Wolf Lake, Illinois & Indiana, USA

With Chicago, Illinois on one side and Hammond, Indiana on the other, Wolf Lake is a pocket of green offering respite to the weary city dweller. The water in Wolf Lake is so clear anglers can pick the fish they want to catch, and the fishing is so good it’s worth a special trip to the “Windy City.” Wolf Lake is a natural glacial lake, one of…
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    • All About Wolf Lake, IL/IN

    Lake Locations: USA - US Midwest Region - Illinois - Chicagoland Region, IL - Indiana - North Indiana -

    With Chicago, Illinois on one side and Hammond, Indiana on the other, Wolf Lake is a pocket of green offering respite to the weary city dweller. The water in Wolf Lake is so clear anglers can pick the fish they want to catch, and the fishing is so good it’s worth a special trip to the “Windy City.”

    Wolf Lake is a natural glacial lake, one of the shallow depressions left over when the ancient Lake Chicago receded. It was one of five lakes, all less than four feet deep, surrounded by marshes. The area’s soil is very porous and the water from one lake could mingle with others underground. Wolf Lake has been fed by this cool, clear, underground aquifer for thousands of years. The lake sits between the Grand Calumet and Calumet Rivers in the Calumet Area. At one point it was connected to Lake Michigan, but development interrupted and filled in the connection.

    Residential and industrial development has played a huge role in the history of Wolf Lake. The lake is in an urban area and, since the birth of industrialization, has been subjected to a variety of pollutants. Surprisingly, it is a very clean lake; some scientist believe that is because the factories that sit on one of Wolf Lake’s inflows filter the water they use for cooling before letting it flow into the lake. Flushing the lake this way may actually contribute to its health. The aquifer itself is another contributing factor in the lake’s health. Because of their porous soil, Wolf Lake and Lake Michigan are hydrologically the same. Whatever the cause, Wolf Lake’s water is clear enough to see the bottom.

    The depth of the lake has been altered significantly. Wolf Lake has been dammed, diked, and dredged. Now, instead of a shallow four-foot deep lake, the lake has a maximum depth of 20 feet. The levees and dikes divide the lake into distinct sections. The US Army Corps of Engineers and the City of Hammond worked together on a wetland restoration project to clear channels and openings in the dikes and causeways. The project returned the lake to a more natural water level, and allowed fish to pass through more freely.

    In August of 2002, 150 biologists descended on Wolf Lake for a BioBlitz. The scientists found over 2000 species, including river otters, the endangered Franklin’s ground squirrel, and an unnamed beetle. The lake is a very diverse area and home to several endangered species, including black-crowned night herons, little blue herons, and the yellow-headed blackbird. The bird watching is exceptional, but the Iowa darter and banded kingfish are of more significance to anglers. The rare little fishes only live in a few lakes, and they signal a healthy lake with native vegetation, clear water and lots of fish.

    Wolf Lake has abundant populations of black crappie, bluegill, and largemouth and smallmouth bass. The Indiana Department of Fish and Game stocks the lake with channel catfish, northern pike, and muskie, Perch America, Inc stocks the lake with walleye. Illinois also stocks Wolf Lake with channel catfish, northern pike, tiger muskie, and threadfin shad. Anglers even tell tales about a 100-year old lake sturgeon.

    The Illinois portion of Wolf Lake is 468 acres and surrounded by the state-owned William Power Conservation Area. There are shaded picnic areas, boat launches and six miles of shoreline for bank fishing. In the winter, visitors are invited to ice fish and the fall brings waterfowl hunting. There is no camping or swimming. The 439-acre Indiana side of Wolf Lake is primarily owned by the City of Hammond. City-run Wolf Lake Park has a beach and boat launch. Take some time to venture east along Dune Highway to visit the Indiana Dune National Lakeshore with spectacular sand dunes and abundant flora and fauna.

    About 60 percent of the shore of Wolf Lake is developed with highways, residences, parks and industry. Both the City of Hammond and Chicago are full of any amenity a visitor could want including restaurants, accommodations, shopping and world class museums. Tucked in the middle of all the urban development, Wolf Lake is a jewel that deserves to be treasured.

    Things to Do at Wolf Lake

    These are some activities in the Wolf Lake, IL/IN area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Boating
    • Swimming
    • Beach
    • Camping
    • Picnicking
    • Hunting
    • Wildlife Viewing
    • Birding
    • Museum
    • Shopping

    What Kind of Fish Are in Wolf Lake?

    Wolf Lake has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Bass
    • Black Bass
    • Black Crappie
    • Bluegill
    • Catfish
    • Channel Catfish
    • Crappie
    • Darter
    • Largemouth Bass
    • Muskellunge
    • Northern Pike
    • Perch
    • Pike
    • Shad
    • Smallmouth Bass
    • Sturgeon
    • Sunfish
    • Tiger Muskellunge
    • Walleye
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    Find Places to Stay at Wolf Lake

    If you’re considering a Wolf Lake lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

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    More Sites to Book a Wolf Lake Vacation

    Our interactive Wolf Lake lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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    Wolf Lake Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Natural Freshwater Lake, Dammed

    Water Level Control: City of Hammond, IN & IL Dept. of Natural Resources

    Surface Area: 907 acres

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 584 feet

    Maximum Depth: 18 feet

    Trophic State: Eutrophic

    Wolf Lake Map
    Local Weather Forecast

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