Safest Lakes to Swim Near Chicago
Illinois
5 lakes within driving distance of Chicago, Illinois pass our swim-safety screen — grade A/B water, low algae, and public access. 0 have direct bacteria (E. coli) testing on record. Filtered for grade A or B water quality, low algae (chlorophyll-a under 15 µg/L), and public access. Always check local advisories on the day you swim.
A moderate cluster of 5 graded lakes lies within reach of Chicago, averaging a grade of A. Lake Calumet (A) is the cleanest 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 LakeGrade rubric in different ways depending on the use case.
| # | Lake | County | Grade | Swim Safety | Distance | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Calumet | Cook | A | Low algae | 14 mi | 4.1 ft | - |
| 2 | Lake Opeka | Cook | A | Limited data | 16.6 mi | 4 ft | - |
| 3 | Powderhorn Lake | Cook | A | Limited data | 17.2 mi | 10.1 ft | - |
| 4 | Axehead Lake | Cook | B | Limited data | 15.1 mi | 11.9 ft | - |
| 5 | Wampum Lake | Cook | B | Limited data | 21.1 mi | 6.9 ft | - |
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.