Is it safe to swim in Lake Michigan?

Lake Michigan is generally clean and safe for swimming but it can become contaminated with harmful bacteria.



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If you get caught in a rip current, do not try to swim against it. Instead, swim parallel to the shoreline until you are out of the current. Lake Michigan is generally clean and safe for swimming but it can become contaminated with harmful bacteria.

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Not only is this lake massive - spanning 307 miles in either direction - but its shores also run parallel, causing unique wave shapes. The shapes of these waves are what contribute to rip tides, which are one of the most dangerous things swimmers can encounter in the water.

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About Harmful Bacteria coli in the water along Lake Michigan's shoreline is a strong indication that the water was recently contaminated by sewage or animal fecal waste. These wastes may contain many types of harmful disease-causing organisms.

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Should you shower after swimming in Lake Michigan? Take a shower: Bathe yourself after swimming in a lake in order to maintain hygiene and stay clean. If bacteria has not entered your body, it may be actively resting on your skin, creating a rash or finding an open cut to infect.

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Lake Michigan water temperatures Lake Michigan sees its warmest water temperatures typically from late-June through mid-September. It's not uncommon to have surface water temperatures in the 70s and sometimes even low 80s along the West Michigan lakeshore in that same time frame.

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The answer is no. Being immersed in, rather than atop, cold water feels different. As fall turns into winter and the thermometer drops, the increasingly cold water starts to feel good, even warm. Wetsuits would only get in the way of this descent into conditions that have become delightful.

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A north-northeast wind has pushed the warmer surface water along the Michigan shore back toward the middle of Lake Michigan and brought up colder water from well beneath the surface. This process is called upwelling.

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The blue in Lake Michigan and Lake Huron is sediment brought to the surface when strong winds churned the lakes. The green in Lake Erie and in Lake Huron's Saginaw Bay is algae, which builds on the surface when winds are calm.

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Lake Michigan in particular is the roughest of the Great Lakes, and poses a major risk to those thinking of taking a dip.

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Additionally, since rain events tend to lead to elevated bacteria levels in the water column, we advise that people avoid swimming after a large rain event.

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12 Best Lake Michigan Beaches With White Sand, Rolling Dunes, and Stunning Views
  • Petoskey State Park, Petoskey, Michigan.
  • North Beach, Racine, Wisconsin.
  • Warren Dunes State Park, Sawyer, Michigan.
  • Holland State Park, Holland, Michigan.
  • Silver Beach County Park, St. ...
  • Rosewood Beach, Highland Park, Illinois.


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Swim in places with lifeguard supervision. Swim only in designated areas. Children should wear life jackets approved by the U.S. Coast Guard. Do not rely on puddle jumpers, arm floaties, air-filled or foam toys.

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Before entering the water, talk with a lifeguard or beach patrol. No one will know the current water conditions better than they will. If you are at an unguarded beach, which most are, Steer Clear of the Pier, if one is present. Swim at least 100 yards away from the structure.

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Named the “Most Beautiful Place in the United States,” Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is a must-on any Lake Michigan travel bucket list. You'll find 26 miles of pristine, sandy beach; towering dunes; wooded trails through lofty hardwood forests and an aqua-blue lake.

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Torch Lake, a glacier-carved gem set into the lush land of northwest lower Michigan, is often compared to the Caribbean, thanks to its incredibly clear (albeit quite cold) blue-green waters.

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