Lower Herring Lake · Blaine Township, MI
Lower Herring Lake homes for sale
Every lakefront home and lot for sale on Lower Herring Lake in Benzie County, just inland from Lake Michigan, pulled from the MLS each week, plus a 3D map of the lake bottom so you can see the water off each shoreline.
Listings updated October 5, 2026. Prices and status can change between updates, so ask us before you fall for one.
Lower Herring Lake
Benzie County · MI
This 3D lake model needs a browser with WebGL. Ask us about Lower Herring Lake frontage and we’ll send you the depth map.
The lake bottom comes from the Michigan DNR lake survey, whose deepest contour is 50 feet; the DNR fisheries report lists Lower Herring Lake at 60 feet deep. Height is exaggerated so the drop offs show. A guide, not a navigation chart.
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Homes for sale on Lower Herring Lake
Every active Lower Herring Lake waterfront listing, homes first, highest price first, then lots. Tap a photo to fly to it on the lake.
$709,000
1518 Birch
Frankfort, MI 49635
4 bd · 3 ba · 2,600 sq ft
40 ft of shared frontage · Built 1984
Listing courtesy of Epique Realty · MLS #1949993
Ask about this home →Living on Lower Herring Lake
Lower Herring Lake sits just inland from Lake Michigan in Blaine Township, Benzie County, between Elberta and Arcadia.
It is a deep, fairly clear lake with a sand and gravel bottom. Herring Creek ties it to Upper Herring Lake upstream and to Lake Michigan just past the outlet.
About 60 percent of the shoreline is developed with homes and cottages. Much of the west shore is undeveloped hardwood forest, and the historic Watervale resort holds much of the south shore.
Frontage is listed as private or shared, and every card above says which one it is.
Size
About 450 acres.
Depth
About 60 feet at its deepest, and about 80 percent of the lake is deeper than 15 feet.
Outlet
Herring Creek flows out to Lake Michigan past a lake level control structure.
Watershed
The Benzie Conservation District works on the Herring Lakes watershed, which covers about 25 square miles.
Community
Blaine Township, with Elberta to the northwest and Arcadia to the south.
DNR launch
A paved ramp on the northeast shore with parking for six trailers.
Gravel ramps
Small ramps at the ends of White Owl and Boo Hoo View Roads on the east shore.
Road ends
Several other public road ends reach the water.
Getting on the water
Lower Herring Lake has a paved DNR launch and a few small gravel ramps along the east shore.
Fishing leans to walleye, smallmouth bass and rock bass. When the creek mouth is open, fish from Lake Michigan can come in, so steelhead, brown trout and coho salmon turn up too.
Buying on Lower Herring Lake: what to know
Well and septic at sale
Benzie County requires a well and septic evaluation through the Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department before a property with onsite systems changes hands. We get it scheduled early.
Private or shared frontage
Shared frontage usually means an association lot and dock rules. Ask for the association documents before you write an offer.
Short term rentals
Rules vary by township and change. We check the current ordinance for the exact address.
Lake level
West winds can build a sandbar at the mouth of Herring Creek and raise the lake by as much as several feet. Ask about high water on the lot.
Depth off the dock
Some shorelines drop off fast and some stay shallow. Use the 3D map, then look in person.
Upper or Lower
Upper Herring Lake is just upstream. Spend time on both before you decide.
Lower Herring Lake questions
How deep is Lower Herring Lake?
About 60 feet at its deepest, according to the Michigan DNR, and about 80 percent of the lake is deeper than 15 feet. The bottom is mostly sand and gravel.
How big is Lower Herring Lake?
About 450 acres. It is the lower of the two Herring Lakes, which are joined by Herring Creek.
Is Lower Herring Lake connected to Lake Michigan?
Yes. Herring Creek runs from Upper Herring Lake through a wetland, under M-22, into Lower Herring Lake and out to Lake Michigan. A lake level control structure sits on the outlet, less than a quarter mile from Lake Michigan.
Where is public access on Lower Herring Lake?
The DNR has a paved boat launch on the northeast shore with parking for six vehicles with trailers. There are also small gravel ramps at the ends of White Owl and Boo Hoo View Roads, plus several other public road ends.
What fish are in Lower Herring Lake?
Walleye, smallmouth bass and rock bass do best, along with northern pike, yellow perch and some largemouth bass, bluegill and black crappie. Because of the Lake Michigan connection, steelhead, brown trout and coho salmon show up too.
What is Watervale?
A lumber town platted on the south shore in 1893 and abandoned in 1894, then turned into a summer resort in 1917. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the DNR notes the resort owns much of the south shoreline.
Do Lower Herring Lake homes need a well and septic inspection to sell?
Yes. The Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department requires properties in Benzie County with an onsite well or septic system to be evaluated before the property is sold or transferred. We get it scheduled early so it does not hold up closing.
Looking on Lower Herring Lake?
Lower Herring Lake is a small lake, so there is not much to choose from at any one time. We are Traverse City Realtors who sell in Benzie County too. Tell us your budget and what you want on the water, and we will send you new listings as soon as they hit the MLS.
More lakes near Traverse City
Listing information comes from Northern Great Lakes REALTORS® MLS and is refreshed weekly. Homes listed by other brokerages are shown with the listing office’s name. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed and should be verified. Janel Brown and Taylor Brown, Real Estate One, Traverse City.
Lake facts: Michigan DNR Lower Herring Lake report (2015), Blaine Township on Wikipedia, Watervale on Wikipedia, Benzie Conservation District, Lower Herring Lake boat access site, Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department time of transfer. Depth map from Michigan DNR Institute for Fisheries Research lake contours. Imagery: USGS. Elevation: Mapzen / AWS Terrain Tiles.