Welcome to the Chain O' Lakes
The Waupaca Chain O'Lakes is made up of 22 inter-connected spring-fed lakes in the heart of central Wisconsin. A popular saying: "In all the world... no lakes like these." We encourage all residents and visitors to enjoy this unique landscape in a safe and courteous manner for all.
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Towing, Tubing & Water Skiing Hours
Water Skiing Hours -
Mondays and Fridays 10 AM – 4:00 PM
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 10 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays 10 AM – 2:30 PM
Rainbow, Round, Columbia and Long (all other lakes are "Slow - No Wake" at all times)
Enhanced Wake Ordinance - July 2024 the Towns of Farmington and Dayton approved an enhanced wake ordinance for the Waupaca Chain O'Lakes - a summary of the ordinance is:
Enhanced wakes are prohibited on Rainbow, Round, Columbia, Long, Stratton, and Spencer Lakes
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PROHIBITED EQUIPMENT:
No person may use or employ water sacks, ballast tanks, submersible wings, or any other device that causes a boat to operate in a bow-high manner or increases/enhances a boat's wake.
PROHIBITED OPERATION:
No person may operate a boat in an artificially bow-high manner to increase/enhance the boat's wake. This includes wake enhancement by using ballast, mechanical hydrofoils, uneven loading, operating at transition speed (greater than slow-no-wake speed but not fast enough for the boat to plane).
Certain Operations Excluded from the Ordinance: The following operations are not violations, provided they do not use ballast tanks, water sacks, mechanical hydrofoils, or wake-enhancing fins: water skiing, tubing, brief transition operation of a boat accelerating into a planning condition. These restrictions do not prevent using any particular type of watercraft.
PENALTIES:
Any person violating this ordinance shall forfeit $500 for the first offense and $1000 for the second offense within one year.
REQUEST FOR COMPLIANCE:
Our community prides itself on respecting established rules governing our lakes. We ask for everyone's support and compliance with this ordinance.
Keep Your Distance - It's the Law
Motorboats & Personal Watercraft (“PWCs”) must go Slow - No Wake within 100 feet of any swimmer, pier or raft.
PWCs must go Slow - No Wake within 200 feet of the shoreline.
Motorboats must go Slow - No Wake within 100 feet of the shoreline.
Boater Safety Course Required
Wisconsin law requires anyone born on or after January 1, 1989 to have completed a boater safety course accepted by the DNR before operating a motorboat or personal watercraft (“PWC”). Even though the DNR no longer sends out certificates for course completion, the law still requires you to carry the course certificate on board when operating. So, the Water Patrol recommends printing out proof of completion, laminating, and keeping it on board. Go to https://dnr.wi.gov/education/outdoorskills/safetyeducation.html under boating to learn more about available courses and rules for those under 16.
