Best Boat Route: Petite Lake to the Grass Lake Bluffs

June 2026 · Petite Lake Resort · Chain O' Lakes, IL

The Chain O' Lakes connects 15 lakes via channels and the Fox River, forming one of the Midwest's most navigable freshwater systems. On a map it looks like a string of pearls running roughly north to south through Lake County, Illinois. From PLR's private launch on Petite Lake, you can reach Grass Lake, one of the larger, quieter lakes at the northern end of the Chain, in about 45 minutes at a comfortable cruise. Here is the route, leg by leg, with stops worth making and a few things worth knowing before you leave the dock.

Leg 1, Petite Lake to the Fox Lake Channel

Push off from PLR's concrete launch and head south-southeast across Petite Lake. The lake is narrow enough that you'll reach the main outlet channel in a few minutes. Follow the channel markers south, they are clearly posted and well-maintained. You are heading toward Fox Lake, which is the Chain's central hub and the most traffic-heavy body of water on the system, particularly on summer weekends. Give yourself 15 minutes for this leg under normal conditions.

The Fox Lake approach deserves attention. On a Saturday in July, Fox Lake can have more boats per square acre than you have ever seen on a freshwater lake in Illinois. Watch your wake, obey the no-wake zones at channel entrances, and give pontoons extra room, they accelerate slowly and turn wide. This is not a leg to be in a hurry on. Navigate through, not over.

Leg 2, Fox Lake to Pistakee and Nippersink

North of Fox Lake, the Chain quiets down considerably. The Fox River channel running north connects to Pistakee Lake, which is worth a stop on its own. Pistakee has a sandier bottom than most of the Chain's northern lakes, better water clarity, and enough shoreline to anchor comfortably away from channel traffic. If you have children in the boat or anyone who wants to swim without current, Pistakee is the place. Pull up, drop anchor in 4 to 6 feet, and swim for 30 minutes. It is the right call.

Continue north from Pistakee through the narrow channel connecting to Nippersink Lake. The channels between lakes here are lined with cattails and marsh vegetation, slow down and look. Herons, egrets, and in spring, migrating waterfowl use these corridors heavily. The pace of the Chain's northern reaches is different from Fox Lake. The water is quieter. The landscape is flatter and more open. This is the part of the trip that earns its length.

Leg 3, North to Grass Lake

Grass Lake sits at the northern terminus of the Chain, fed by Nippersink Creek. It is wider than it looks on a map and can generate chop in a wind, so check the forecast before you commit to this leg if you are in a smaller boat. The destination, and the reason this route exists, is the bluffs on the north shore. These are limestone outcroppings that rise above the waterline, giving the north edge of Grass Lake a character that is different from anything on the southern Chain. Anchor off the bluffs in 6 to 8 feet, swim, and sit with it for a while. This is a spot worth the full trip.

The Hideaway, one of PLR's sister properties on the Chain, sits on Grass Lake's east shore. If you are doing this route and want a destination landmark, the Hideaway's private dock is a recognizable reference point for the east side of the lake as you approach from the south.

Blarney Island Detour

If you have time and energy for a detour on the return leg, Blarney Island is accessible from Fox Lake, it is the Chain's most famous open-water bar, a pontoon-friendly dock, and a scene unlike anything else in Illinois. Expect a crowd on summer Saturdays; plan accordingly. It is fun, it is loud, and it is entirely worth it once. On a weekday it is a more reasonable experience. Either way, it adds about an hour to the total trip time.

Return Trip and Fuel

Budget three hours round-trip at a comfortable cruise speed, more if you stop at Pistakee and Blarney Island. Leave Grass Lake by 3pm to avoid the full weight of weekend afternoon boat traffic on the Fox Lake passage south. Fuel docks are available in the Fox Lake marina area if you need to top off mid-trip. Check your gauge before you leave PLR's launch, the round trip is longer than it looks and the northern Chain does not have a gas station on the water.

The Chain O' Lakes is one of the genuinely underappreciated boating destinations in the Midwest. Most people who drive past it on Route 12 have no idea what is back there. From PLR's private launch on Petite Lake, the whole system is yours from the moment you put the boat in the water.