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Otter Lake

Marathon · Forest, Michigan — Lapeer County.

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67Surface acres
1Public access sites

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 147103912).

Location & fast facts

Where Otter Lake is in Michigan

The red circle marks Otter Lake.

Fast facts

About Otter Lake

  • Counties: Lapeer, Genesee
  • Shore towns: Marathon, Forest
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 65 mi from Detroit and 113 mi from Grand Rapids and 300 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. Walleye
  • Camping. 14 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)

Fish species stocked here by the Michigan DNR since 2010: Walleye.

Stocked: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2024, 2025; 64,899 fish in all, fry included

Source: Michigan Department of Natural Resources: Fish Stocking Database (records for Otter Lake, Lapeer County, since 2010). These are stocking records, not a full fish survey; other species also live here.

Lake map

Otter Lake shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Otter Lake Village Campground (campground)Boat ramp (Boat launch)1¼ mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launch Campground
  1. 1Boat ramp
    Boat launch · Marathon

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 147103912), 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 Otter Lake

We found 14 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Otter Lake, 2 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.

8 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 (43.2180, -83.4594). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Otter 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 Otter 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
    Boat rampMarathon—Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating43.2149, -83.4591

    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 Otter Lake

    How big is Otter Lake?

    Otter Lake covers about 67 acres in Marathon and Forest, Michigan (Lapeer County).

    What fish are in Otter Lake?

    Michigan DNR stocking and lake depth records lists Walleye.

    Is there a public boat launch on Otter Lake?

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

    Are there campgrounds near Otter Lake?

    Yes. We list 14 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 2 of them within 5 miles.

    What towns are on Otter Lake?

    Otter Lake touches Marathon and Forest in Lapeer County and Genesee County, Michigan.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Otter 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 Marathon