Beach · Cook County · IL
Is North Avenue Beach safe to swim?
Recent heavy rain may have spiked bacteria since the last clear sample.
Updated July 19, 2026 · Illinois beach program (EPA BEACON)
SwimZone for iPhone · launching soon
Know before you get in at North Avenue Beach.
Get an alert the day a bacteria or algae advisory goes up.
What's in the water at North Avenue Beach right now
As of July 19, 2026, North Avenue Beach in Cook County, Illinois carries a swim caution. Blue-green algae are not currently monitored at this water. No fecal-bacteria advisory is posted (state beach program). Rainfall over the past week totaled 1.3 in, which can wash bacteria and nutrients into the water.
Blue-green algae at North Avenue Beach
North Avenue Beach is a lake in Cook County, Illinois. Blue-green algae are not currently monitored at this water.
Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) blooms are most common from midsummer into early fall, when the water is warm, calm, and rich in nutrients from runoff. They can produce toxins that make people sick and can be rapidly fatal to dogs, so skip water that looks green, scummy, or like spilled paint, and keep children and pets out of it.
Frequently asked: swimming in North Avenue Beach
- Is it safe to swim in North Avenue Beach right now?
- North Avenue Beach carries a swim caution today. Blue-green algae are not currently monitored at this water. Conditions can change quickly with wind, heat, and rain, so check the posted signs and look at the water before you get in.
- Does North Avenue Beach have blue-green algae (cyanobacteria)?
- Blue-green algae are not currently monitored at North Avenue Beach. Watch for green, blue-green, or paint-like scum and avoid the water if you see it.
- Can dogs swim in North Avenue Beach?
- No bloom is detected at North Avenue Beach today, but dogs are much more vulnerable to blue-green algae than people, and blooms can form within hours. Always keep dogs away from water that looks green, scummy, or discolored, and rinse them off after swimming.
- How many Illinois lakes and beaches have swim advisories today?
- Today, 53 Illinois waters are under a swim advisory and 7 more warrant caution, out of 138 monitored waters SwimZone tracks in the state.
- How is North Avenue Beach's water quality measured?
- SwimZone builds this read from EPA CyAN satellite imagery for blue-green algae, official beach and fecal-bacteria advisories where a program monitors North Avenue Beach, and a recent-rainfall overlay, all refreshed daily. It was last updated July 19, 2026.