Chain Lakes

Chain Lakes: crowds and conditions

Typical pattern: usually quiet; mostly local visitors. Been there recently? Post today’s status and it shows here for the next traveller.

Status options for this lake: Full / gates open · Low water level · Entry closed.

Best time to visit Chain Lakes

Season: August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open.

Crowd: Usually quiet; mostly local visitors.

Typical week: Mon quiet · Tue quiet · Wed quiet · Thu quiet · Fri light · Sat light · Sun light.

How to reach Chain Lakes — distance from nearby cities

Coordinates: 42.24563, -100.04068. Road distances are estimates; the road-trip planner uses real routes and adds stops worth the detour.

Places to visit near Chain Lakes

• Valentine National Wildlife Refuge · sanctuary · Cherry · ~66 km · Must-see
• Niobrara Valley Preserve · sanctuary · Tripp · ~75 km · Must-see
• Long Lake · lake · Brown · ~9 km
• American Game Marsh State Wildlife Management Area · sanctuary · Brown · ~10 km
• South Twin Lake State Wildlife Management Area · lake · Brown · ~12 km
• Moon Lake Marsh · lake · Brown · ~16 km
• White Cap Hill · viewpoint · Brown · ~28 km
• Berry Park · park · Brown · ~43 km
• East City Park · park · Brown · ~46 km
• KBRB-AM (Ainsworth) · sanctuary · Brown · ~48 km
• Budde and Brown County Detention Dam · lake · Brown · ~50 km
• Ainsworth Table · viewpoint · Brown · ~53 km
• Long Pine State Recreation Area · sanctuary · Brown · ~54 km
• Long Pine State Wildlife Management Area · sanctuary · Brown · ~55 km
• Fox Bayou · lake · Loup · ~57 km
• Alkali Lake · lake · Cherry · ~57 km
• O'Brien Lake · lake · Cherry · ~58 km
• Almeria Meadows State Wildlife Management Area · sanctuary · Loup · ~58 km

See everything within a day’s drive of Chain Lakes

Other lakes, dams & reservoirs near Chain Lakes

• Virginia Smith Dam · lake · Garfield · ~103 km · Must-see
• Dog Ear Lake State Production Area · lake · Tripp · ~130 km · Must-see
• Long Lake · lake · Brown · ~9 km
• South Twin Lake State Wildlife Management Area · lake · Brown · ~12 km
• Moon Lake Marsh · lake · Brown · ~16 km
• Budde and Brown County Detention Dam · lake · Brown · ~50 km
• Fox Bayou · lake · Loup · ~57 km
• Alkali Lake · lake · Cherry · ~57 km
• O'Brien Lake · lake · Cherry · ~58 km
• Wood Lake City Park · lake · Cherry · ~58 km

All lakes, dams & reservoirs in Nebraska

Frequently asked