Elk Lake, a deep glacial lake reaching depths of 200 feet, is located at the end of the chain of 14 lakes in the Elk River Chain of Lake not far from Grand Traverse Bay. The lake is about eight miles long and four miles wide and is popular for all sorts of water sports and trout fishing. The best spot for finding lake trout is the deep hole in the center of the lake. The trout meat is considered extremely tasty, and fishing for trout on Elk Lake is popular year round, including through the ice. Waterskiing, tubing, wakeboarding, kayaking, sailing, and ice-boating in winter are also very popular on the lake. Elk Rapids is the only sizable village on the lake, and it provides a lake marina and other facilities such as boat rentals.

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