Spend a Day at Chase on the Lake: Your Guide to Walker, MN
If you want to enjoy one of the largest lakes in Minnesota, then a visit to Walker and the shores of Leech Lake is in order. And if you want to enjoy the best this area has to offer, then a visit to Chase on the Lake Resort & Spa along with a Your Boat Club rental will give you the means to enjoy the beauty and fun of this must-do Minnesota lake adventure.
Your Boat Club Rentals: Everything You Need and Then Some
Chase on the Lake boat rentals are made easy with Your Boat Club, conveniently located next to the historic Chase on the Lake Resort & Spa, nestled on Leech Lake and in the heart of Walker, Minnesota. Situated in the picturesque north central part of the state, Walker is a charming lake community that takes full advantage of its location on Leech Lake. As the third largest lake in Minnesota, Leech Lake boasts a surface area of 112,000 acres and is a popular recreation destination with beautiful views, wide-open waters, and protected bays.
Boat Slips in Walker
Leech Lake boat slips through Your Boat Club can be rented either annually or daily, offering a great jumping off point for a day’s adventure on Leech Lake. With an annual lease you can secure a spot for the entire boating season, but with a daily or weekly rental you can be ready for a spontaneous, hassle-free outing throughout the summer.
Boat Rental Options
There are also several different boat rental options. Your Boat Club offers a top of the line pontoon rental in Walker for versatile adventures for larger groups that can include cruising, watersports, and casual fishing. Runabouts are also available for day cruising, water skiing, tubing, and casual fishing while larger fishing boats are equipped with everything more serious anglers need, including trolling motors and sonar.
Renting from Your Boat Club’s marina at Chase on the Lake, you also have the added perk of being in downtown Walker, both for its convenience to easily accessible amenities and a chance to take in other events in town. You can also park onsite at Chase on the Lake and check in with your reservation at the boat house at the marina. You can make your reservation easily online and in Minnesota it is never too early to start planning for a summer adventure.
Boat Friendly Dining: Dock-and-Dine Hot Spots on Leech Lake
Dock and dining in Walker is not only fun, it is also fairly easy to do as there are a lot of Leech Lake restaurants to choose from.
The 502 at Chase on the Lake
The 502 restaurant, a Leech Lake must visit, provides lakefront dining at its best and is located right next door to Your Boat Club. After a day exploring Leech Lake by boat, land yourself at The 502 and enjoy a delicious range of lakeside dining options. The menu includes a variety of walleye dishes, from cakes and sandwiches to dinner and basket options. There is even a walleye Caesar. There are also burgers, pulled pork, tacos, wings, and more on offer too. All served lakeside with a spectacular view of gorgeous Leech Lake.
Portage Brewing Company (via Walker City Docks)
For a perfect afternoon stop, tie up your boat at the Walker City Docks and enjoy a quick two-block walk to the Portage Brewing Company’s taproom. Nestled just inside the Chippewa National Forest, this brew pub experience comes with an authentic north country ambience. They offer up a steady rotation of small batch beers, which can range from classic IPA’s to sours and wood-aged lagers.
Shingobee on the Bay
Just south of Walker is Shingobee on the Bay, a one-stop shop for fun. Located on the southern end of Leech Lake in the aptly named Shingobee Bay, this long-time staple for food, drink, entertainment, and convenience store offerings is easily accessible by boat. Their marina has convenient slip access, making it easy to slip-in for marina fuel and to purchase a few convenience items or a quick snack. You can also pair your timing for a meal stop or a chance to try your luck at the casino. The resort has stunning views of the bay and serves as a pit-stop for your water adventures.
Other Must Dos for a Day on Leech Lake
If you are looking for adventures in family boating, Minnesota has perfected it to an art form. There is little that compares to a day on the lake with family to create lasting memories. From swimming, skiing, boating, and tubing, Leech Lake is a family fun mecca and place to be for Memorial Day, 4th of July or Labor Day to say farewell to the summer with a bang.
If you are going to enjoy recreation and watersports on Leech Lake, do remember that it is a large, deep lake and safety comes first. Always wear a life jacket. It’s not just safe, it’s the law. Also, stay away from debris and private shorelines, and make sure you have the proper equipment and boat for towing.
Walker City Park Beach
If you are looking for a family-friendly Leech Lake beach, you can find the Walker City Park Beach near downtown Walker. It is a simple add-on to any Walker Bay boating loop.
Protected Bay Favorites
Both Walker Bay and Shingobee Bay are popular areas for both their spectacular views and ideal water adventure conditions. Both bays offer water expanses that are more protected from adverse conditions than the more open water found on the larger expanses of Leech Lake. The water tends to be gentler in the bays, especially on breezier afternoons.
Walker Waterfront: A Photo-Opp Adventure
The Walker waterfront also offers up several easily accessible spots for a short cruise filled with shareable photo opportunities. This photo-ready circuit will also conveniently take you back to The 502 for dessert.
You can also enjoy other scenic lake adventures with additional Your Boat Club options in the area. Another Leech Lake marina near Walker is located at the Bluewater Lodge.
Scenic Boating Loops Starting from Chase on the Lake
With so much to offer, having a plan is always a good idea. Below are a couple of copy-and-cruise plans for exploring Leech Lake. These plans include both half-day and full-day adventures with Chase on the Lake being your jumping off point and your end point.
Taproom and Patio Loop
A half-day adventure starting at Chase on the Lake takes you out on the lake to the City Docks, where you can dock and then walk to the Portage Brewing Company for a short stop and then continue onto a shoreline cruise and end up back at Chase on the Lake for dinner at The 502.
Fuel and Explore
For a full-day adventure on Leech Lake you can set off from Chase on the Lake and enjoy a cruising adventure around the lake, stopping at Shingobee on the Bay for fuel and snacks and then continue on to explore the Walker Bay shoreline with a stop at the City Docks and a side trip to the Portage Brewing and then back to Chase on the Lake for dinner or dessert.
Good-Neighbor Boating: Local Rules and AIS
Boating on Leech Lake is popular and as such following good neighbor boating rules not only makes your day on the lake more enjoyable, but everyone else’s too. When you are near the shoreline or docks, there is a no-wake rule, meaning you should stay below the speed where a wake is created. This typically means a top speed of 5mph.
For more information on Minnesota boating rules and etiquette, check out the MN boating guide.
Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS)
Lakes in Minnesota are a source of beauty and adventure. Some would even say a way of life. They are also huge drivers of economic activity and keeping them clean, healthy, and thriving means tending to their delicate ecosystems. This includes monitoring and actively curtailing the presence of aquatic invasive species (AIS).
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in Minnesota does a lot of work to control invasive, non-native plants and animals that can cause environmental and economic damage to Minnesota’s lakes. You too can do your part to preserve these quintessential Minnesota treasures.
Leech Lake is on the state infested water list, so diligence matters, including following the clean-drain-dispose routine when using your boat on the lake. This includes inspecting and removing visible aquatic plants and animals from your boat and equipment. Scrubbing and rinsing stuck on debris and sanitizing for decontamination. You also need to drain your boat of all water and leave the plugs out during transport. Disposing of trash and unwanted bait and never releasing it into other Minnesota waters is not only highly advisable, it’s the law.
Things to Do: Walker
Besides boating, Walker is also a great place to hike. You can find a variety of trails for walking, biking, and running along with wildlife viewing and birding at:
The Heartland State Trail
Chippewa National Forest
Itasca State Park
You can also enjoy pickleball and tennis at the Walker City Park, shopping at local markets and stores, and even seeing a show at the Walker Bay Theatre. You can also learn more about the area at the Cass County Museum.
Stay-and-Play Perks at Chase
Taking advantage of the joys of a Chase on the Lake boat rental does not have to stop at a one-day adventure. Stay at Chase on the Lake Spas & Resorts and enjoy its many amenities, including an on-site spa, indoor pool and hot tub, and even bowling. And, of course, the private beach, which is great for groups mixed with the young and old and everyone in-between.
