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Great Lakes swimming guide
Erie, Michigan, Ontario, Huron and Superior: when and where to swim.
6 min read
The Great Lakes are inland seas. Erie is shallow and warmest; Superior is deep and cold. Each lake has a short but real swimming season, usually from late June to early September.
Warmest to coldest
- Lake Erie: 22–26°C in July–August; warmest and shallowest.
- Lake Ontario: 18–23°C; warms along the southern shore.
- Lake Michigan: 18–24°C; southern end is warmest.
- Lake Huron: 17–22°C; Georgian Bay warms faster than the open lake.
- Lake Superior: 13–18°C even in summer; cold but beautiful.