Dam West Day Use in IL -- Campground & RV Camping

Dam West Day Use Area sits on the southern shore of 26,000-acre Carlyle Lake, adjacent to Dam West Campground. The facility offers two reservable picnic shelters for up to 75 people each, multiple playgrounds, a designated swimming beach, boat ramps, and fish cleaning stations. Visitors have direct access to a marina and boat storage facility. A multi-use trail allows visitors to walk or bike across the dam to Dam East facilities and the McNair Group Area. The lake provides access for sailing, water sports, and year-round fishing for catfish, bass, and crappie.

Getting there: 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.

• Little separation from through roads or other sites here, with the nearest through road 0.1 miles off.
• Sits on broad, near-level ground.
• A pond lies 0.2 mi off.
• Estimated night sky: Bortle 5, a rural sky with a glow on the horizon.
• Open country, with nothing named rising within 30 miles.