All Day on the Chain

Pack the cooler. Bring the sunscreen. Get ready to pump some tunes. Yes, it’s a perfect day to cruise the World’s Largest Chain of 28 Freshwater Lakes!

No matter how you enjoy your time on the water—pontoon, speed boat, kayak, canoe—it can be easy to lose track of time on one of those scenic summer days. So you better come prepared with the essentials.

If you need a little help on how to plan your day on the water, we’re happy to point you in the right direction. And no, we don’t mean north, east, south, or west!

Getting Ready for Launch

If you’ve already got a boat, great! Check out where you can get your boat in the water through the link above or click here for a launch map. Many of our visitors opt for boat rentals when in our neck of the woods and we have lots of places to borrow a seafaring vessel. Your Boat Club, Boat Sport Marine and The Toy Shop are excellent options for motorboats. Hawk’s Nest Outfitters provides some fun silent sport options like canoes, kayaks, and tubes.

If you’re going to be on the water for awhile, you’ll want to have protection from the summer sun. There are plenty of good options downtown to buy hats or sunscreen. Preparing a cooler with lunches and snacks is a great way to keep everyone happy for a daytime excursion. Trig’s and Pick ‘N Save are two favorites for their large, quality selection of grocery items, while Tremblay’s Sweet Shop and the Country Store of Eagle River can help satisfy a sweet tooth.

Time to Cruise

We’re not sure if it’s possible to cruise all 28 lakes in one day, but you’re welcome to try! Your best bet to accomplish the feat might be to start at Watersmeet Lake and then move through Eagle River into Yellow Birch Lake, up to Duck Lake, across to Lynx Lake, down into Otter Lake and so forth. Of course, most people like to find one or two lakes that suit their pleasure. *Please adhere to “no wake” zones!

Dare we name them all? We dare.