Where is Horseshoe Lake?

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

How deep is Horseshoe Lake?

Horseshoe Lake has a maximum depth of 5.5 feet and an average depth of 3.5 feet. The lake covers 1785 acres.

Are there boat ramps on Horseshoe Lake?

Horseshoe Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Horseshoe Lake - Alexander. Public access is listed as yes.

Can I fish at Horseshoe Lake?

Horseshoe 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.

Horseshoe Lake

Alexander County, Illinois1,785 acresView map Directions

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

Max depth

5.5 ft

Bathymetric survey

Area

1,785 acres

Surface area

Shoreline

15.4 mi

Measured length

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

See the measurements Directions Where to stay

Horseshoe Lake in Alexander County, Illinois has water-quality measurements published by Illinois EPA, shown here as reported. Maximum depth: 5.5 ft. Surface area: 1785 acres.

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Horseshoe Lake is a 1,785-acre lake in Alexander County, Illinois with a maximum depth of 6 feet (4-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 Horseshoe Lake is good for

From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.

Boat launch1 documented ramp
Big water1,785 acres

Swimming conditions

No reading

Not rated

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

Whether Horseshoe 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 Horseshoe Lake

These are the measurements Illinois EPA publishes for Horseshoe 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 Horseshoe Lake

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

Lake Details

Max depth

5.5 ft

Average depth

3.5 ft

Surface area

1,785 acres

Shoreline

15.4 mi

Public access

Yes

Listed by Illinois EPA

Recreation & Access

Boat Landings

Yes

Public Access

Horseshoe Lake - AlexanderPublic

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 Horseshoe Lake

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Horseshoe Lake in Alexander 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 Horseshoe Lake

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Fishing Horseshoe Lake

→ Horseshoe Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)

EPA Impairment Status

Horseshoe 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_RIA · Official waterbody report

Nearby Lakes in Alexander County

Grand Lake4.3 miView →Bluff Lake—View →Dongola Lake—View →Anna State Hospital Reservoir—View →Wolf Lake—View →Tower Island Chute—View →

Frequently asked questions about Horseshoe Lake

Where is Horseshoe Lake?: Horseshoe Lake is a lake in Alexander County, Illinois. Its water-quality measurements are published by Illinois EPA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Horseshoe Lake?: Horseshoe Lake in Alexander County, Illinois has water-quality measurements published by Illinois EPA, shown here as reported. Maximum depth: 5.5 ft. Surface area: 1785 acres.
Is Horseshoe Lake safe to swim in?: Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Horseshoe 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 Horseshoe Lake?: Horseshoe Lake has a maximum depth of 5.5 feet and an average depth of 3.5 feet. The lake covers 1785 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Horseshoe Lake?: Horseshoe Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Horseshoe Lake - Alexander. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Horseshoe Lake?: Horseshoe 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.