.) | 8 ft | ||
| Estes Lake | 27 | 50 ft | 6 ft | ||
| Pine Lake, Portage Township | 25 | about 35 ft (est.) | 9 ft | ||
| Clear Lake | 23 | 50 ft | 8 ft | 1 | 2026 |
| Bog Lake | 21 | about 30 ft (est.) | |||
| Burns Lake | 20 | about 30 ft (est.) | 7 ft | ||
| Lake Ongie | 19 | about 35 ft (est.) | 4 ft | ||
| Maggie Lake | 19 | about 35 ft (est.) | |||
| Fuller Lake | 18 | about 30 ft (est.) | |||
| Tear Lake | 18 | about 20 ft (est.) | 7 ft | ||
| Irish Lake | 18 | 60 ft | 1996 | ||
| Upper Dam Lake | 17 | 6 ft | |||
| Davis Lake | 17 | 35 ft | |||
| Crystal Lake | 17 | 20 ft | 9 ft | 1996 | |
| Mud Lake, Elm River Township | 17 | about 35 ft (est.) | 4 ft | ||
| Mill Lake | 16 | about 20 ft (est.) | 2 ft | ||
| Toivola Lake (West) | 16 | 40 ft | |||
| Lake Weber | 15 | about 30 ft (est.) | |||
| Pequet Lake | 15 | 60 ft | |||
| Hall Lake | 14 | 5 ft | |||
| Kunze Lake | 14 | 45 ft | 7 ft | 1991 | |
| Donken Lake | 14 | 3 ft | |||
| Bob Hall Lake | 14 | 3 ft | |||
| Thirteenmile Lake | 14 | 36 ft | |||
| Elevenmile Lake | 14 | 7 ft | 1991 | ||
| Stonington Lake | 13 | 24 ft | 3 ft | ||
| Obenhoff Lake | 12 | ||||
| Lower Dam Lake | 12 | 2012 | |||
| Elginor Lake | 12 | 6 ft | |||
| Mud Lake, Elm River Township | 12 | 3 ft | |||
| Seventeenmile Lake | 12 | ||||
| Toivola Lake (Northeas | 12 | 8 ft | |||
| Pine Lake, Duncan Township | 12 | ||||
| Kratt Lake (north) | 11 | 4 ft | |||
| Bohmier Lake | 11 | 5 ft | |||
| Davidson Lakes | 11 | ||||
| Beitner Lake | 10 |
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.
9 lakes in Houghton County are 50 ft deep or more by Michigan DNR survey. Emily Lake is the deepest at 90 ft, then Markey Lake (65 ft), Irish Lake (60 ft) and Pequet Lake (60 ft). The depth of the other 36 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 46 lakes with satellite readings, the middle value in Houghton County is 6 ft. The clearest is Lake Eva at about 16 ft, then Portage Canal (14 ft), Lily Pond (14 ft) and Lake Annie (10 ft). The least clear is Mill Lake at about 2 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 18 public access sites on 14 lakes in Houghton County; 6 require a Recreation Passport. The other 51 named lakes have no public access site listed by Michigan DNR.
| Lake | Site | Facilities |
|---|---|---|
| Portage Lake | Old Sandy | 1 ramp lane · 7 trailer spaces |
| Portage Lake | Chassell | 3 ramp lanes · 23 trailer spaces · flush toilets · accessible restroom |
| Portage Lake | Hancock Municipal Park | 2 ramp lanes · 19 trailer spaces · Recreation Passport required |
| Portage Lake | Bootjack | 1 ramp lane · 3 trailer spaces · vault toilet |
| Portage Lake | Houghton-Hancock Marina | 2 ramp lanes · 10 trailer spaces · 15 car spaces · Recreation Passport required |
| Torch Lake | Lake Linden Village Park | 1 ramp lane · 15 trailer spaces |
| Otter Lake | Otter Lake | 1 ramp lane · 6 trailer spaces · vault toilet · Recreation Passport required |
| Prickett Lake | Pricket Dam Backwaters | 1 ramp lane · 8 trailer spaces · 4 car spaces · vault toilet · Recreation Passport required |
| Rice Lake | Rice Lake | 1 ramp lane · 5 trailer spaces · vault toilet |
| Portage Entry | White City | 1 ramp lane · 20 trailer spaces |
| Lake Roland | Twin Lake State Park | 1 ramp lane · 6 trailer spaces · 2 car spaces · vault toilet · Recreation Passport required |
| Sandy Lake | Sandy Lake | 1 ramp lane · 5 trailer spaces · 10 car spaces · vault toilet |
| Pike Lake | Pike Lake | 1 ramp lane · 3 trailer spaces · vault toilet |
| Boston Lake | Boston Pond | 4 trailer spaces · 5 car spaces |
| Lily Pond | Mucky Bottom | 1 ramp lane · 12 trailer spaces |
| Emily Lake | Emily Lake SFCG | 1 ramp lane · 4 trailer spaces · 4 car spaces · Recreation Passport required |
| Lake Perrault | Lake Perrault | 1 ramp lane · 1 car space |
| Clear Lake | Clear Lake | 1 ramp lane · 6 trailer spaces · vault toilet |
Michigan DNR boating access sites, fetched 8 Oct 2026.
Michigan DNR has stocked 22 lakes in Houghton County 493 times since 1979. Walleye went into 8 lakes: Bob Lake, Elevenmile Lake, Lake Gerald, Otter Lake, Pike Lake, Portage Lake, Sandy Lake and Torch Lake. The most recent stocking was 5,200 rainbow trout in Emily Lake on 5 May 2026. Lake Perrault is designated trout lake (Type D), with their own seasons and limits. Rivers and smaller waters stocked in the county: Bass Lake, Beaver Creek, Coles Creek, East Branch Ontonagon River, Elm River, Jumbo River, Lake On Three and Lake Superior and 22 more.
| Species | Lakes | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye | 8 | Bob Lake, Elevenmile Lake, Lake Gerald, Otter Lake, Pike Lake and Portage Lake and 2 more |
| Rainbow trout | 7 | Clear Lake, Emily Lake, Hager Lake, Kunze Lake, Lake Roland and Pike Lake and 1 more |
| Brook trout | 7 | Bob Lake, Clear Lake, Emily Lake, Lake Perrault, Lake Roland and Lower Dam Lake and 1 more |
| Tiger muskellunge | 4 | Lake Gerald, Lake Roland, Otter Lake and Rice Lake |
| Lake trout | 3 | Lake Gerald, Lake Roland and Lily Pond |
| Northern pike | 2 | Boston Lake and Pike Lake |
| Smallmouth bass | 2 | Bob Lake and Otter Lake |
| Largemouth bass | 2 | Irish Lake and Kunze Lake |
| Brown trout | 2 | Crystal Lake and Lower Dam Lake |
| Bluegill | 2 | Lake Thirteen and Pike Lake |
| Splake | 1 | Lake Roland |
| Coho salmon | 1 | Portage Canal |
| Sauger | 1 | Torch Lake |
| Golden shiner | 1 | Pike Lake |
2026: 2 stockings, 7,100 fish in 2 lakes.
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 1 lake in Houghton 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.
87 lakes of 10 acres or more, 65 of them named, in Michigan's hydrography layer. Smaller ponds are not counted.
Portage Lake, at 10,808 acres.
Emily Lake, 90 ft at its deepest point by Michigan DNR survey.
Lake Eva, with an average Secchi depth of about 16 ft (satellite readings, 2018–23).
Michigan DNR lists public access sites on Portage Lake, Torch Lake, Otter Lake, Prickett Lake, Rice Lake, Portage Entry, Lake Roland and Sandy Lake and 6 more.
Bob Lake, Elevenmile Lake, Lake Gerald, Otter Lake, Pike Lake, Portage Lake, Sandy Lake and Torch Lake, by Michigan DNR stocking records.
Michigan DHHS has algae records for 1 lakes here; 0 measured at or above the EPA swimming guideline of 8 ppb at least once.