Van Buren County · Michigan

Lake of the Woods

Soundings in feet · 301 acres · deepest 30 ft

Where it is

at Decatur

Van Buren County, Michigan · 42.1134° N, 85.9955° W

Directions to Lake Of The Woods Apple Maps

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

Today on the lake

Updated 14 Oct 2026, 6:20 pm EDT. Get alerts for Lake of the Woods

WEATHERTonight: partly cloudy, 48°F, wind NE 7 mph. Thursday: showers and thunderstorms, 66°F, wind ESE 9 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 13 Oct 2026, the latest clear-sky image.

LAUNCHESLake Of The Woods: 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, 5 to 30 ft

05102030feet

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

Size and depth

301 acres · deepest 30 ft (measured) · shoreline about 6.3 mi · clarity about 12 ft

Lake of the Woods is the 2nd largest of the 104 named lakes of 10 acres or more in Van Buren County. By Michigan DNR survey it is the 24th deepest of the 35 with a measured depth. Its water is clearer than 58 of the other 85 lakes in the county with satellite clarity readings. Its shoreline measures about 6.3 miles along the state outline. About 58% of its area is deeper than 10 ft.

Ranks against Van Buren 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 Lake of the Woods.

Lake Of The Woods · Allegan Field Office · Open

1 ramp lane · 20 trailer spaces · vault toilet · accessible restroom · Recreation Passport required

Local boating rules, Van Buren County

Michigan DNR boating access, fetched 7 Oct 2026.

Fishing

Michigan DNR has stocked Lake of the Woods 32 times since 1985. The most recent stocking was 2,260 walleye on 28 October 2025. Species stocked: walleye.

32 stockings, 1985 to 2025, log scale

Latest: 28 Oct 2025: 2,260 walleye.

28 Oct 2025STOCKED2,260 walleye

21 Oct 2023STOCKED400 walleye

10 Oct 2022STOCKED1,156 walleye

13 Oct 2021STOCKED931 walleye

7 Oct 2021STOCKED479 walleye

1 Nov 2017STOCKED585 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

Water quality

Average water clarity is about 12 ft (Secchi depth 3.5 m, satellite readings 2018–23).

Clarity 11.5 ft of 30 ft

Michigan EGLE satellite clarity, fetched 7 Oct 2026.

Email me about Lake of the WoodsWhen it is stockedMichigan DNR has stocked Lake of the Woods 32 times since 1985, most recently 2,260 walleye on 28 October 2025. None 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. It has not happened in 2026.Any lake in Van Buren CountyStockings and algae records on every lake in the county. In 2026 so far: 1 email.

Lake of the Woods 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 Lake of the Woods

23 other lakes of 10+ acres within about 6 miles of Lake of the Woods, 2 with a page here (darker blue); 1 public launch in magenta. Sources: Michigan DNR, US Census Bureau.

Nearby lakes with measured depth

Mud Lake14 ft deep · 1.2 mi · Van Buren County

Eagle Lake60 ft deep · 4.0 mi · Van Buren County

Christie Lake48 ft deep · 4.1 mi · Van Buren County

Reynolds Lake (South)30 ft deep · 5.7 mi · Van Buren County

Lake Cora50 ft deep · 6.0 mi · Van Buren County

Twin Lake (north)54 ft deep · 6.0 mi · Cass County

Michigan DNR survey; straight-line miles.

Common questions

How deep is Lake of the Woods?

Lake of the Woods is 30 feet at its deepest point, measured by Michigan DNR survey. It covers 301 acres.

Is there a public boat launch on Lake of the Woods?

Yes. 1 public access site is listed: Lake Of The Woods.

Is Lake of the Woods stocked with fish?

Yes. Michigan DNR has stocked it 32 times since 1985, most recently 2,260 walleye on 28 October 2025.

How much of Lake of the Woods is deeper than 10 feet?

About 58% of the lake's area is deeper than 10 feet, measured from Michigan DNR depth contours.