7251 Ranger Road
DeWitt, IL 61735
217.935.8722
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Update: 11/29/12 - North Fork Trail will be closed to everyone but Clinton Lake permitted muzzle loader deer hunters the weekends of 11/29-12/02 and 12/07-12/09.

If you’re looking for the ideal place to drop your line and catch a record fish, look no farther than Clinton Lake State Recreation Area. Recreational opportunities abound at this 9,300-acre facility, just 3 miles east of Clinton in central Illinois. From picnicking, hiking and camping to swimming, water skiing and boating to hunting for upland game, people from all over the midwest flock to Clinton Lake to enjoy the great outdoors.

If just relaxing and watching the animal life is your interest, Clinton Lake has various small mammals and nearly 40 species of birds, including osprey which dive into the lake for fish. In the spring, it is the place to search for morels. In the fall, it is ablaze with a rainbow of color.

The park land is owned by AmerGen which operates a nuclear power plant in the area since 1978. The State of Illinois has operated the park through a long-term lease with the utility company. The partnership demonstrates that the state government and private businesses can work together to provide outstanding recreation.

History

Prior to the arrival of settlers in the area, the land on which the park rests primarily was upland prairie and bottomland deciduous forest. Historians believe the area was the site of small villages and hunting camps of tribes of the Illini Confederacy. Kickapoo also likely were in the area until the 1820s. The first permanent European-born settlers came to the area in the 1830s. Many came from Kentucky and Tennessee to farm the land. Most of the area had been used as pasture or cropland when construction of the 4,900-acre lake began in the 1970s.

The 4,900-acre lake and outstanding fishing is what draws people to the park. Special accessible piers are present at the Mascoutin Access Area, the Spillway Access Area and the Valley Mill Bank Fishing Area. If you’re dropping your line here, chances are you’re fishing for crappie. Hook them with white, yellow or chartreuse jigs and minnows, which seem to work the best.

Don’t tell anyone, because the locals like to keep it quiet, but Clinton Lake is one of the best lakes in the state for catfish. Most of them are taken from the banks, or in the upper arms of the lake.

Hybrid and pure striped bass fishing is popular here, with numerous fish more than 10 pounds taken every year. But a word of caution - the bass are tackle busters. Careful, or you might lose your pole to them.

For good eating, it is hard to beat a walleye and Clinton Lake has plenty of them. Banks adjacent to bridges are excellent places to catch walleye and boaters can hit the Old Creek channels or submerged flats. For some great spring action, the spillway area yields large numbers of both walleye and stripers, as well as crappie and catfish. Clinton Lake also provides good action for largemouth and smallmouth bass, white bass and bluegill.  Special size and creel limits are in effect for most species.

Fishing Tournaments - Clinton Lake is host to dozens of charitable and competitive fishing tournaments each year.  Special rules and regulations apply to these events.  To find out if your group is required to complete a Fishing Tournament Permit application,  please read DNR’s Fishing Tournament Rules.  If a Fishing Tournament Permit is not applicable, you are still required to submit a Group Use Permit request to the site office.

2013 Fishing Tournament Schedule

Boating

Clinton Lake is No Wake for all boats from 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise with the exception of waterfowl hunters. There are no horsepower limitations in the lake’s main basin. Sailboating is popular. When the wind gets up, the lake can be very rough. Small watercraft are urged to stick to the north fork arm of Salt Creek on rough days. Six public boat ramps and one canoe launch are available.  All DNR ramps are now equipped with wheelchair accessible boat docks. Clinton Lake Sailing Association Website

A beautiful, 1,000-foot white sand beach awaits swimmers and sunbathers looking to catch some rays or frolic in the warm waters of the lake. The beach is open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.. 7days per week, weather permitting. There is a changing facility with showers and restrooms. No lifeguards are present; remain in the buoyed areas and swim with caution. No pets, glass, sharp objects or alcohol are allowed on the beach.

Waterskiing on Clinton Lakeis a blast and permitted from the Route 54 bridge to the Route 48 bridge. Beach fees are $1 per day per person.  Swimming is allowed in other areas of the lake but not within 100 yards of bridges, boat ramps or boat docks.

If just getting out and about is your interest, try the park’s three hiking trails. The 5 mile Houseboat Cove Trail north of the beach is easy to moderate in difficulty and follows the shoreline and comes back through the woods. The 9.3 mile North Fork Trail is more challenging, running through the steeply wooded banks of the lake, and providing unparalleled views of the lake and opportunities to view wildlife. There are no exits anywhere, so be prepared for 4.2 miles up and 5.1 miles back. There’s also a 40-acre restored prairie along the North Fork, but beautiful wildflowers can be seen along both trails. A ten mile equestrian/hiking/cross-county ski trail is located on the north side of the lake east of the Parnell Access Area. Horse trailer parking is at that location. The area is now equipped with a wheelchair ramp for mounting horses.  All equestrian trails are closed to horses from Oct. 1 to the end of archery deer season.

Picnicking

Update: The Peninsula Day Use Area, Land Day Use Area, and West Side shelter are closed indefinitely.

Day use areas are located around the lake with tables, stoves, water, playground equipment and toilet facilities. Accessible shelters at the Mascoutin and Weldon access areas have electricity. Weldon also has an open, grassy area along the shoreline for softball or fishing. A nearby wooded picnic area provides shaded protection during those long, hot summer days. The Mascoutin shelter has a great view of the lake. Shelters may be reserved for a fee by using the Reserve America website.

For your convenience, the Clinton Lake Marina, located 1 mile north of IL Rt. 10, off road 1700 East, has a bait and tackle shop as well as gas, food and sundries. Slip rental and boat sales service are also available. Call (217) 736-2727 for more information.

More than 2,900 huntable acres are available at Clinton Lake. The most common species are rabbit, pheasant, squirrel and dove, although quail and woodcock also are present. Deer can be taken in season by archery only. Limited muzzleloading deer hunting and shotgun turkey hunting is available.  Waterfowl hunting is permitted on the main lake basin from anchored boat blinds only. Walk in waterfowl hunting is permitted from numbered posts located north of the IL Rt. 54 bridge and east of the bridge at the Parnell Boat Access Area. All hunters must obtain a free site hunting permit at www.dnr.illinois.gov. Try the archery range, complete with a shooting tower, just east of the North Fork Boat Access Area where you can take aim at life-size targets of deer and turkey. Some of the targets are accessible to wheelchair-bound archers.  Contact the site office for details on Clinton Lake's designated hunting area for disabled hunters.

Clinton Lake Hunter Fact Sheet  | Clinton Lake - Handicapped Area Shotgun Deer Hunting Application | Clinton Lake - Handicapped Area Waterfowl Hunting Application

Birkbeck Hunter Fact Sheet | Finfrock Hunter Fact Sheet | Hallsville Hunter Fact Sheet | Salt Creek Waterfowl Hunter Fact Sheet

A special youth pheasant hunt will be conducted in October at Clinton Lake. For more information contact the Clinton office or review the information on the Controlled Pheasant Website.

When the temperature drops, don’t huddle inside. Come to Clinton Lake. Ice fishing, ice skating and snowmobiling are allowed on the lake when the ice is thick enough. The North Fork and the coves on Salt Creek are good for ice fishing and skating. In the warmer areas of the lake, folks drop their lines from the bank all winter long. The hiking and equestrian trails double as cross-country ski trails in the winter and provide a great workout.

Camping | Campground MAP

There are 17 Class AA campsites, 286 Class A campsites and 5 Class B/S campsites at Clinton Lake. Showers are available and most sites all are adaptable to tents, trailers or motor homes. Each site is equipped with a grill and picnic table.  Reservations are accepted using the Reserve America website. Camping loops H, I, J and K are alcohol-free. The wooded area along the lake provides the perfect setting to turn in after a long day of fun. A group camp area for adults or youth groups has room for 75. It provides a secluded wooded setting and has a large shelter with electricity, three RV pads with electrical hookups, toilets, tables, grills and water. No shower facilities are present at the group camp area.  Portions of the Class AA, A and B/S and the group camp are accessible.  Reserve the group campground ahead of time by contacting the park office. The shower buildings are closed by November 1st (may be earlier if bad weather) and reopen May 1st (may be earlier - weather depending).

Concessions

Located close to the swim beach or accessible by car, is Boondocks Grill and Bait. This concession, with indoor and outdoor dining, serves sandwiches, beverages, snacks and its ever popular fish dinner. You also can purchase bait, camping supplies, firewood and ice.

Directions

I57, north or south bound: I57 to Champaign; exit onto I74 west to Farmer City (approximately 20 miles); exit onto Rt 54 west (left at stop sign at end of exit ramp). Take Rt 54 through Farmer City and proceed approximately 10 miles to DeWitt. Brown informational sign at DeWitt will read "Mascoutin State Recreation Area". Turn left at corner of Rt 54 and Co Hwy 14. Go through DeWitt and proceed approximately 1 mile, park is on the right side of road. Park office is first left after entering park.

I55, south bound: I55 to Bloomington; follow I55 around south side of Bloomington and take I74 east for 2 miles; exit I74 onto Rt 51 south. Take Rt 51 south to Clinton (approximately 20 miles); ignore all Clinton exits and stay on the 4-lane going around town to the 2nd stop light (Rt 54). Turn left and follow Rt 54 through Clinton; proceed approximately 10 miles to DeWitt. Brown informational sign at DeWitt will read "Mascoutin State Recreation Area". Turn right onto Hwy 14 and follow this through DeWitt; proceed approximately 1 mile, the park is on the right side of road. Park office is first left after entering park.

I55, north bound: I55 to north side of Springfield; take exit for Rt 54 east, Clinton. Stay on Rt. 54 to DeWitt (approximately 50 miles). Brown informational sign at DeWitt will read "Mascoutin State Recreation Area". Turn right onto Hwy 14 and follow this through DeWitt; proceed approximately 1 mile, the park is on the right side of road. Park office is first left after entering park.

Rt. 51 north bound: take Rt. 51 north to 2nd stop light at Clinton (Rt. 54); turn right and follow Rt. 54 through Clinton. Continue on Rt. 54 to DeWitt. Brown informational sign at DeWitt will read "Mascoutin State Recreation Area". Turn right onto Hwy 14 and follow this through DeWitt; proceed approximately 1 mile, the park is on the right side of road. Park office is first left after entering park.

For more information contact Clinton Lake State Recreation Area, Park Office, 7251 Ranger Rd, DeWitt, IL, 61735, (217)935-8722. GPS Location: 725  1900E

Note: Most facilities are handicapped accessible.