Illinois / Clinton County / Carlyle

Dam West Day Use

Closed — Closed for the season. Day use area typically operates from early April through early November. Day use hours are 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. daily when open.

About

Dam West Day Use Area is situated on the southern shore of Carlyle Lake, a prime getaway for city-dwellers and families located 50 miles east of St. Louis. The area offers the peaceful retreat of a small town combined with the grandeur of Illinois' largest man-made lake. The day use area has two reservable picnic shelters that can accommodate up to 75 people each, as well as boat ramps, fish cleaning stations, and access to a marina and boat storage facility. Multiple playgrounds and a designated swimming beach provide family-friendly recreation. Visitors can walk or bike across the dam to the Dam East facilities and McNair Group Area. A multi-use biking and walking trail is located at the dam. Created in 1967, the 26,000-acre Carlyle Lake is recognized as one of the nation's top ten inland sailing lakes and hosts several annual races and regattas. The lake offers year-round fishing for bluegill, crappie, channel catfish, flathead catfish, white bass, largemouth bass, freshwater drum, carp and walleye. Carlyle Lake is home to an array of wildlife that can be seen throughout the year, with its waters and shores serving as a resting spot for migratory waterfowl and other birds. Six established Watchable Wildlife Sites with viewing towers are open to the public around the lake. The Carlyle Lake Visitor Center, located in the Dam West Recreation Area, has information available and nature exhibits on display, including a 215-gallon aquarium with native fish.

Directions

From I-70, take State Route 127 south to Carlyle and turn east on William Road/1840 E. William Road will turn into Lake Road/1430 N. Continue on Lake Road south to the day use area, located on the left.

Nearby Campgrounds