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Elbow Lake

Mills, Michigan — Ogemaw County.

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41Surface acres
1Public access sites

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 118254623).

Location & fast facts

Where Elbow Lake is in Michigan

The red circle marks Elbow Lake.

Fast facts

About Elbow Lake

  • County: Ogemaw
  • Town: Mills
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 139 mi from Detroit and 118 mi from Grand Rapids and 230 mi from Marquette, straight-line (not driving distance)

Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline.

Fishing in Michigan

Official Michigan DNR pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.

Good for & watch for

Good for

  • Boating. 1 public trailer launch listed (see access)
  • Fishing. Fathead minnow and Hybrid sunfish
  • Camping. 23 campgrounds within 15 mi, 1 on the shore (list)

Watch for

  • Boat traffic. A public trailer launch means motorboats share the water; expect more traffic on summer weekends.
  • Cold water. Water stays cold well into late spring and turns cold again in fall. Wear a life jacket when paddling in the shoulder seasons.

Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.

Official lake data (Michigan DNR)

21 ftMaximum depth

Fish species stocked here by the Michigan DNR since 2010: Fathead minnow, Hybrid sunfish.

Stocked: 2018; 600 fish in all, fry included

Source: Michigan Department of Natural Resources: Fish Stocking Database (records for Elbow Lake, Ogemaw County, since 2010) and the DNR Institute for Fisheries Research inland lake deepest-point data. These are stocking records, not a full fish survey; other species also live here.

Lake map

Elbow Lake shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Elbow Lake Boat Launch (Boat launch)10.1 mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launch
  1. 1Elbow Lake Boat Launch
    Boat launch · Mills

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 118254623), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: Michigan DNR boating access sites and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

Campgrounds near Elbow Lake

We found 23 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Elbow Lake, 4 of them within 5 miles. 1 is right on the shore. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

14 more within 15 miles

All campgrounds & RV parks in Michigan

Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.

Campground data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.

Conditions right now

Air temperature & conditions (nearest NWS station)Loading…
Fetching the latest National Weather Service observation…

Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (44.2016, -84.0410). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Elbow Lake. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.

Sun, moon & best fishing times

Sun & moon at Elbow Lake

Best fishing times

Major periodMinor periodDaylight

    Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in ET (America/Detroit), and accurate to within a few minutes.

    Boat launches & access sites

    1 public access site listed, 1 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Elbow Lake Boat LaunchMills—Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating44.2004, -84.0338

    Michigan DNR boating access sites and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL)

    Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.

    Contact & official info

    Questions about Elbow Lake

    How big is Elbow Lake?

    Elbow Lake covers about 41 acres in Mills, Michigan (Ogemaw County).

    How deep is Elbow Lake?

    The maximum recorded depth is 21 feet, according to the Michigan DNR stocking and lake depth records.

    What fish are in Elbow Lake?

    Michigan DNR stocking and lake depth records lists Fathead minnow and Hybrid sunfish.

    Is there a public boat launch on Elbow Lake?

    Yes. 1 public trailer launch is listed: Elbow Lake Boat Launch. Check posted fees and parking rules.

    Are there campgrounds near Elbow Lake?

    Yes. We list 23 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 4 of them within 5 miles.

    What towns are on Elbow Lake?

    Elbow Lake touches Mills in Ogemaw County, Michigan.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Elbow Lake? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).

    Lakes & ponds nearby

    Straight-line distance between lake centers. All Michigan lakes & ponds · All waters in Mills