Here are the four largest lakes on the Huron River Chain of Lakes. These four lakes are public all sports lakes. Only one of them would you most likely not doing any water sports on because it is shallow, and has sand bars to navigate around. Here are the four lakes on the chain we will be talking about. I have put the in order of size below.
Big Portage Lake Hamburg Chain of Lakes
Big Portage is a public all sports lake that is about 664 acres in size. The DNR boat launch is located off McGregor Road on the east side of the lake. It has about 21 parking spots for the public. There is no public beach, no water ski course on the lake. There are no wake restrictions that I know of The deepest point on the lake is about 84 feet deep though they say the average depth is only five feet deep. There are some shallow sandbar areas on the lake.
The lake is mainly fed by the Huron River though there are two streams that come into the lake from the north. They are Honey Creek and Portage Creek. There are canals on the lake but I do not know of any islands on the lake. The school district for the lake is either Dexter schools, Pinckney school system depending on where they live on the lake. The streets around the lake are either paved, gravel.
Portage Lake is the biggest lake on the Hamburg chain of lakes . The chain of Lakes is called several names including the Huron River chain of lakes or the Portage Chain of Lakes. It is a public lake, you can get on the lake via a State of Michigan DNR Boat Launch that is located off McGregor Road on the east side of the road. Lake level was erratic prior to 1960. Spring flooding on Portage Lake was frequent. Often lakefront residents would row or paddle right up to their cottages at lake level; septic systems didn’t respond well either. After several dry years in the early 60s, lake levels were extremely low, and by 1963, boats and docks were suddenly left high and dry. This was the impetus that led to constructing the dam.
The eight main lakes on the chain can be accessed by most boats, with only Ore Lake accessible only by small boat. Some areas on the chain and river cannot be accessed by pontoon due to low under-road clearances or narrow passages. The lakes in the chain include Little Portage Lake, Big Portage Lake, Base Line Lake, Whitewood Lake, Zukey Lake, Tamarack Lake, Gallagher Lake, Strawberry Lake and Ore Lake.
Strawberry Lake Hamburg Chain of Lakes
Strawberry Lake in Hamburg is a public all sports lake that is about 257 acres in size. It is a kettle lake that was formed by glaciers thousands of years ago. It is about 50 feet deep in the deepest spot. There is no public access on the lake itself but the Huron River chain of lakes is all public because there is a DNR Launch off McGregor Road on Big Portage Lake.
There are no wake restrictions or laws on when you can go fast on the lake. Though some of the river channels between the lakes are no wake. The lake is fed by springs and the Huron River that flows through it. The children that live on the lake go to Pinckney School System. The streets around the lake are both paved and gravel.
There is no public beach on the lake, there are no canals, (thus no canal front homes) and I do not believe that there is a state approved ski course on the lake.
Base Line Lake Hamburg Chain of Lakes
Baseline Lake on the chain of lakes is a public all sports lake that is 254 acres in size. It is a public lake like all the lakes on the Huron River chain of lakes because there is a DNR public launch on Portage Lake. If you can get on Portage Lake you can boat to Base Line Lake. There are no wake restrictions on the lake. There are some no wake zones on the river between the lakes.
There is no public beach, no marina on the lake, and no state approved water ski course on the lake that I know of. Depending on where you live on the lake your children will go to Dexter or Pinckney. The streets around the lake are either paved or gravel.
Base Line Lake is part of the Hamburg chain of Lakes or as some people call it the Portage Chain of Lakes. It is the last lake right before Portage Lake. There is one sunken island on the lake where it gets about 5′ deep. Baseline Lake is a big round lake. There are a couple of deep holes on Base Line Lake of 64′ and 54′. University of Michigan has a sail club on the lake at 8010 Strawberry Lake Rd for students.
The lake is fed by the Huron River from the north (Whitewood Lake is to the north). What is great about the chain of lakes it that it is a boater’s paradise no matter what you do with a boat. For a pontoon person you could take a whole day exploring the shoreline and looking at all the home with your guests. For water skiers, jet skiers, and wakeboarders there is Portage Lake, Baseline Lake, or Strawberry Lake with lots of room and lots of width to enjoy those activities.
Fisherman have lots of drop off’s, and weed beds to fish on the many different lakes on the whole Portage chain of lakes. Kids on the lake either go to Pinckney or Dexter schools depending on where they live on the lake.
Zukey Lake Hamburg Chain of Lakes
Zukey Lake is a public all sports lake that is about 155 acres in size. The deepest part of the lake is 35 feet deep. Most of the lake is very shallow. You will see some very long docks because the shoreline is shallow. There is no water ski course on the lake. The lakes water source is the Huron River that flows from Ore Lake to the north. The children on the lake go to Pinckney Schools.
The streets around the lake are paved. All the waterfront homes are on sewers which helps the water quality of the lake. You do not have sewage leaking into the lake from old or faulty septic systems. There are canals off the lake. There is no public beach on the lake though there are a few neighborhood association out lots on the lake.
There is no public access on the lake but you can get on the Huron River Chain of Lakes at the opposite end of the Chain. There is a DNR boat launch off McGregor Road on Big Portage Lake. There are no wake restrictions on the lake. Because the lake is shallow and has sandbars it is a hang out area for boaters.
I hope this article on the four largest lakes on the Hamburg Chain of Lakes. There is another lake on the chain that is bigger than Zukey Lake but you cannot get to the lake by pontoon or speed boat. I excluded Ore Lake for that reason. I am a local lake realtor that knows most of the Livingston County lakes. I can help you find a good lake home, plus you get a great realtor that is full time, has 22 years of experience and is a good negotiator. I will make your next move easier. Give me a call or text today at 248-310-6239………….You will be glad you did.
