Part of the Elk River Chain of Lakes. The Upper Chain Water Trail connects Six Mile Lake, St. Claire Lake, Ellsworth Lake, Wilson Lake, Benway Lake, Hanley Lake, and Intermediate Lake — over 20 miles of beginner and intermediate paddle routes. One portage required between St. Claire and Ellsworth lakes. Downstream, the Intermediate River flows through Bellaire to a dam — a 1/3 mile portage across M-88 to Ohio Street Launch connects to the Lower Chain (Bellaire, Clam, Torch, Elk, Skegemog). Motorized boats cannot pass the dam.
Intermediate Lake freezes reliably. Ice fishing available at some cottages.
Intermediate Lake sits in the middle of the Elk River Chain — 1,569 acres, 69 feet deep, and the gateway to the Upper Chain lakes. From here you can boat upstream through the Intermediate River to Hanley Lake, Ben-Way, Wilson, Ellsworth, St. Clair, and Six Mile lakes. But you cannot boat downstream to Lake Bellaire — a dam on the Intermediate River in the village of Bellaire blocks passage to the Lower Chain.
The lake is long and sinuous with sandy and gravelly bottom. The village of Central Lake sits at the north end (the lake was once called Central Lake). The southern end has a large expanse of coniferous forested wetland, and the Chain's largest island sits in the southern portion. Blue water, sandy bottom, and a mix of residential and natural shoreline. Families have been coming here for generations — some cottages date back over a century. Fishing includes walleye, muskellunge, lake trout, and excellent smallmouth bass. Water can be cold in June.