is the second-largest and deepest inland lake in Michigan. The chain of lakes system begins with the upper stage of the Intermediate River, which rises in hill country at in the northwest corner of
Chestonia Township in central Antrim County. From here, the waterway traverses a number of small lakes flowing north, then making a sharp turn near the village of
Ellsworth, flows south through a narrow valley, paralleling the tracks of the
Pere Marquette Railroad, until emptying into Intermediate Lake. The outlet of Intermediate Lake converges with the
Cedar River in the village of
Bellaire, gaining considerable volume. Now a river of substantial flow, it continues south into Lake Bellaire. Leaving the lake, the stream becomes the
Grass River, winding for some through the scenic Grass River Natural Area before emptying into Clam Lake. Clam Lake in turn empties directly into
Torch Lake. At over in size, Torch Lake is the largest body of water in the system. The waterway, now clarified after traversing the immense depths of the lake, continues south through the
Torch River, joins with the
Rapid River, a major tributary, and empties into
Lake Skegemog, a lake that is studded with large stump fields, the result of the flooding of timberlands when the lake level was raised several feet by the construction of the dam at the terminus of the system. Lake Skegemog, which is the meeting point of
Grand Traverse,
Kalkaska and
Antrim counties, is conjoined at its western end to
Elk Lake, the second-largest and final lake in the system. The outflow of Elk Lake, the
Elk River, flows a short distance to a power dam in the town of
Elk Rapids, then out into the east arm of the
Grand Traverse Bay of
Lake Michigan at . For most of its length, the chain is navigable by small boat, broken up only by a dam in Bellaire. Larger boats are able to navigate between Elk Rapids and Torch Lake. == History ==