Where is Big Bend Lake?

Big Bend Lake is a lake in Cook County, Illinois. Its water-quality measurements are published by Illinois EPA and shown on this page as reported.

How deep is Big Bend Lake?

Big Bend Lake has a maximum depth of 29 feet and an average depth of 12 feet. The lake covers 25 acres.

Are there boat ramps on Big Bend Lake?

Big Bend Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Big Bend Lake Boat Ramp. Public access is listed as yes.

Can I fish at Big Bend Lake?

Big Bend Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Illinois's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.

Big Bend Lake

Cook County, Illinois25 acresView map Directions

No nutrient or algae sampling on record from Illinois EPA for this lake.

Max depth

29 ft

Bathymetric survey

Area

25 acres

Surface area

Shoreline

1.2 mi

Measured length

Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
29 ft max depth
Public access

See the measurements Directions Where to stay

Big Bend Lake in Cook County, Illinois has water-quality measurements published by Illinois EPA, shown here as reported. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 25 acres.

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Big Bend Lake is a 25-acre lake in Cook County, Illinois with a maximum depth of 29 feet (12-foot average). Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Illinois EPA. Methodology: how these readings are compared.

What Big Bend Lake is good for

From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.

Boat launch1 documented ramp

Swimming conditions

No reading

Not rated

Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Big Bend Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.

Whether Big Bend Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.

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Water quality measurements for Big Bend Lake

These are the measurements Illinois EPA publishes for Big Bend Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.

No clarity data. TSI undefined.

Ask about Big Bend Lake

Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.

Lake Details

Max depth

29 ft

Average depth

12 ft

Surface area

25 acres

Shoreline

1.2 mi

Public access

Yes

Listed by Illinois EPA

Recreation & Access

Boat Landings

Yes

Public Access

Big Bend Lake Boat RampPublic

Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps

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Stays near Big Bend Lake

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Big Bend Lake in Cook County, Illinois — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.

Top-rated places to stay near Big Bend Lake

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Fishing Big Bend Lake

→ Big Bend Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)

EPA Impairment Status

Big Bend Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).

Causes of impairment

Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)

Designated uses not supporting: Other.

A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.

Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit IL_RGL · Official waterbody report

Nearby Lakes in Cook County

Beck Lake1.6 miView →Lake Opeka4 ft clear · Mesotrophic2.8 miView →Axehead Lake11.9 ft clear · Eutrophic3 miView →Lake Glenview4.2 miView →Lake Arlington4.5 ft clear6.1 miView →Skokie Lagoons Lake1.6 ft clear · Hypereutrophic—View →

Frequently asked questions about Big Bend Lake

Where is Big Bend Lake?: Big Bend Lake is a lake in Cook County, Illinois. Its water-quality measurements are published by Illinois EPA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Big Bend Lake?: Big Bend Lake in Cook County, Illinois has water-quality measurements published by Illinois EPA, shown here as reported. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 25 acres.
Is Big Bend Lake safe to swim in?: Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Big Bend Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Big Bend Lake?: Big Bend Lake has a maximum depth of 29 feet and an average depth of 12 feet. The lake covers 25 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Big Bend Lake?: Big Bend Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Big Bend Lake Boat Ramp. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Big Bend Lake?: Big Bend Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Illinois's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.