Are dogs allowed on Chain of Lakes?

Yes, dogs are allowed on Chain of Lakes but must be kept on a leash at all times. Pack out waste and respect wildlife.

Do I need a permit to hike Chain of Lakes?

No, Chain of Lakes does not currently require a permit. Still check for seasonal closures or day-use fees with the managing agency before heading out.

How difficult is Chain of Lakes?

Chain of Lakes is rated difficult. It is 7.8 miles long with 922 feet of elevation gain. Difficulty ratings reflect a combination of distance, elevation gain, and terrain — your experience will depend on your fitness level and trail conditions.

Status unknown — verify before visiting

We don't have current condition data for this trail. Check with the land manager before you go.

See Michigan trail conditions

DifficultLoop

Michigan

Chain of Lakes

Pinckney, Michigan

7.8 mi

Distance

922 ft

Elev. Gain

2h 52m

Est. Time

Loop

Route Type

Difficult

Difficulty

About This Trail

The Chain of Lakes Trail is a 4.7 miles (7.6 km) paved multi-use path that runs from Lake Alfred to Winter Haven in Florida, past many of the lakes that compose the Winter Haven Chain of Lakes. The trail runs along the abandoned route of the South Florida Railroad's Bartow Branch. The southern terminus of the trail is near Lake Howard at Avenue B Northwest near the Chamber of Commerce Building. The trail travels northward past Lake Silver, Spring Lake, Lake Ida, and Lake Conine before coming to an end at the southwest corner of West Haines Avenue and Shinn Boulevard.

Source: Wikipedia — text licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Verify trail conditions and seasonal closures with the managing agency before you go.

Trail Conditions

Unknown

We have no current condition data for this trail. Check with the operator before you go, and submit a report below if you've been recently.

No recent condition reports. Be the first to share what you see on the trail.

Elevation Profile

Min:266 ft

Max:308 ft

281 ft

Trail Details

Route Type: Loop
Surface: Dirt

Official sources & verification

We don't have curated agency sources for this trail in our cache yet. Outdoors is not the permitting authority — confirm conditions, permits, and access with the managing agency before you go. If you know who manages this trail, please tell us.

Reviews

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Legacy import — verify before navigating

Path geometry came from our pre-launch legacy database. Routes have not yet been re-verified against the operator and may differ from the actual trail.