West Michigan Lakes with Public Beaches
40 lakesA public beach turns any lake into a summer day trip. This lists West Michigan’s Michigan-DNR-registered lakes with a public beach, so you can find swimming and sand without owning waterfront.
How we ranked: Includes lakes with a public beach on the Michigan DNR record. Ranked by lake size.
#1public beachMuskegon Lake
#2public beach · boat launchLake Macatawa
- #3public beach
Croton Dam Pond
- #4public beach
Cleveland Lake
#5public beachWhite Lake
#6public beachMona Lake
#7public beach · boat launchWabasis Lake
#8public beachSwan Lake
#9public beach · boat launchLincoln Lake
#10public beachDiamond Lake
#11public beachFremont Lake
#12public beachRyerson Lake
#13public beachDuck Lake
#14public beachBig Blue Lake
#15public beachBear Lake
#16public beachWolf Lake
#17public beachPickerel Lake
#18public beachReeds Lake
- #19public beach
Dumont Lake
#20public beachSilver Lake
#21public beachGun Lake
#22public beachSchool Section Lake
#23public beachBrower Lake
#24public beachRushmore Lake
#25public beachMyers Lake
- #26public beach
Blanch Lake
#27public beachFox Lake
#28public beachBaldwin Lake
- #29public beach
Georgetown Park Lake
- #30public beach
Twin Lakes
#31public beachLittle Myers Lake
#32public beachVersluis Lake
- #33public beach
Pearl Lake
#34public beachDuck Lake
- #35public beach
Pickerel Lake
- #36public beach
Baldwin Lake
- #37public beach
Twin Lakes
#38public beachLamberton Lake
- #39public beach
Lake White Cloud
- #40public beach
Monterey Lake
West Michigan Lakes with Public Beaches: Frequently Asked
- How many lakes are on this list?
- We rank 40 West Michigan lakes here. Includes lakes with a public beach on the Michigan DNR record. Ranked by lake size.
- Which lakes rank highest?
- Muskegon Lake, Lake Macatawa, Croton Dam Pond lead the list. Muskegon Lake ranks #1 (public beach).
- What do lakefront homes cost on these lakes?
- Across the 40 lakes on this list, the typical lakefront home value is about $523,775, though prices vary widely by lake and frontage.
Explore West Michigan lakes another way
All West Michigan Lakes
Filter 420+ DNR lakes by fish, depth, motor rules, access.
Best Lakes for Fishing in West Michigan
Ranked by number of fish species on the Michigan DNR record, plus a bonus for a public boat launch and for a max depth of 15 ft or more. Limited to lakes with at least three recorded species.
All-Sports Lakes Closest to Grand Rapids
Includes lakes with no recorded Michigan DNR motor restriction (no no-wake or electric-only rule). Ranked by straight-line distance from downtown Grand Rapids.
Most Exclusive Lakes in West Michigan
Ranked by median lakefront home value (highest first), from assessor data on parcels along each lake. Limited to lakes with at least eight lakefront parcels so a single estate can’t crown a lake.
Most Affordable Lakefronts in West Michigan
Ranked by median lakefront home value (lowest first), from assessor data on parcels along each lake. Limited to lakes with at least eight lakefront parcels so a couple of low sales can’t skew the ranking.
Best Public-Access Lakes Near Grand Rapids
Includes lakes with a public boat launch or public access on the Michigan DNR record. Ranked by access type (boat launch first) and lake size.
Quiet No-Wake Lakes Near Grand Rapids
Includes lakes with a Michigan DNR no-wake (or slow-speed) rule on record. Ranked by straight-line distance from downtown Grand Rapids.
Deeded-Access Lakes Near Grand Rapids
Includes lakes the Michigan DNR records as deeded-access — rights limited to owners whose deed grants them, often backlot homes in a platted subdivision. Ranked by straight-line distance from downtown Grand Rapids.
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