Windsurfing near Wolf Lake
- Montrose Beach (34 km)
- Kemil Beach (43 km)
- Greenwood Beach (43 km)
- Gilson Park / Wilmette Sailing Beach (48 km)
- long beach (54 km)
Wolf Lake is a bit nasty in terms of water composition and proximity to gas refineries, highways, nuke plants, etc. but it is the closest flatwater spot to Chicago.
It is good in most wind directions. The prevailing wind is S-SW. It is also good in post-frontal passage northerlies that make the big lake too cold in the early and late season.
There is a parking lot with a big grassy rigging area. It is free (unattended) in the early and late season. If you go in the summer it costs 5 or 10 bucks to park and launch.
Weeds are BAD in the summer - sailing without a weedfin is pretty much impossible.
The north end of the lake is shallow and sandy. This becomes the downwind victim area in strong winds.
The white hen across the road has surprisingly good sandwiches.