Presque Isle Chain of Lakes

   The Presque Isle Chain lies near the Michigan border in far northern Vilas County and is often marketed as part of “Wisconsin’s Last Wilderness,” a sparsely developed landscape of lakes and public forest. The chain consists of three main lakes—Presque Isle, Van Vliet, and Averill—that together cover about 1,571 surface acres, with Presque Isle Lake accounting for roughly 1,280 acres and 9.3 miles of shoreline, Van Vliet about 220 acres, and Averill roughly 71 acres. A short series of channels and narrows links the lakes, creating a compact but varied system where boaters can move from big‑water main lake to quiet, bog‑lined back bay within a single outing. The Presque Isle chain is best known for its depth, clarity, and well‑rounded fishery. Presque Isle Lake is a deep, very clear, cold‑water lake with maximum depths listed between about 80 and 100 feet, supporting a mix of musky, walleye, bass, panfish, and cisco, with survey work documenting a solid balance of predator and prey species. Van Vliet Lake is shallower, with around 220 acres and nearly 5 miles of shoreline that wrap around numerous bays and points, and Averill is a small, very shallow 71‑acre lake averaging only a few feet deep but important for vegetation and nursery habitat. Together, the three lakes give anglers options ranging from clear, deep structure fishing on Presque Isle to more stained, weed‑lined, and wind‑sheltered water on Van Vliet, while still feeling like a single, cohesive chain. The setting around the Presque Isle Chain remains impressively quiet even by Northwoods standards. Shorelines mix scattered cabins and resorts with large stretches of undeveloped or lightly developed forest, including significant nearby public land that keeps the wider basin feeling wild. Public launches provide access to Presque Isle and Van Vliet, and local guides, resorts, and conservation groups emphasize low‑impact recreation—fishing, paddling, wildlife watching, and cross‑country skiing and snowmobiling in winter—rather than heavy powerboat traffic. For visitors who want deep, clear water and a wilderness backdrop without giving up basic amenities in the small nearby town, the Presque Isle Chain is one of the signature “quiet side” chains in the Northwoods.