Chain O'Lakes - Pistakee Lake

Between Milwaukee and Chicago

Just below the Wisconsin state border sits Pistakee Lake. This lake is one of the fifteen lakes that comprise the 7,000-acre Chain O'Lakes waterway system. The Chain is reported to be the busiest inland recreational waterway per acre in the United States.

Pistakee Lake is 1,700 acres in size, with 22 miles of shoreline. It is Chain O'Lakes' largest lake, alongside Fox Lake.

Considered a part of the Chicagoland tourism region, Pistakee Lake is one of the lakes connected to the large Fox Lake.

Movement from Fox Lake to Pistakee Lake, Grass, Petite, Bluff, Nippersink, Channel, Spring, Catherine, and Redhead Lake is direct and easy for boaters to navigate. Residents living on Pistakee Lake can easily enjoy the amenities of a majority of the Chain O'Lakes system.

Lake Recreation

Local fishers love lake Pistakee because of its varying depths. The average depth is six feet, but significant drop-offs allow a wide range of fish to reside in its waters. You can expect to catch black crappie, bluegill, carp, channel catfish, largemouth bass, logperch, muskie, northern pike, smallmouth bass, sucker, walleye, white bass, white crappie, yellow bass, and yellow perch.

Nearby is the 840-acre Chain O'Lakes State Park. This park borders three of the Chain lakes and neighbors a 3,230-acre conservation area.

Trails for hiking and horseback riding cover the 2,450-acre park, which also offers overnight campgrounds. Hunting is permitted in a season for doves and waterfowl; there is an archery season for deer. Visitors can even have fun in the winter when there is ice fishing, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing.

If you are looking for a change of scenery, 1,810-acre Fox Lake is easily accessed by boats or cars.

Nearby Shops

Due to the large size of the 7,000-acre Chain O'Lakes region, there is a plethora of shops, restaurants, vacation rentals, and attractions for the family to enjoy. There are many water-accessible eating and drinking establishments on Pistakee Lake, including Famous Freddie's Roadhouse.

The Best Place to Experience Lake Life

Whether you are looking to buy a family home, a full-time retirement residence, or find a vacation rental, Pistakee Lake is an excellent choice.