Boating enthusiasts and fishermen alike spend hours on the Whitefish Chain of lakes in the summer, while snowmobilers and cross-country skiers enjoy its ice in the winter. However this chain of lakes was formed out of necessity.

In 1836, Congress appropriated funds to start the Pine River Dam, which was completed by 1886. Back then, the sole industry in what is now our resort area, was logging. The chain of lakes; which includes Arrowhead, Bertha, Big Trout, Clamshell, Cross, Daggett, Island, Little Pine, Loon, Upper Hay, Lower Hay, Lower Whitefish, Middle Whitefish, Pig, Rush, and Upper Whitefish; were connected in order to move the logs from place to place. Logging continued from the early 1870's until 1912.

There are at least 30 other lakes in the area, some large and some small, including the Ossawinnamakee Chain of seven lakes just south of Whitefish.

The first entrepreneur to establish a resort-like business was Ami Gould, who operated a logger's road ranch in the Watertown Township (Crosslake), in 1870. As the local population evolved from loggers to families, the landscape followed suit. A school was erected, followed by a town hall, a store (The Crosslake Store), and a Post Office. Resorts grew out of logging camps, and became a place of refuge. Today the Whitefish Chain continues to flourish as visitors and residents enjoy both the pines and water.

Be transported back in time with an interpretive performance featuring music and stories recreating the legendary Ideal Township mail carrier, Ben Knebel who delivered mail to the Whitefish Chain by boat from 1930 through 1969.

Arrowhead Lake
Arrowhead Lake is 308 acre lake and part of the Whitefish chain of lakes located near Crosslake, MN. The lake has 4.4 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 13 feet.

Bertha Lake
Bertha is a 334 acre lake and part of the Whitefish chain of lakes located between Jenkins and Ideal Corners. Access to it can be gained via channel from Whitefish or Clamshell lakes. The lake has 2.4 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 64 feet.

Big Trout Lake
Big trout is a 1342 acre lake located at the City of Manhattan Beach. It is part of the Whitefish chain of lakes. Maximum water depth is 128 feet and about 27% of the surface area is 15 feet deep of less. It is one of two lakes in the Brainerd management area managed for lake trout. Lake trout have been stocked regularly since 1979.

Clamshell Lake
Clamshell is a 189 acre lake and part of the Whitefish chain of lakes located near Ideal Corners. There is an access on the north side of the lake. Clamshell has a maximum depth of 44 feet and 75% of the lake is 15 feet deep or less. The lake has 4.4 miles of shoreline.

Cross Lake
Cross is a 1,751 acre lake and part of the 14,000 acre Whitefish chain of lakes, located near the City of Crosslake with 19.7 miles of shoreline (1995 lake survey). The maximum depth of Cross is 84 feet. The Army Corps of Engineers recreation area is located on Cross and includes a campground and public beach area.

Daggett Lake
Daggett Lake is part of the Whitefish chain of lakes located north of Crosslake. At 225 acres with a maximum depth of 23 feet, Daggett is one of the smaller lakes in the Whitefish chain. Access is from Cross Lake via a channel into Daggett.

Island Lake
Island and Loon are two separate lakes that are surveyed as one lake totaling 232 acres with 5.2 miles of shoreline with a maximum depth is 18 feet. They are part of the Whitefish chain of lakes located near Crosslake.

Kimball Lake
Kimball Lake is part of the Ossawinamakee chain of lakes, and has a maximum depth of 77 feet, and is 190 acres in size.

Little Pine Lake
Little Pine Lake is the easternmost lake in the 14,000 acre Whitefish chain of lakes. At 387 acres and a maximum depth of 36 feet, Little Pine is one of the smaller lakes in the Whitefish chain. Access is from Cross Lake via Daggett Lake.

Lower Hay Lake
Lower Hay is a 685 acre lake that is part of the 14,000 acre Whitefish chain of lakes. The littoral area (area 15 feet deep or less) is 215 acres, or 31% of the surface area. Maximum depth is 100 feet with four miles of shoreline.

Ossawinamakee Lake
Ossawinamakee is the largest lake in the Ossawinamakee chain of lakes at 644 acres, located about three miles north of Breezy Point and part of the Ossawinakee Chain of Lakes. A public access is located on the east end of the lake. The maximum depth is 63' and about 35% of the lake is 15' deep or less.

Pig Lake
Pig is a 191 acre lake and part of the Whitefish chain of lakes. Access is gained via the channel from Whitefish Lake. There is also a small access on the southwest side with limited parking and no turn around. Pig has a maximum depth of 56 feet and 39% of the lake is 15 feet deep or less with 2.4 miles of shoreline.

Rush Lake
Rush/Hen is located north of Crosslake and is 891 acres and part of the Whitefish chain of lakes. The maximum depth is 105 feet and the lake covers 11.7 miles of shoreline.

Star Lake
Star Lake is a 126 acre lake located just east of Ideal Corners, and part of the Ossawinamakee chain of lakes. The lake has a maximum depth of 83 feet.

Upper Hay Lake
Upper Hay Lake is a 581 acre lake located just east of Jenkins. A public access is located on the west side of the lake. The maximum depth is 42 feet and about 32% of the lake is 15 feet deep or less, with four miles of shoreline.

Whitefish
Whitefish, at 7,370 acres is the third largest lake in the Brainerd management area and is part of the 14,000 acre Whitefish chain of lakes. The maximum depth is 138 feet. There are numerous public access points on the lake.