Carlyle Lake

If you have plans to visit Carlyle Lake, you should know that it is a reservoir located in Clinton County, Illinois. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers were responsible for building both Carlyle Dam and Carlyle Lake. Carlyle Lake has over 26,000 acres of water and 11,000 acres of land, making it the largest manmade lake within Illinois.

For recreation, Eldon Hazlet State Park, South Shore State Park, and the Carlyle Lake Wildlife Management Area offer a variety of opportunities around Carlyle Lake.

For example, the Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area near Carlyle Lake in Illinois is well known for its superb camping facilities. This spectacular Illinois camping area has 328 Class A campsites with 30 and 50 amp electrical hook-ups, 36 Class C campsites for walk-in tent camping and two rustic rent-a-cabins. You can also explore over nine miles of hiking trails that are available to hikers at Eldon Hazlet. Guides provide interpretive nature walks, which include a visit to a wetland education area.

If you are planning an Illinois fishing trip, you will find an abundance of bass, bluegill, crappie, catfish, walleye and sauger at Carlyle Lake in Illinois. The tail water provides the most spectacular fishing area in Illinois. It produces close to 3,260 lbs. of fish per water acre.

Carlyle Lake Illinois is also renowned as one of the top waterfowl hunting areas in the state. Each year, from November to January, people visit to attend a controlled Pheasant hunt that takes place at Eldon Hazlet State Park. The Department of Natural Resources also provides hunting opportunities for white-tailed deer, turkeys, squirrels, bobwhite quail, rabbits and mourning doves. Trapping at Carlyle Lake Illinois is permitted after the duck season.

Birdwatchers who visit Carlyle Lake in Illinois can enjoy the sightings of ducks, geese, bald eagles, ospreys, cormorants, and great blue herons, as well as a unique variety of species of shorebirds and songbirds. Carlyle Lake in Illinois is also known as one of the best and most challenging lakes for sailboats. The lake had the distinction of being the host for the 1994 U.S. Olympic Festival Sailing Competition. Throughout the summer at Carlyle Lake in Illinois, sailing races almost every weekend. All types of watercraft are suitable for use on Carlyle Lake in Illinois.

Whether you are planning to go fishing, hiking, biking, bird watching or camping on you Illinois vacation, a trip to Carlyle Lake should definitely be included in your itinerary.