Lake guides
The 14 lakes of the Whitefish Chain, one by one.
Fourteen connected lakes around Crosslake, Manhattan Beach and Jenkins in Crow Wing County, each with its own depth, water and personality. These guides cover how each lake connects, what the DNR's latest fish surveys found, and what to check if you own, buy or sell there.
Upper Whitefish LakeThe headwaters of the chain: big water, deep basins and the walleye engine of the whole system.Lower Whitefish LakeThe crossroads of the chain, with channels to Pig and Rush-Hen and quick water to Cross Lake.Cross LakeThe lake at the dam and the town, with the clearest water on the chain's main route.Big Trout LakeDeep, cold and unique: the only natural lake in Crow Wing County stocked with lake trout.Rush-Hen LakeClear, deep and quiet, with no public launch, reached by channel from Cross Lake or Lower Whitefish.Lower Hay LakeThe clearest water on the chain, deep and compact, with one of its best public launches.Bertha LakeSmall, clear and known for big fish, tucked between Whitefish and Clamshell.Little Pine LakeThe easternmost lake on the chain: shallow, quiet and good for panfish.Arrowhead LakeThe chain's shallow lake: 13 feet at its deepest, warm, weedy and full of big crappie.Daggett LakeA quiet, shallow lake off Cross Lake and the gateway to Little Pine.Island LakeDeep, clear and coldwater, surveyed by the DNR together with Loon Lake as Island-Loon.Loon LakeIsland's quiet neighbor, surveyed together with it as Island-Loon.Clamshell LakeA small, clear lake with a public launch and a channel to Bertha, known for pike and bluegill.Pig LakeMore a big bay of Whitefish than a separate lake: deep, clear and private.
The chain at a glance
| Lake | Acres | Max depth (ft) | Avg. clarity (ft) | Near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Whitefish Lake | 7,714* | 138* | 11.8* | Crosslake |
| Lower Whitefish Lake | 7,714* | 138* | 11.8* | Crosslake |
| Cross Lake | 1,815 | 84 | 16.5 | Crosslake |
| Big Trout Lake | 1,366 | 128 | 13.2 | Manhattan Beach |
| Rush-Hen Lake | 858 | 105 | 16.8 | Crosslake |
| Lower Hay Lake | 700 | 100 | 18.6 | Jenkins |
| Bertha Lake | 337 | 64 | 15.6 | Jenkins |
| Little Pine Lake | 330 | 36 | 8.8 | Crosslake |
| Arrowhead Lake | 296 | 13 | 6.5 | Manhattan Beach |
| Daggett Lake | 258 | 23 | 8.8 | Crosslake |
| Island Lake | 232 | 76 | 15.9 | Crosslake |
| Loon Lake | Surveyed with Island as Island-Loon | Crosslake | ||
| Clamshell Lake | 211 | 44 | 15.8 | Jenkins |
| Pig Lake | 196 | 56 | 15.8 | Crosslake |
* The DNR measures Upper and Lower Whitefish together as one 7,714-acre lake. It treats Rush and Hen as one lake (Rush-Hen) and surveys Island and Loon together (Island-Loon).
Thinking about selling a lake home on the chain?
Every lake here sells differently. A private valuation starts with your shoreline, your water and your timing, and nothing goes public until you decide it should.