Houghton County · Michigan

Rice Lake

Soundings in feet · 656 acres · deepest 5 ft

Where it is

6 miles east of Lake Linden

Houghton County, Michigan · 47.1616° N, 88.2823° W

Directions to Rice Lake Apple Maps

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

Today on the lake

Updated 10 Oct 2026, 1:18 am EDT. Get alerts for Rice Lake

WEATHEROvernight: partly cloudy, 47°F, wind SE 10 mph. Saturday: mostly sunny, 80°F, wind SE 10 to 15 mph.

WARNINGSSpecial Weather Statement.

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 9% of the lake on 5 Oct 2026, the latest clear-sky image.

LAUNCHESRice 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

1 contours, 5 to 5 ft

05feet

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

Size and depth

656 acres · deepest 5 ft (measured) · shoreline about 5.6 mi · clarity about 5 ft

Rice Lake is the 5th largest of the 65 named lakes of 10 acres or more in Houghton County. By Michigan DNR survey it is the 28th deepest of the 29 with a measured depth. Its water is clearer than 17 of the other 45 lakes in the county with satellite clarity readings. Its shoreline measures about 5.6 miles along the state outline.

Ranks against Houghton 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 Rice Lake.

Rice Lake · McLain State Park · Open

1 ramp lane · 5 trailer spaces · vault toilet

Local boating rules, Houghton County

Michigan DNR boating access, fetched 7 Oct 2026.

Fishing

Michigan DNR has stocked Rice Lake 13 times since 1979. The most recent stocking was 2,700 tiger muskellunge on 17 October 1991. Species stocked: tiger muskellunge.

13 stockings, 1979 to 1991, log scale

Latest: 17 Oct 1991: 2,700 tiger muskellunge.

17 Oct 1991STOCKED2,700 tiger muskellunge

27 Sep 1990STOCKED1,750 tiger muskellunge

22 Aug 1989STOCKED2,700 tiger muskellunge

5 Oct 1988STOCKED1,350 tiger muskellunge

5 Oct 1987STOCKED1,600 tiger muskellunge

17 Sep 1986STOCKED1,350 tiger 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

Water quality

Average water clarity is about 5 ft (Secchi depth 1.6 m, satellite readings 2018–23).

Clarity 5.4 ft of 5 ft

Michigan EGLE satellite clarity, fetched 7 Oct 2026.

Email me about Rice LakeWhen it is stockedMichigan DNR has stocked Rice Lake 13 times since 1979, most recently 2,700 tiger muskellunge on 17 October 1991. 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 Houghton CountyStockings and algae records on every lake in the county. In 2026 so far: 3 emails.

Rice 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 Rice Lake

7 other lakes of 10+ acres within about 7 miles of Rice Lake; 1 public launch in magenta. Sources: Michigan DNR, US Census Bureau.

Nearby lakes with measured depth

Mud Lake11 ft deep · 2.5 mi · Houghton County

Thayer Lake5 ft deep · 8.8 mi · Keweenaw County

Calumet Lake10 ft deep · 10.0 mi · Houghton County

Bear Lake4 ft deep · 15.4 mi · Houghton County

Lake Gratiot70 ft deep · 16.0 mi · Keweenaw County

Deer Lake15 ft deep · 17.7 mi · Keweenaw County

Michigan DNR survey; straight-line miles.

Common questions

How deep is Rice Lake?

Rice Lake is 5 feet at its deepest point, measured by Michigan DNR survey. It covers 656 acres.

Is there a public boat launch on Rice Lake?

Yes. 1 public access site is listed: Rice Lake.

Is Rice Lake stocked with fish?

Yes. Michigan DNR has stocked it 13 times since 1979, most recently 2,700 tiger muskellunge on 17 October 1991.