Summer Beckons on the Chain O’Lakes

Can you imagine a solid sheet of ice that’s two miles high covering the upper central states? As it slowly retreated, the river esker’s melting action underneath scoured and gouged out the landscape, also leaving frozen chunk deposits. This era ended 11,000 years ago, and geologists named it the Wisconsin Glacial Stage. One of the grandest remnants and features of this event is the Chain O’Lakes.

Fed by the Fox River and freshwater springs, this flowing system includes 15 interconnected lakes, 40 miles of navigable channels and more than 100 years of history as a recreational destination. Whether coming for the Egyptian Lotus Beds or the shoreline resorts starting in the 1890s, visitors have long been drawn to the water and region.

Located in Illinois’ Lake and McHenry counties, the Chain O’Lakes has more than 488 miles of shoreline surrounding approximately 7,100 acres of water. Channels and bays seem to meander like arteries along the Fox River, spanning 45 miles from Wilmot, Wisconsin, to the McHenry Stratton Lock and Dam, and ending at the Algonquin Dam. Resorts and restaurants dot the banks, with many providing boat launch facilities and parking. Finding that ideal spot for personal time or a place to enjoy family friendly activities is easy — it’s all here.

The Fox Waterway Agency (FWA), created by the state of Illinois, oversees the maintenance and safety of the Chain O’Lakes. They issue permits for boats using the waterway system, and then use those funds for various tasks: The removal of debris, the relocation of accumulated silt in channels to farmlands and nearby shores, enhancing water quality, providing environmental stability and promoting tourism.

“We have an obligation to care for this precious waterway, which has proven its worth in providing an essential sanctuary of enjoyment at a time when it is needed most,” says Joe Keller, the agency’s executive director. “Our mission is… keeping our waterways safe and navigable for residents and users alike.”

Destinations and ports of call

Start your Chain O’Lakes adventure at The Chain O’Lakes State Park, which offers free boat launches and camping sites. The park touches on three major Chain lakes: Grass, Marie and Nippersink. It also connects with the Fox River leading to the other seven major lakes: Bluff, Fox, Pistakee, Channel, Petite, Spring and Catherine.

Another Chain access point is at Ben Watts Marina in Fox Lake, located on Route 12. This private launch site has multiple ramps and entry points leading into “the straightaway,” a stretch of water on Pistakee Lake between Eagle Point and Cedar Island, heading to McHenry County and the Fox River (south), and the Chain (north).

For swimmers, the spot to be is Lake Marie. With an average depth of 14 feet, the spring-fed waters are clear and cool on a hot day, and the lake’s sandbars are a popular place to anchor. The deeper waters to the northeast are good for anglers with bass, pike and walleye on the fare. There are boat ramps on the north and east shores.

Swimming is good anywhere on the Chain, although Fox and Nippersink lakes can be busy with boat traffic and choppy waters. The general rule for swimming is stay close to the shore and wear life jackets. Moving south, from Lake Marie into Grass Lake, a white building on pylons will be seen rising out of the waters. In the middle of the lake is Blarney Island, a Caribbean-themed bar that calls itself the “Key West of the Midwest.” The bar’s legend involves a poker game in the early 1900s between owners of competing boat excursion lines, which resulted in a tragic end and the winner eventually taking over the site. Key activities here include the popular Thursday Night Drag Boat Races and weekend music festivals throughout the summer.

Over 100 years ago, city dwellers took the train lines to Fox Lake and Antioch to view the famed Egyptian Lotus Beds, making this region a destination. Boats would follow a path cut through the dense fragrant beds of this yellow flower that covered an area south of Grass Lake, near Crabapple Island. Increased boat traffic and raised lake levels brought its demise. However, leaving Blarney’s Island and heading south beyond the Grass Lake Road Bridge, what remains of the lotus beds is visible along the western shore.

Fox Lake has 25.16 miles of shoreline and a surface area of more than 1,800 acres, one of the largest in the Chain, coupling shoreline restaurants and businesses with a bustling village lakefront. Some of the more well-known spots with dockage are El Puerto Mexican Restaurant, offering casual Mexican fare, and Fairmont Shores, known for its seafood. Mineola Marine, Chain of Lakes Marina, Fox Lake Harbor and Munson Marine have boat slips and boat servicing.