THE CISCO CHAIN OF LAKES is comprised of 15 navigable lakes with 270 miles of shoreline. Thousand Island Lake is the largest of these scenic lakes and has numerous islands and bays. A day boating on the chain is a memorable one… be sure to include the smaller uninhabited lakes, too.
WALLEYES, MUSKIES (the state record musky was caught in 1980 on our lake!) large and smallmouth bass, northerns, perch, crappies, and other panfish are plentiful. Many trophy fish are taken each year. Thousand Island also contains lake trout, splake, and cisco. Explore any of the 302 lakes and 241 miles of trout streams located in Watersmeet alone.
WILDLIFE abounds here. There are many nesting pairs of bald eagles and loons on our chain. Deer, coyote, raccoon, red fox, bobcat, skunk, otter, beaver, muskrat, bear, porcupine, fisher, etc. are abundant in our area. Even timberwolves reside in Sylvania (we’ve had radio-collared wolves in our yard a few times!). Denver even took pictures of a young moose just a mile north of our homes a couple of years ago.
We are located in the OTTAWA NATIONAL FOREST and just one mile from Sylvania Wilderness and Recreation Area. Sylvania is a national forest with 21,000 acres of virgin forests and 36 unspoiled lakes. This area is closed to motor boats on most lakes (and snowmobiles in the winter), but it is available to the public for canoeing, picnicking, hiking, fishing, swimming, hunting (in season), and winter sports. There is a beautiful sand beach on Clark Lake which we highly recommend for swimming.
FLAMING FORESTS of colored trees brighten our area from the end of August till sometime in October. This is a wonderful time to visit the chain. The fish are biting better with the cooler waters, and fewer people are boating with school back in session. You’ll long remember the peacefulness and beauty of the chain in the fall. Late October and early November can provide some of the best fishing of the year! Terrific fall and spring discounts and super discounts in the quieter times of the year.
BOWHUNTING AND SMALL GAME HUNTING are popular in the fall. Many deer, partridge, ducks, geese, and even bear are taken each year. Our gun deer season runs from November 15 to 30 each year.
ATV, UTV, SNOWMOBILE AND BIKE from your door. Our county road, Thousand Island Lake Road, is an access trail to the main snowmobile and ATV/UTV trails. You can legally ride on the right side of the road to the main trails for both sledding and four or six wheeling. When the ice is safe, you can also access the snowmobile trail by sledding across the frozen lakes of the Chain. It’s easy to connect up with the trail hub here that allows you to head east, west, north, and south in Watersmeet for some of the best sledding you’ll ever have. Our U. P. Thunder Riders Snowmobile Club does a great job of maintaining our snowmobile trails here.
The Agonikak bike trail is part of the 38-mile Wilderness Lakes Trail. These trails can be accessed right here on Thousand Island Lake Road joining Watersmeet and Land O’Lakes, Wisconsin.
Our main snowmobile trail becomes our great ATV/UTV trails when it’s not sledding season. Wide trails maintained by Mi-Trale provide excellent riding for your four-wheelers or six-wheelers. Mi-Trale has a great trail map and book available, and the Forest Service also has three large maps of the trails here that they have. Come and enjoy the great scenery, clean air and some wonderful riding!
WINTERS here bring lots of snow for the enjoyment of snowmobilers, skiers, and ice fishermen. Our homes are located on an access trail joining with main trails heading in every direction. Our fantastic snowmobile trails are groomed daily from December 1 to April 1 normally. Cross-country skiing is close by in Sylvania and at a trailhead at Sylvania Outfitters. Six downhill ski hills are within a 45 to 90 minute drive. Both snowmobile rentals and service and ski outfitters are located locally. Ice fishing for walleye, pike, and musky on the Michigan side of the chain is open through February 28 or March 15. Panfish and trout can be taken till the ice goes out around Mid-April. Enjoy your favorite winter sports or just come and relax in our winter wonderland! Mid-week discounts for Monday through Thursday visits.
ICE FISHING is a fun and exhilarating past time in the winter here. Jig for panfish or set up your tip-ups for game fish. The eagles will entertain you and the scenery will renew you! There’s no better meal than a fresh catch of fried fish after a fun day on the lakes! One of my most memorable days was spent catching bluegills with family here and coming home with very rosy cheeks to a slow cooker full of homemade chili. We fried up our catch of bluegills to a golden brown and cut up a fresh pineapple! What a strange combination, but it was one of the best meals ever!!!
Whether your vacation plans include a stay in the spring, summer, autumn, or winter, the fantastic Cisco Chain and the breathtaking Western Upper Peninsula of Michigan have it all! We know that you’ll go home with wonderful memories to last you a lifetime!