Michigan is home to over 11,000 lakes! Here are our favorites in SE Michigan.

Swim Safety Guidelines: 

  • Use a personal swim buoy! Click here to order an Epic one 🙂
  • Stay within designated swim areas
  • Never swim alone, have an escort equipped with a pfd
  • Do not share swimming space with motorized boats
  • Visibility is critical, wear a brightly colored swim cap

USAT Wetsuit Guidelines: Please follow these guidelines if swimming as part of one of our live or virtual events!

  • 78 degrees F or lower: wetsuits are allowed
  • 78.1 – 83.9 degrees F: wetsuits are allowed, but competitors will not be eligible for awards
  • 84 degrees F and above: participants may NOT wear wetsuits
  • 65 degree F or below: a wetsuit is recommended
  • 58 degrees F or below:  a wetsuit is mandatory

Epic Races is based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The following lakes are listed according to their proximity to the Ann Arbor area. Know of a great spot to swim, but don’t see it listed below? We love to find out about new places and share them with all our racers. Feel free to send an email to helpdesk@epicraces.com with the relevant details (reference other lake listings below) and we’ll add your lake to our list!

Silver Lake (15 miles from Ann Arbor)

  • Located in Pinckney, Michigan
  • Motorized Boats Allowed. No wake prior to 11 a.m. and after 7:30 p.m.
  • Has permanent Swim Buoys
  • Size: 204 acres, Depth: 45 feet
  • Click here for a Map
Map of Silver Lake

Big Portage Lake (30 miles from Ann Arbor)

Home of: Battle of Waterloo, Tri Goddes Tri, and Ugly Dog Tri

  • Located in Grass Lake, Michigan
  • Motorized Boats.
  • Has 3 permanent Swim Buoys that are about 125 yards end to end
  • Size: Part of the Waterloo Recreation Area – 32.8 sq. miles
  • Click here for a Map
  • If you are participating in a sprint triathlon that has a swim distance of 800 meters, you will swim 7 lengths of the buoys
  • If you are participating in a mini-sprint triathlon that has a swim distance of 400 meters, you will swim 3.5 lengths

Pickerel Lake (15 miles from Ann Arbor)

  • Located in Dexter, Michigan
  • No Motorized Boats.
  • No Swim Buoys
  • Size: 23 acres, Depth: 56 feet
  • Click  here for a Map
Map of Pickerel Lake in Dexter Michigan

Half Moon Lake (17 miles from Ann Arbor)

Home of: Ann Arbor Tri, WolverineMan Collegiate Conference Race, and Swim to the Moon

  • Located in Gregory, Michigan
  • Motorized Boats Allowed
  • Has permanent Swim Buoys
  • Size: 237 acres, Depth: 87 feet
  • Click here for a Map
Map of Half Moon Lake in Gregory, MI

Trout Lake (25 miles from Ann Arbor)

  • Located in Brighton, Michigan
  • No Motorized Boats
  • No Swim Buoys
  • Size: 43 acres, Depth: 40 feet
  • Click here for a Map
Map of Trout Lake

Kent Lake (28 miles from Ann Arbor)

Home of: Island Lake Triathlon

  • Located in Brighton, Michigan
  • Motorized Boats Allowed.
  • Has permanent Swim Buoys
  • Size: 1200 acres, Depth: 36 feet
  • Click here for a Map
Map of Kent Lake in Brighton, MI

Spring Mill Pond (30 miles from Ann Arbor)

  • Located in Brighton, Michigan
  • No Motorized Boats.
  • Has permanent Swim Buoys. Steep Drop off After Buoys.
  • Size: 8 acres, Depth: 40 feet
  • Click here for a Map
Map of Spring Mill Pond

Comments

  1. Hi- I am looking for someone to swim with – either lake swim or outdoor lap pool while I will be in Chelsea Michigan between 5/11- 5/24. If you can connect me, that would be great. I am trying to decide if I will bring my wetsuit or not. I have been swimming in couer d’alene lake at 55 degrees with wet suit this season. and will swim at the outdoor lap pool on monday before I fly out. Thanks, Sharon

  2. Author

    Hi Sharon,
    I didn’t even realize we had the option to leave comments here, so glad I saw it! my recommendation would be to reach out to the Ann Arbor Triathlon club, you may be able to find a willing participant there, personally I don’t know anybody who has ventured into the open water the season yet. It will happen soon as we have a triathlon the first week of June! I will share your message on the club forum and you can reach out to them as well through their website. I’ll also ask around for you!

  4. Author

    Hello! Sorry that we missed your message! Our swim events for the season are done, but will start up again next June. You can see them all at http://www.epicraces.com.

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