Oakland County Chains of Lakes

One of the most common questions we get as a lake realtor is if this lake connects to other lakes.  In Livingston County there are two nice chains of lakes near Hamburg and Pinckney, and in Genessee County Lobdell Lake connects to a few other lakes.  One of the most common misconceptions of Oakland County Lakes is Upper Straits Lake, Middle Straits Lake in W Bloomfield, and Lower Straits Lake.  These lakes connect but you cannot get a boat from one to the other because of dams, and roads.   It is that same way with many other lakes in Oakland County.  Roads and dams stop you from boating from one lake to another.  However there are 3 different chain of lakes in Oakland County.  They all have limitations on boat size, and type of boat that can go from one lake to the other. So check out below to learn more

Oakland County Chain of lakes are not like the big chain of lakes in Livingston County.  Below we will break down the three different chains for you.  The three chains lie in Waterford, West Bloomfield/Bloomfield Township, and Waterford/Independence Township

Loon Lake, School Lake, Wormer Lake, Mohawk Lake, and Silver Lake chain of lakes.

This chain is a public chain of lakes because there is a public boat launch on Loon Lake.  The lakes are part of the Clinton River and lies entirely in Waterford Township.  What I would first tell you about this chain is that you CANNOT get to any of these lakes from one to another with a newer built pontoon boat.  You have to go under roads to get from one lake to another.  The height of the culverts/bridges only allow for speedboats, ski boats, kayaks, row boats and fishing boats with lower sides.  (Lower in height).  Today's pontoon boats have higher side rails, higher steering counsels, and higher captain chairs that will not fit through these tunnels.  Plus today's pontoon, the actual toons are bigger.  An older pontoon with small pontoons and low rails may be able to fit thru some of the culverts.  However if you are going to buy a house on this chain I would try it out first.  Like we said there is a DNR/public launch on Loon Lake.

Oakland County Lake rules and regulations 

So you are limited to a low sided boat that is less than 8' wide.  We do not guarantee the width.  This is what I have been told.  So be sure to try your boat before you commit to buying on this chain.   

Upper Long Lake, Lower Long Lake, and Forest Lake chain of lakes.

The second chain of Lakes in Oakland County is up in West Bloomfield and Bloomfield Township. This chain of lake is a private chain.  There is no public access or DNR access on the lakes.  So only the residents are going to be using the lake with the exception of a couple of nearby subdivisions that have deeded rights to us the lake.  What I have to explain about these three lakes and the chain is that only Upper Long Lake is an all sports lake.  Both Forest Lake and Lower Long Lake are electric motor only lakes.  You can only use hand powered, wind powered, or electric powered boats on these lakes.  No jet skis are allowed on these two lakes.  So if you live on Forest Lake in Bloomfield Twp or Lower Long Lake and want to ski on Upper Long Lake you would have to have two motors on your pontoon boat.  You would have to use the electric motor to get over to Upper Long Lake and then turn on the gas motor to ski or tube.  You could own a jet ski on either of these lakes but only could tow it over to use on Upper Long Lake in West Bloomfield. 

If you live on Upper Long Lake and want to go to the other two lakes you would have to get a electric motor to go to Lower Long Lake in Bloomfield Township and Forest Lake.  We have been told that the fishing is good on these lakes.  Also if you did not know Upper Long Lake lies in both West Bloomfield and Bloomfield Township. 

Lotus Lake, Maceday Lake, Greens Lake, Lester Lake, and Van Norman Lake chain.

The last chain of lakes in Oakland County are unique too.  The lakes that are part of this Oakland County Chain of lakes are Maceday Lake in Waterford Twp, Lotus Lakes that lies in both Waterford and Independence Township we would say could really split this chain in two parts.  On Maceday and Lotus Lakes you have full access with any type of boat to get from one lake to the other.   Maceday Lake and Lotus Lake are both all sports lakes and big.  You have plenty of room to ski, jet ski, tube, or wake board to your hearts content.  You won't be able to get to the other lakes with a pontoon or power boat.  The only way to get from Lotus Lake in Waterford to Lester Lake is a longer low tunnel under the rail road tracks.  It is only suitable for kayaks, canoes, and narrow row boats.  (I have been told recently (2024) that you can no longer get through this tunnel so you can't get from Lotus to Greens Lake.

Stringy Lakes

Long Lake 

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Lake Louise and Huff Lakeconnect to each other.

We hope this helped you understand the chain of lakes.  There are other lakes that connect to each other but they are just two lakes.   Some of the examples are Woodhull Lake and Lake Oakland, Sylvan and Otter Lake, North Commerce and South Commerce Lake, Carroll and Clark Lake in Oakland County.

If you want to save time finding your next lake home, hire a lake realtor that knows SE Michigan lakes.  Call or text us at (248) 310-6239 to get started living the dream!

Find your dream Oakland County lakefront condo.  There are quite a few in West Bloomfield. 

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