2015 Chain of Lakes Visitor''s Guidebook Page 13

E L K R A P I D S C H A M B E R . O R G

2 3 1 . 2 6 4 . 8 2 0 2

14 43 acres

Year-round family activities

Hike our trails

Attend an educational program

www.grassriver.org | 231 533 8314

Grass River

Natural Area

Bellaire Michigan

Fun In The Sun

If you dream of long days on the beach with your toes in the sand, look
no further than Grand Traverse Bay. With public access parks in Acme,
Elk Rapids, and Eastport and remote access in between, you can soak
up some sun while enjoying the view of Grand Traverse's eastern bay. If
smaller swells are more your style, enjoy one of the region's many inland
lakes and beaches.

Fun On The Water

From pontoon boats to kayaks to stand-up paddleboards, there's a way
for everyone to enjoy the water. Bring your own or rent a boat for an hour,
day, or week. Enjoy the quiet calm of Bellaire, Intermediate, and Clam
lakes, or explore the depths of Torch Lake and Grand Traverse Bay. If
flowing water is more your speed, enjoy the 75-mile long Chain of Lakes
watershed, connecting 14 lakes and interconnecting rivers. There's a
perfect pace and a perfect place for every water lover.

Fun In The Wind

A growing craze among adventure seekers lets you keep your feet in the
water and your kite in the air as you kiteboard across Grand Traverse
Bay. Learn how to harness the wind with a one-day class or week-long
camp with some of the country's most experienced kiteboarding experts.
The adventure is available year-round as you sail the surf or snow with
kiteboards, sailboats, or even ice sailing. Whether you prefer the sun or
the snow, you can always enjoy the waterways in and around Elk Rapids.

Paddle Antrim

Fourteen lakes and connecting rivers create a 75-mile stretch of
waterways known as the Chain of Lakes watershed. Covering 500 square
miles in Antrim, Charlevoix, Grand Traverse, and Kalkaska counties, the
Chain of Lakes includes more than 200 miles of shoreline. The beauty
and tranquility of the watershed has attracted water and nature lovers for
decades, and the residents of Antrim County understand the importance
of protecting and maintaining one of nature's
most valuable resources.

To protect and celebrate the Chain of Lakes,
concerned residents and businesses created
Paddle Antrim, a 501©3 organization dedicated
to maintaining water quality in the lakes, rivers,
and streams in Antrim County. Working in
partnership with the chambers in Central Lake,
Bellaire, East Jordan, and Elk Rapids and actively participating with the
Grass River Natural Area, Paddle Antrim is exploring ways to protect the
watershed that so many have come to enjoy.

Executive director Deana Jerdee, an avid kayaker, said it's hard not to
appreciate the beauty of the Chain of Lakes. "I have kayaked all over the
world Costa Rica, Thailand, Alaska but there's a calmness and clarity
of the water here that you can't find anywhere else," said Jerdee.

To help celebrate the water they're working to preserve, Paddle Antrim
will host their first festival September 18-19, 2015. The non-competitive,

two-day event will cover more than 40 miles along the Chain of Lakes
and throughout northern Michigan. "We're anticipating hundreds of
people who will not only enjoy the water but the communities," said
Jerdee. "Each community we're passing through is excited about the
paddle and excited about bringing activities to welcome the people of
Paddle Antrim."

As Paddle Antrim enters their first full year of activities and service,
Jerdee looks forward to what the group can do. "It's bigger than the
festival," she said. "Paddle Antrim is a celebration of the waterways, but
we're really dedicated to protecting them. There will be more to come
as we work to improve the waterways in Antrim County and partner with
local communities to make a difference."

Local Lakes To Explore

Elk Lake
Skegemog Lake
Torch Lake
Clam Lake
Lake Bellaire
Intermediate Lake
Birch Lake
Bass Lake