Devils Kitchen Group Pavilion

About

Devils Kitchen Group Pavilion sits on a small peninsula in the south central portion of Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge in southern Illinois. The location offers a front-row seat to observe numerous species of waterfowl and shorebirds, with panoramic views of sunrise and sunset over Devils Kitchen Lake. The secluded setting creates a sense of solitude despite being within reasonable distance of nearby towns. The pavilion includes covered picnic tables and stand-up grills for group gatherings. A boat ramp provides lake access. The adjacent Devils Kitchen Campground area, when operational, offers primitive sites and a bathhouse with hot showers and flush toilets within a short drive of the peninsula. Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge encompasses 44,000 acres near the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, making it a critical stopover on the Mississippi Flyway for migrating birds. The refuge offers hiking trails including the nearby Rocky Bluff Trail, fishing opportunities for crappie, bluegill, and bass, and wildlife photography.

Directions

From I-57, take exit 54B onto IL-13W toward Carbondale for 3.6 miles. Turn left onto IL-148 and travel south 1.6 miles to the refuge visitor center. From there, follow signs to Devils Kitchen Lake and the Group Pavilion.