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Sand Lake

Elk · Norman, Michigan — Lake County.

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53Surface acres
2Public access sites

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 60090898).

Location & fast facts

Where Sand Lake is in Michigan

The red circle marks Sand Lake.

Fast facts

About Sand Lake

  • Counties: Lake, Manistee
  • Shore towns: Elk, Norman
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 193 mi from Detroit and 84 mi from Grand Rapids and 179 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)
  • Camping. 37 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)

50 ftMaximum depth

Source: Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Institute for Fisheries Research inland lake deepest-point data (lake 43-235). Lake depth maps are on the DNR inland lake maps page.

Lake map

Sand Lake shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Boat ramp (Boat launch)1Sand Lake boating access site (Boat launch)20.1 mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launch
  1. 1Boat ramp
    Boat launch · Norman
  2. 2Sand Lake boating access site
    Boat launch · Elk

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 60090898), 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 Sand Lake

We found 37 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Sand Lake, 5 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: Recreation.gov (RIDB) · 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 (44.1635, -85.9410). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Sand 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 Sand 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

    2 public access sites listed, 2 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Boat rampNorman—Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating44.1652, -85.9370
    Sand Lake boating access siteElk—Boat launch · Yes ramp——Boating44.1623, -85.9435

    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 Sand Lake

    How big is Sand Lake?

    Sand Lake covers about 53 acres in Elk and Norman, Michigan (Lake County).

    How deep is Sand Lake?

    The maximum recorded depth is 50 feet, according to the Michigan DNR stocking and lake depth records.

    Is there a public boat launch on Sand Lake?

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

    Are there campgrounds near Sand Lake?

    Yes. We list 37 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 5 of them within 5 miles.

    What towns are on Sand Lake?

    Sand Lake touches Elk and Norman in Lake County and Manistee County, Michigan.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Sand 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 Elk