Crystal Lake, the largest
lake of this name in
Michigan, is located near
Lake Michigan in
Benzie County about 25 miles (40 km) southwest of
Traverse City and about 2 miles (3 km) northeast of
Frankfort at . It measures approximately 2.5 by 8 miles (4 by 13 km), and has a maximum depth of 165 feet (50 m). At , it is Michigan's ninth largest inland lake. Up to and through the American Civil War years Crystal Lake was known as "Cap Lake" due to the frequent whitecaps visible on its surface. Crystal Lake is adjacent to the southern reaches of the
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.