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Joel’s Journal: Carlyle Lake Recreation Area, Illinois
By Joel Raeber
Posted April 2011
Carlyle Lake, the largest manmade lake in Illinois, also has the largest campground in the Illinois State Park system, and along with several other campgrounds, offers more than 700 campsites for campers and RVers. Grouped around the lake are: Dam West, Dam East, Coles Creek, and Boulder campgrounds operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area and South Shore State Park operated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
The lake, located just 50 miles east of St. Louis, Mo., along I-64, has more than 26,000 acres of water and 11,000 acres of land, offering recreational opportunities for almost any taste. I’ve camped at Dam West, Coles Creek, Eldon Hazlet and South Shore State Park locations, and all offered sites that are shaded and comfortable. Also, campsites at Dam West, Coles Creek and Boulder may be reserved.
The Illini Campground in Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area is Illinois’ largest campground with 328 Class A campsites and 36 Class C campsites for walk-in tent camping. The campground sits along the Carlyle Lake shoreline, and most of the campsites are within easy reach of the water. Many campers keep their boats in the coves located along the campground. There is additional parking for vehicles and boat trailers, and the parking lot at the boat ramp offers even more boat trailer parking. This 3,000-acre site is on the west shore of the lake, and because this part of Illinois is relatively flat, most of the campsites are easy to reach and accessible for even large RVs.
Most of the sites have 30- and 50-amp electrical hook-ups, and there are several shower buildings in the campground, plus privy toilets. The park also includes playgrounds, a basketball court, a sand volleyball court, horseshoe pits, an amphitheater, hiking trails and a public laundry.
There is also a campground store located at the entrance to the Illini Campground with groceries, camping and fishing supplies, clothes, live bait, ice and firewood.
South Shore State Park is a three-mile-long park located on Carlyle Lake's southeastern side, about three miles east of the City of Carlyle on IL Route 50. In addition to camping, the park provides a variety of recreational opportunities, including a small boat access, day-use areas for picnicking, a hiking trail, and fishing opportunities from the shore.
Dam West is probably the Corps' most popular campground. If camping next to water is important to you, Dam West is the ideal spot. The Dam West campground has 120 campsites, all with 50-amp electrical hook-ups, and several are located directly on the water. Campers can fish directly from their campsite. The campground is shady and offers clean, modern showers, restrooms, a boat launch ramp, nature trail, laundry, pit restroom, playground, public marina, swimming beach and a dump station. The Dam West campground is also closest to the City of Carlyle and its restaurants and shopping.
If you really want to do some fishing with your camping, the Dam East Campground is the choice for you. Dam East has 15 campsites, is open all year, and is located right on the eastern bank of the Kaskaskia River in the spillway area below the dam (where the best fishing is).
 McNair Campground has just 32 sites, but all are located in a grove of large shade trees. This campground is open exclusively to walk-in campers. Shower and restroom facilities are available as well as a small playground and a beach.
Coles Creek is the Army Corp of Engineers' largest campground with 148 campsites. Many are located directly on the lake and have great views. Most of the sites at Coles Creek have full hookups and are easily accessible. This campground also has a swimming beach, a boat ramp with a large parking lot, restroom and shower facilities, and a Frisbee golf course.
Boulder is the campground that is farthest from Carlyle, but it also has some of the best views of the lake. There are 87 campsites, none of which provide full hookups. However, there are shower and restroom facilities located at the campground. There is a small playground and a boat ramp with a parking lot as well. Boulder Campground is located right next to the Boulder Marina, which offers concrete docks and modern shower facilities. Although the farthest from Carlyle, Boulder is still an easy drive to the city for campers who need groceries or supplies.
Fishing is probably the most popular activity at Carlyle Lake. Fishermen try their luck for bass, bluegill, crappie, catfish, walleye, and more than 30 other species. The tailwater (below the dam) is the most productive fishing area in Illinois. The state record flathead catfish and white bass have been caught in the spillway. Bank fishing is allowed anywhere in the park.
 The open water, low surrounding terrain, and strong winds provide conditions which make Carlyle Lake one of the Midwest’s most popular sailing lakes. Regional and national regattas are held here, and in 1994, the sailing competition of the U.S. Olympic Festival games was held at Eldon Hazlet State Park.
Because of its central location on the lake, the park is a great place to launch a boat. Three boat ramps are available to the public free of charge. A protected sailboat harbor is located in an inlet at the south end of the park. The sailboat harbor is leased from the park by the Carlyle Sailing Association; however, non-members may launch boats there by paying a fee.
Carlyle Lake is known as one of the top waterfowl hunting areas in the state as well. Every fall there is a controlled pheasant hunt at Eldon Hazlet State Park. The Department of Natural Resources also provides opportunities for hunting deer, turkey, squirrel, quail, rabbit and dove.
Wildlife is plentiful at Eldon Hazlet because of the natural resource management program implemented at the park. Various types of plants provide cover and food for wildlife. Brush piles and nest structures can be seen throughout the park. A prairie restoration, including a 3-acre tall grass prairie with more than 50 species of native plants, is returning the area to what it looked like before settlers arrived. It has also helped the local wildlife populations. Deer, red foxes, raccoons, squirrels, woodchucks, quail, doves, songbirds, including bluebirds, can frequently be seen.
Birdwatchers can view more than 200,000 waterfowl that stop at the lake while migrating north and south each year and stop in the park to feed and rest. Other types of birds commonly seen at the park include: wading birds such as herons, cormorants and egrets; shorebirds and songbirds; and raptors like hawks, owls, osprey, and eagles.
There is some hiking at Carlyle (about nine miles of trails), but this is primarily a fishing/boating/sailing lake. At Eldon Hazlet Park is the Cherokee Trail with passes through a mature oak-hickory forest, offering great views of the lake. The Pawnee Trail runs along the highest point on Carlyle Lake. Both the Cherokee and Pawnee trails lead to Burnside Cemetery, a restored cemetery with tombstones that date to the 1830s. The Illini Trail is located across from the campground store and loops around the Illini Fishing Pond.
Carlyle Lake is only about an hour from St. Louis. Campers can easily get into the city for additional sightseeing at the Gateway Arch, Zoo and numerous museums, or to Bush Stadium for a Cardinal baseball game.
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