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Red Water Lake

Gilead, Michigan — Branch County.

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28Surface acres (whole lake)

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID {56E27A97-F112-44C4-9A9C-8CEF69210995}); shared with Indiana, acreage is the whole lake.

Location & fast facts

Where Red Water Lake is in Michigan

The red circle marks Red Water Lake.

Fast facts

About Red Water Lake

  • County: Branch
  • Town: Gilead
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Shared with: Indiana. The surface acreage shown is the whole lake; about 96% of the mapped water is in Michigan.
  • Distance: about 113 mi from Detroit and 88 mi from Grand Rapids and 349 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

  • Camping. 2 campgrounds within 15 mi (list)

Watch for

  • 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.

Lake map

Red Water Lake shoreline

0.1 mileN

No public access sites are listed for this water in the Michigan DNR boating access sites data.

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID {56E27A97-F112-44C4-9A9C-8CEF69210995}), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: Michigan DNR boating access sites. Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

Campgrounds near Red Water Lake

We found 2 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Red Water Lake. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

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 (41.7616, -85.1097). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Red Water 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 Red Water 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.

    Contact & official info

    Questions about Red Water Lake

    How big is Red Water Lake?

    Red Water Lake covers about 28 acres in Gilead, Michigan (Branch County).

    Are there campgrounds near Red Water Lake?

    Yes. We list 2 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles.

    What towns are on Red Water Lake?

    Red Water Lake touches Gilead in Branch County, Michigan.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Red Water 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 Gilead