Swimming Lakes Near Chicago
Illinois
5 lakes within driving distance of Chicago, Illinois pass the low-algae screen — favourable clarity and nutrient readings, low algae, and public access. 0 have direct bacteria (E. coli) testing on record. Filtered for the clearest, lowest-nutrient readings in the sampling record, low algae (chlorophyll-a under 15 µg/L), and public access. Not a swimming clearance: always check local advisories on the day you swim.
A moderate cluster of 5 measured lakes lies within reach of Chicago. Lake Calumet has the lowest nutrient and algae readings of the set.
Filtered for swimming, the nearby-lake list narrows further. swimming-specific signals, fish species, public access, depth profile, motor-boat congestion, interact with the water-quality readings in different ways depending on the use case.
| # | Lake | County | Bacteria | Distance | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Calumet | Cook | Low algae | 14 mi | 4.1 ft | - |
| 2 | Lake Opeka | Cook | Limited data | 16.6 mi | 4 ft | - |
| 3 | Powderhorn Lake | Cook | Limited data | 17.2 mi | 10.1 ft | - |
| 4 | Axehead Lake | Cook | Limited data | 15.1 mi | 11.9 ft | - |
| 5 | Wampum Lake | Cook | Limited data | 21.1 mi | 6.9 ft | - |
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.