Manistee County · Michigan

Bear Lake

Soundings in feet · 1,873 acres · deepest 6 ft

Today on the lake

Updated 9 Oct 2026, 3:11 am EDT. Get alerts for Bear Lake

WEATHEROvernight: mostly clear, 42°F, wind SW 5 mph. Friday: sunny, 65°F, wind NW 0 to 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.

ALGAENo cyanobacteria detected by satellite on 6 Oct 2026, the latest clear-sky image.

LAUNCHESBear Lake and Hopkins Park: 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

4 contours, 3 to 6 ft

03456feet

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

Size and depth

1,873 acres · deepest 6 ft (measured) · shoreline about 7.8 mi · clarity about 13 ft

Bear Lake is the 2nd largest of the 34 named lakes of 10 acres or more in Manistee County. By Michigan DNR survey it is the 12th deepest of the 12 with a measured depth. Its water is clearer than 19 of the other 26 lakes in the county with satellite clarity readings. Its shoreline measures about 7.8 miles along the state outline. About 48% of its area is deeper than 4 ft.

Ranks against Manistee 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 Bear Lake.

Bear Lake · Orchard Beach State Park · Open

2 ramp lanes · 15 trailer spaces · 5 car spaces · vault toilet · accessible restroom · Recreation Passport required

Local boating rules, Manistee County

Hopkins Park · Village of Bear Lake · Open

1 ramp lane · 8 trailer spaces · flush toilets

Local boating rules, Manistee County

Michigan DNR boating access, fetched 7 Oct 2026.

Fishing

Michigan DNR has stocked Bear Lake 26 times since 1984. The most recent stocking was 84,870 walleye on 30 June 2026. Species stocked: walleye.

26 stockings, 1984 to 2026, log scale

Latest: 30 Jun 2026: 84,870 walleye.

30 Jun 2026STOCKED84,870 walleye

3 Jun 2025STOCKED92,256 walleye

24 Jun 2022STOCKED80,300 walleye

14 Jun 2019STOCKED8,073 walleye

13 Jun 2019STOCKED68,986 walleye

12 Jun 2019STOCKED12,423 walleye

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 1932: blackchin shiner, blacknose shiner, bluegill, bluntnose minnow, common shiner, emerald shiner, hornyhead chub, pumpkinseed, rock bass, sand shiner, spottail shiner, tadpole madtom, walleye, western banded killifish, white sucker, yellow perch. Historic records, not a current survey.

Michigan Fish Atlas.

Water quality

Average water clarity is about 13 ft (Secchi depth 3.9 m, satellite readings 2018–23).

Clarity 12.8 ft of 6 ft

Michigan EGLE satellite clarity, fetched 7 Oct 2026.

Email me about Bear LakeWhen it is stockedMichigan DNR has stocked Bear Lake 26 times since 1984, most recently 84,870 walleye on 30 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 26 Sep.Any lake in Manistee CountyStockings and algae records on every lake in the county. In 2026 so far: 2 emails.

In 2026 so far, these alerts would have sent you 2 emails about Bear Lake: 30 Jun and 26 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

James Lake47 ft deep · 4.2 mi · Manistee County

Portage Lake60 ft deep · 6.1 mi · Manistee County

Chief Lake9 ft deep · 6.3 mi · Manistee County

Healy Lake50 ft deep · 7.6 mi · Manistee County

Upper Herring Lake25 ft deep · 8.6 mi · Benzie County

Lower Herring Lake50 ft deep · 9.1 mi · Benzie County

Michigan DNR survey; straight-line miles.

Common questions

How deep is Bear Lake?

Bear Lake is 6 feet at its deepest point, measured by Michigan DNR survey. It covers 1,873 acres.

Is there a public boat launch on Bear Lake?

Yes. 2 public access sites are listed: Bear Lake; Hopkins Park.

Is Bear Lake stocked with fish?

Yes. Michigan DNR has stocked it 26 times since 1984, most recently 84,870 walleye on 30 June 2026.