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Thornapple Lake

Castleton · Hastings, Michigan — Barry County.

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416Surface acres
1Public access sites

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 157068221).

Location & fast facts

Where Thornapple Lake is in Michigan

The red circle marks Thornapple Lake.

Fast facts

About Thornapple Lake

  • County: Barry
  • Shore towns: Castleton, Hastings
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 111 mi from Detroit and 34 mi from Grand Rapids and 292 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

  • Paddling. 1 public access site, no trailer ramp listed
  • Fishing. Walleye and Muskellunge
  • Camping. 7 campgrounds within 15 mi, 1 on the shore (list)

Watch for

  • Non-native/invasive species. Eurasian watermilfoil, Curly-leaf pondweed and Chinese mysterysnail recorded. Clean, drain and dry your boat and gear.
  • 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)

30 ftMaximum depth

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

Stocked: 2010–2025, 16 years; 2,134,921 fish in all, fry included

Source: Michigan Department of Natural Resources: Fish Stocking Database (records for Thornapple Lake, Barry 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

Thornapple Lake shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Thornapple Lake boating access site (Boat launch)1½ mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launch
  1. 1Thornapple Lake boating access site
    Boat launch · Castleton

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 157068221), 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 Thornapple Lake

We found 7 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Thornapple Lake, 1 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.

1 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 (42.6230, -85.1910). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Thornapple 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 Thornapple 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
    Thornapple Lake boating access siteCastleton—Boat launch · Yes ramp——Boating42.6257, -85.1790

    Michigan DNR boating access sites

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

    Non-native/invasive species

    Reported on or near Thornapple Lake

    Clean, Drain, Dry. Remove plants and mud, drain all water, and dry your boat, trailer and gear before moving to another water.

    USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database

    USGS records matched to this water by location (within about 150 m of the outline) or by the place name in the record. A record shows a sighting was reported; it doesn't prove the species is still there. As of Oct 10, 2026.

    Contact & official info

    Questions about Thornapple Lake

    How big is Thornapple Lake?

    Thornapple Lake covers about 416 acres in Castleton and Hastings, Michigan (Barry County).

    How deep is Thornapple Lake?

    The maximum recorded depth is 30 feet, according to the Michigan DNR stocking and lake depth records.

    What fish are in Thornapple Lake?

    Michigan DNR stocking and lake depth records lists Walleye and Muskellunge.

    Is there a public boat launch on Thornapple Lake?

    No trailer ramp is listed, but there is 1 public access site for car-top boats or shore access.

    Are there campgrounds near Thornapple Lake?

    Yes. We list 7 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 1 of them within 5 miles.

    What towns are on Thornapple Lake?

    Thornapple Lake touches Castleton and Hastings in Barry County, Michigan.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Thornapple 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 Castleton