Updated 9 Oct 2026, 2:31 am EDT. Get alerts for Montcalm County lakes
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128 lakes · 7,505 acres · 24 with measured depth · 25 with a public launch · 19 stocked
Montcalm County has 128 lakes of 10 acres or more, 113 of them named, covering 7,505 acres of water. The largest is Crystal Lake at 709 acres; the deepest measured is Derby Lake at 87 ft. Michigan DNR has surveyed the depth of 24 lakes here. Several names repeat: 6 lakes are called Mud Lake, 3 lakes are called Bass Lake and 3 lakes are called Horseshoe 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.
17 lakes in Montcalm County cover 100 acres or more. The 12 largest are listed here; the full register of 113 named lakes follows.
| Lake | Acres | Deepest | Clarity | Launches | Last stocked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crystal Lake | 709 | 70 ft | 9 ft | 1 | 2026 |
| Whitefish Lake | 502 | 54 ft | 12 ft | 1999 | |
| Tamarack Lake | 317 | 17 ft | 7 ft | 1 | |
| Duck Lake | 301 | 9 ft | 7 ft | 1 | |
| Townline Lake | 289 | 49 ft | 9 ft | 2023 | |
| Indian Lake | 257 | about 25 ft (est.) | 9 ft | ||
| Dickerson Lake | 227 | 48 ft | 9 ft | 1 | 2025 |
| Clifford Lake | 195 | 45 ft | 11 ft | 1 | 2026 |
| Little Whitefish Lake | 180 | 43 ft | 11 ft | 1 | 2006 |
| Rainbow Lake | 168 | 22 ft | 9 ft | 1 | 1996 |
| Turk Lake | 161 | 20 ft | 2025 | ||
| Muskellunge Lake | 137 | 37 ft | 10 ft | 1 | 2010 |
| Lake | Acres | Deepest | Clarity | Launches | Last stocked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crystal Lake | 709 | 70 ft | 9 ft | 1 | 2026 |
| Whitefish Lake | 502 | 54 ft | 12 ft | 1999 | |
| Tamarack Lake | 317 | 17 ft | 7 ft | 1 | |
| Duck Lake | 301 | 9 ft | 7 ft | 1 | |
| Townline Lake | 289 | 49 ft | 9 ft | 2023 | |
| Indian Lake | 257 | about 25 ft (est.) | 9 ft | ||
| Dickerson Lake | 227 | 48 ft | 9 ft | 1 | 2025 |
| Clifford Lake | 195 | 45 ft | 11 ft | 1 | 2026 |
| Little Whitefish Lake | 180 | 43 ft | 11 ft | 1 | 2006 |
| Rainbow Lake | 168 | 22 ft | 9 ft | 1 | 1996 |
| Turk Lake | 161 | 20 ft | 2025 | ||
| Muskellunge Lake | 137 | 37 ft | 10 ft | 1 | 2010 |
| Winfield Lake | 119 | 57 ft | 7 ft | ||
| Derby Lake | 114 | 87 ft | 12 ft | 1 | 1995 |
| Cowden Lake | 111 | 50 ft | 11 ft | 1 | 1996 |
| Sanderson Lake | 102 | about 25 ft (est.) | 10 ft | 2014 | |
| Bass Lake, Richland Township | 101 | about 5 ft (est.) | 11 ft | ||
| Mud Lake, Crystal Township | 99 | 1 | |||
| Horseshoe Lake, Belvidere Township | 97 | 44 ft | 7 ft | 1 | 1982 |
| Flat River | 95 | about 20 ft (est.) | |||
| Burgess Lake | 89 | about 50 ft (est.) | 12 ft | ||
| Lake Montcalm | 84 | about 65 ft (est.) | 10 ft | 1 | 2022 |
| Fifth Lake | 78 | about 35 ft (est.) | 6 ft | ||
| Holland Lake | 77 | 48 ft | 7 ft | ||
| Mud Lake, Sidney Township | 74 | about 25 ft (est.) | 4 ft | ||
| Wood Lake | 72 | about 35 ft (est.) | 14 ft | ||
| Fish Lake | 71 | about 25 ft (est.) | 10 ft | ||
| Loon Lake, Evergreen Township | 66 | 53 ft | 11 ft | 1 | 1985 |
| Baldwin Lake | 62 | about 35 ft (est.) | 12 ft | ||
| Mud Lake, Evergreen Township | 60 | about 25 ft (est.) | 5 ft | ||
| Hunter Lake | 60 | 48 ft | 12 ft | 1 | |
| Spring Lake | 56 | about 45 ft (est.) | 8 ft | ||
| Perch Lake | 55 | about 30 ft (est.) | 11 ft | ||
| Nevins Lake | 55 | 60 ft | 12 ft | 1 | 2026 |
| Second & Third Lake | 54 | about 20 ft (est.) | 6 ft | ||
| Coady Lake | 51 | about 20 ft (est.) | 9 ft | ||
| Half Moon Lake | 51 | 48 ft | 13 ft | 1 | 1989 |
| Mud Lake, Douglass Township | 51 | about 35 ft (est.) | 10 ft | ||
| Rock Lake | 51 | about 20 ft (est.) | 11 ft | 2022 | |
| Loon Lake, Fairplain Township | 48 | about 25 ft (est.) | 9 ft | ||
| Crooked Lake | 47 | about 35 ft (est.) | 8 ft | ||
| West Lake | 46 | about 35 ft (est.) | 6 ft | 1 | |
| Barnard Lake | 45 | about 30 ft (est.) | 8 ft | ||
| Horseshoe Lake, Pine Township | 44 | about 30 ft (est.) | |||
| Penny Lake | 44 | about 25 ft (est.) | 6 ft | ||
| Fourth Lake | 44 | about 25 ft (est.) | 5 ft | ||
| Kendalville Lake | 43 | about 20 ft (est.) | 7 ft | ||
| First Lake | 42 | about 30 ft (est.) | 7 ft | ||
| Bass Lake, Pierson Township | 40 | 28 ft | 15 ft | ||
| Grass Lake, Fairplain Township | 39 | 1 | |||
| Hemmingway Lake | 38 | about 25 ft (est.) | 3 ft | 1 | |
| Lossin Lake | 37 | about 25 ft (est.) | 10 ft | ||
| Middle Lake | 37 | 26 ft | 8 ft | ||
| Sixth Lake | 37 | about 30 ft (est.) | 6 ft | ||
| Pearl Lake | 37 | 56 ft | 11 ft | ||
| Grass Lake, Sidney Township | 34 | 30 ft | 12 ft | 1 | |
| Rosa Lake | 33 | about 35 ft (est.) | 5 ft | ||
| Bass Lake, Belvidere Township | 33 | about 25 ft (est.) | 13 ft | ||
| Harlow Lake | 29 | about 20 ft (est.) | |||
| Mud Lake, Belvidere Township | 28 | about 20 ft (est.) | |||
| Norton Lake | 27 | ||||
| Thorland Lake | 27 | about 35 ft (est.) | 13 ft | ||
| Little Penny Lake | 26 | about 25 ft (est.) | 5 ft | ||
| Deaner Lake | 25 | about 35 ft (est.) | 14 ft | ||
| Farnsworth Lake | 25 | about 25 ft (est.) | |||
| Lost Lake | 25 | about 40 ft (est.) | 14 ft | ||
| Tacoma Lake | 25 | about 30 ft (est.) | 11 ft | 1 | |
| Churchill Lake | 25 | about 20 ft (est.) | 2 ft | ||
| Snow Lake | 24 | about 25 ft (est.) | 9 ft | ||
| Nelson Lake | 24 | about 20 ft (est.) | |||
| Twin Stone Lakes (east | 24 | about 30 ft (est.) | 9 ft | 1 | |
| County Farm Pond | 23 | ||||
| Picnic Lake | 23 | about 30 ft (est.) | 4 ft | ||
| Sealey Lake | 22 | about 25 ft (est.) | 14 ft | ||
| Mitchell Lake | 22 | about 25 ft (est.) | 9 ft | ||
| Cedar Lake | 22 | about 35 ft (est.) | 12 ft | ||
| Colby Lake | 21 | 1 | |||
| Big Brimmer Lake | 20 | about 25 ft (est.) | 10 ft | ||
| Kirby Lake | 20 | about 25 ft (est.) | 10 ft | ||
| Marl Lake | 19 | about 30 ft (est.) | 8 ft | 2026 | |
| Twin Stone Lakes (west | 19 | about 30 ft (est.) | 12 ft | ||
| Como Lake | 18 | about 30 ft (est.) | 13 ft | ||
| Bradley Lake | 18 | about 20 ft (est.) | 9 ft | ||
| Clear Lake | 18 | about 35 ft (est.) | 15 ft | 1 | |
| Twin Lakes, Fairplain Township | 18 | about 20 ft (est.) | 7 ft | ||
| Black Lake | 17 | about 25 ft (est.) | 8 ft | ||
| Little Bass Lake | 16 | about 25 ft (est.) | 13 ft | ||
| Horseshoe Lake, Fairplain Township | 16 | about 25 ft (est.) | 10 ft | ||
| Little Mud Lake | 16 | about 15 ft (est.) | 4 ft | ||
| Moore Lake | 16 | about 25 ft (est.) | 12 ft | ||
| Dutchman Lakes | 15 | ||||
| Waltman Lake | 15 | about 20 ft (est.) | 6 ft | ||
| Robbins Lake | 15 | about 25 ft (est.) | 13 ft | ||
| Pickerel Lake | 15 | about 15 ft (est.) | 1 ft | ||
| Hammell Lake | 15 | about 25 ft (est.) | 10 ft | ||
| Spruce Lake | 15 | about 25 ft (est.) | 7 ft | ||
| Mill Pond | 15 | ||||
| Cranberry Lake | 14 | 8 ft | |||
| Lampman Lake | 14 | 7 ft | |||
| Gould Lake | 14 | 9 ft | |||
| Little Lake | 14 | 9 ft | |||
| Gray Lake | 13 | 10 ft | |||
| Mahaney Lake | 13 | 13 ft | |||
| Hisington Lake | 13 | 6 ft | |||
| Twin Lakes, Sidney Township | 13 | 8 ft | |||
| Paulson Lake | 11 | 9 ft | |||
| Lake Forest | 11 | 3 ft | |||
| Crane Lake | 11 | ||||
| Rocky Lake | 11 | 10 ft | |||
| Manoka Lake | 11 | 13 ft | |||
| School Section Lake | 11 | 12 ft | |||
| Twin Lake | 10 | 10 ft | |||
| Mud Lake, Montcalm Township | 10 | 5 ft |
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.
8 lakes in Montcalm County are 50 ft deep or more by Michigan DNR survey. Derby Lake is the deepest at 87 ft, then Crystal Lake (70 ft), Nevins Lake (60 ft) and Winfield Lake (57 ft). The depth of the other 89 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 98 lakes with satellite readings, the middle value in Montcalm County is 9 ft. The clearest is Bass Lake, Pierson Township at about 15 ft, then Clear Lake (15 ft), Sealey Lake (14 ft) and Lost Lake (14 ft). The least clear is Pickerel Lake at about 1 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 25 public access sites on 25 lakes in Montcalm County; 17 require a Recreation Passport. The other 88 named lakes have no public access site listed by Michigan DNR.
| Lake | Site | Facilities |
|---|---|---|
| Crystal Lake | Crystal Lake North | 3 ramp lanes · 47 trailer spaces · vault toilet · Recreation Passport required |
| Tamarack Lake | Tamarack Lake | 1 ramp lane · 20 trailer spaces · vault toilet · Recreation Passport required |
| Duck Lake | Duck Lake | 1 ramp lane · 8 trailer spaces · vault toilet · Recreation Passport required |
| Dickerson Lake | Dickerson Lake | 1 ramp lane · 22 trailer spaces · vault toilet · Recreation Passport required |
| Clifford Lake | Clifford Lake | 1 ramp lane · 15 trailer spaces · vault toilet · Recreation Passport required |
| Little Whitefish Lake | Little Whitefish Lake | 1 ramp lane · 6 trailer spaces · 10 car spaces · vault toilet · Recreation Passport required |
| Rainbow Lake | Rainbow Lake | 1 ramp lane · 3 trailer spaces · vault toilet · Recreation Passport required |
| Muskellunge Lake | Muskellunge Lake | 1 ramp lane · 11 trailer spaces · vault toilet · Recreation Passport required |
| Derby Lake | Derby Lake | 1 ramp lane · 9 trailer spaces · vault toilet · Recreation Passport required |
| Cowden Lake | Cowden Lake | 1 ramp lane · 8 trailer spaces · vault toilet · Recreation Passport required |
| Mud Lake, Crystal Township | Swan Lake | 3 trailer spaces · 3 car spaces · vault toilet · Recreation Passport required |
| Horseshoe Lake, Belvidere Township | Horseshoe Lake | 1 ramp lane · 5 trailer spaces · 2 car spaces · vault toilet · Recreation Passport required |
| Lake Montcalm | Lake Montcalm | 1 ramp lane · 5 trailer spaces · 2 car spaces · vault toilet · Recreation Passport required |
| Loon Lake, Evergreen Township | Loon Lake | 1 ramp lane · 5 trailer spaces · vault toilet · Recreation Passport required |
| Hunter Lake | Hunter Lake | 1 ramp lane · 1 trailer space · 1 car space |
| Nevins Lake | Nevins Lake | 1 ramp lane · 4 trailer spaces · vault toilet · Recreation Passport required |
| Half Moon Lake | Half Moon Lake | 1 ramp lane · 5 trailer spaces · vault toilet · Recreation Passport required |
| West Lake | West Lake | 2 car spaces |
| Grass Lake, Fairplain Township | Grass Lake North | 3 car spaces |
| Hemmingway Lake | Hemmingway Lake | 1 ramp lane · 5 trailer spaces · 3 car spaces · Recreation Passport required |
| Grass Lake, Sidney Township | Grass Lake - South | 1 ramp lane · 4 trailer spaces · 2 car spaces |
| Tacoma Lake | Tacoma Lake | 1 ramp lane · 2 trailer spaces · 1 car space |
| Twin Stone Lakes (east | Twin Stone Lakes - East | 3 car spaces |
| Colby Lake | Colby Lake | 1 ramp lane · 2 trailer spaces · 2 car spaces |
| Clear Lake | Clear Lake | 4 car spaces |
Michigan DNR boating access sites, fetched 8 Oct 2026.
Michigan DNR has stocked 19 lakes in Montcalm County 301 times since 1979. Walleye went into 11 lakes: Clifford Lake, Crystal Lake, Dickerson Lake, Horseshoe Lake, Belvidere Township, Lake Montcalm, Little Whitefish Lake, Muskellunge Lake, Rock Lake, Townline Lake, Turk Lake and Whitefish Lake. The most recent stocking was 200 yellow perch in Clifford Lake on 29 May 2026. Nevins Lake and Marl Lake are designated trout lakes (Type C), with their own seasons and limits. Rivers and smaller waters stocked in the county: Bass (Newcomb) Lake, Fish Creek, Handy Creek, North Branch Pine River, Pickerel Lake Drain, Pine River, Prairie Creek and Six Lakes Chain #1 and 10 more.
| Species | Lakes | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye | 11 | Clifford Lake, Crystal Lake, Dickerson Lake, Horseshoe Lake, Belvidere Township, Lake Montcalm and Little Whitefish Lake and 5 more |
| Channel catfish | 7 | Clifford Lake, Little Whitefish Lake, Rainbow Lake, Rock Lake, Sanderson Lake and Townline Lake and 1 more |
| Yellow perch | 6 | Clifford Lake, Lake Montcalm, Rainbow Lake, Rock Lake, Sanderson Lake and Turk Lake |
| Fathead minnow | 4 | Clifford Lake, Lake Montcalm, Rock Lake and Sanderson Lake |
| Rainbow trout | 4 | Derby Lake, Half Moon Lake, Marl Lake and Nevins Lake |
| Largemouth bass | 3 | Clifford Lake, Sanderson Lake and Turk Lake |
| Hybrid sunfish | 2 | Rock Lake and Turk Lake |
| Black crappie | 2 | Rock Lake and Sanderson Lake |
| Northern pike | 2 | Loon Lake, Evergreen Township and Townline Lake |
| Bluegill | 1 | Sanderson Lake |
| Flathead catfish | 1 | Cowden Lake |
| Redear sunfish | 1 | Rainbow Lake |
2026: 5 stockings, 536,300 fish in 4 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
CAUTION Water tested above the EPA swimming guideline in the last 60 days: Crystal Lake (188.9 ppb, 1 Sep 2026). Check current advisories before swimming.
Michigan DHHS has records for 7 lakes in Montcalm County: water samples tested for the toxin microcystin, and bloom reports from the public that may not have been tested. 2 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.
128 lakes of 10 acres or more, 113 of them named, in Michigan's hydrography layer. Smaller ponds are not counted.
Crystal Lake, at 709 acres.
Derby Lake, 87 ft at its deepest point by Michigan DNR survey.
Bass Lake, Pierson Township, with an average Secchi depth of about 15 ft (satellite readings, 2018–23).
Michigan DNR lists public access sites on Crystal Lake, Tamarack Lake, Duck Lake, Dickerson Lake, Clifford Lake, Little Whitefish Lake, Rainbow Lake and Muskellunge Lake and 17 more.
Clifford Lake, Crystal Lake, Dickerson Lake, Horseshoe Lake, Belvidere Township, Lake Montcalm, Little Whitefish Lake, Muskellunge Lake, Rock Lake, Townline Lake, Turk Lake and Whitefish Lake, by Michigan DNR stocking records.
Michigan DHHS has algae records for 7 lakes here; 2 measured at or above the EPA swimming guideline of 8 ppb at least once.