Boating and Swimming

The Fox Chain O’ Lakes is a boaters paradise. It consists of 15 lakes interconnected through channels and anchored by the Fox river. There are numerous swimming sandbars, with the most popular being the Petite Lake Sandbar, but our favorite being Columbia Bay on Fox Lake. There are also bars, restaurants and other walkable areas to dock at such as downtown McHenry and Fox Lake. Jet Funn Boat Rentals is right down the shoreline from the house, in case you are looking to rent a boat or jet skis. 

Our dock can accommodate one boat or a pair of jet skis. We have a boat lift that we are currently NOT allowing for guest use. Please dock on the other side of the boat lift.

***We recommend water shoes if swimming on our shoreline.

Fishing

The Fox Chain supports the best walleye and musky fishing in Illinois, with an also excellent crappie/panfish and bass fishery. Contact the host for a fishing guide recommendation for open water or ice fishing.

Other Activities in the Area

Fox Lake’s brand new lake front park! Includes an outdoor amphitheater with live music every Friday night, brand new kids playground, a splashpad, a beach area for swimming and a boardwalk.

Volo Auto Museum: https://www.volocars.com/the-attraction

Stades Farm and Market: https://stadesfarmandmarket.com/

Volo Bog, a popular hiking spot with nature trails: https://dnr.illinois.gov/parks/park.volobog.html

Ice Fishing

The Fox Chain O’ Lakes has excellent ice fishing. It consists of 15 lakes interconnected through channels. Our favorite ice fishing locations are Pistakee Bay via Oak Park Lounge, Petite lake via Cypress Resort, and Mineola Bay via Fam’s down the street. We can recommend an ice fishing guide if desired.

Skiing/Snowboarding

Wilmot Mountain is nearby for a quick getaway to hit the slopes. Recently purchased by Vail Resorts, they have made numerous improvements in recent years.

Tubing/Sledding

Wilmot Mountain also offers downhill tubing. Make sure to call in advance to book! Caboose Park is also 15 minutes away and has a legit sledding hill.

Ice Skating

Downtown Fox Lake has an outdoor ice skating rink that is open from December to March. There is more information on the village’s website during the winter season.