Best Lakes for Kayaking Near Chicago
Illinois
1 kayaking lakes within driving distance of Chicago, Illinois, ranked by water quality and kayaking-specific filters. Filtered for grade A, B, or C water quality, public access, and ideal paddling size (30-3,000 acres).
Lakes near Chicago are sparser (1 graded lakes within reach), so the choices are limited. Loch Lomond Lake (A) is the standout.
The kayaking-specific ranking layered on top of the LakeGrade rubric is what produces the list below: a grade-good lake that does not also support the kayaking use case is less useful than a grade-decent lake that does.
| # | Lake | County | Grade | Distance | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Loch Lomond Lake | Lake | A | 33.9 mi | 16.5 ft | - |
Other activities near Chicago
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.