Carlyle Lake

In the 1930's Clinton County residents were concerned about the Kaskaskia River and how to control its flooding. By 1958 the United States Congress approved a flood control project and in 1967 the United States Army Corps of Engineers completed Carlyle Lake. Carlyle Lake is Illinois’ largest man-made lake covering 26,000 acres and measures 15 miles long with 88 miles of shoreline.

The lake offers visitors a wide variety of recreational choices. Anglers will find the lake has bountiful populations of bass, bluegill, catfish, crappie, and walleye. Pheasant, deer, turkey, quail, and duck each have their own hunting season throughout the year. Birdwatching, boating, swimming, camping, golfing, biking, and hiking are among the other recreational possibilities.

Carlyle Lake is considered one of the nation’s top ten sailing lakes and hosts numerous sailing events annually. In 1994, Carlyle Lake was the site for the Olympic Sailing Competition.

For more information about Carlyle Lake, write or call:

Carlyle Lake Information
Rural Route 2
Vandalia, IL 62471
(618) 425-3533

Directions:
From Mt. Vernon, take Interstate 64 east 25 miles and go north on Highway 127 for 16 miles to Carlyle Lake.

From Effingham, take Interstate 57 south 41 miles to Highway 50 and go west 16 miles to Carlyle Lake.

From St. Louis, take Interstate 70 east 52 miles to exit 52 and go south 11 miles to Carlyle Lake.

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