It seems appropriate for one of the largest campgrounds in the Illinois state park system to be located on the largest manmade lake in Illinois. Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area is a 3,000-acre site on the west shore of Carlyle Lake, a Kaskaskia River impoundment. The site is located 3 miles north of Carlyle and 2 miles east of Illinois Route 127 in Clinton County.

The site is leased by the Department of Natural Resources from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which built the 26,000-acre lake. Carlyle attorney Eldon Hazlet was the first president of the Kaskaskia Valley Association, which organized and promoted construction of two of Illinois’ three largest reservoir/recreational complexes - Carlyle Lake and Lake Shelbyville - plus other improvements on the Kaskaskia River.

Annually, more than 800,000 visitors visit Eldon Hazlet to camp, boat, fish, hunt, picnic, bird watch and to hike more than 9 miles of trails. Also popular are the sailboat regattas, held almost every summer weekend. Whatever type of recreation you choose, it’s probably offered at Carlyle Lake.

Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area is probably best known for its camping facilities. The Illini Campground has 328 Class A campsites with 30 and 50 amp electrical hook-ups, 36 Class C campsites for walk-in tent camping and two rustic Rent-A-Cabins.

Seven Class A campsites are accessible to individuals in wheelchairs. The campground occupies almost 1 1/2 miles of the Carlyle Lake shoreline, and most of the campsites are within easy reach of the water. Many campers keep their boats in the coves located along the campground. Illini Campground Map

Three shower buildings are located in the campground, plus numerous privy toilets. Recreational amenities include several sets of playground equipment, a basketball court, a sand volleyball court, horseshoe pits, an amphitheater and hiking trails. Plenty of parking is available for vehicles and boat trailers. To register for a campsite see one of the campground hosts.

Reservations can be made online at www.reserveamerica.com for Class A sites 1-65, Handicap Site 93, Rent-A-Cabins, and shelters (reservation sites map).

Reservations for regular campsites require a $5 non-refundable reservation fee and payment of the full camping and utility fees at the time the reservation is made. For more information on our fees, please review our camping fee information. Payment of the entire camping and utility fee amount will guarantee that the reservation will be held for the entire length of the stay.

Campsites may be reserved for a maximum of 14 nights per 30-day period and reservation must be made at least five days before the campsite is needed. Reservations for Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, and Columbus Day weekends require a three-night minimum stay. all other weekends require a two-night minimum stay. Cancellations made five days before arrival will lose the $5 reservation fee, but the remainder of the cmaping fee will be refunded. Cancellations made less than five days before arrival will be charged the $5 fee and the first nights camping fee; the remainder of the camping fees will be refunded.

The Eldon Hazlet Campground Store, located at the entrance to the Illini Campground, is a 2,000-square-foot store which contains groceries, camping and fishing supplies, clothes, live bait, ice and firewood. A public laundry room and outdoor patio also are available. Please call the store at (618) 594-3387 for hours of operation.

South Shore State Park is a 3-mile long park located on Carlyle Lake's southeast side, approximately 3 miles east of Carlyle on Route 50. The park provides recreational opportunities, including a small boat access, day-use areas for picnicking, a 3/4 mile hiking trail, as well as outstanding bank fishing opportunities. Observing wildlife, especially white-tailed deer, is another popular activity. For more information on South Shore State Park, call Eldon Hazlet Site Office at (618) 594-3015.

Swimming Pool

A public swimming pool is located behind the campground store. The pool is open form Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. With a zero entry to 4 1/2 foot depth and staffed by a lifeguard, the pool is ideal for families with small children. Maximum capacity is 450 swimmers. A user fee is required to enter the pool facility.

Wildlife abounds at Eldon Hazlet, in part due to the natural resource management program implemented at the park. Various types of warmseason grasses and legumes are planted to provide supplemental cover and food for wildlife. Brush piles and nest structures, such as bluebird boxes, have been placed throughout the park. The restoration of natural habitats, such as prairie and wetlands, also has benefited local wildlife populations.

Across from the site office, is a 3-acre tallgrass prairie with more than 50 species of native plants. Numerous species of wildflowers bloom in the summer, including compass plant, blazing star, purple coneflowers, rattlesnake master, American feverfew and stiff tickseed.

Deer, red foxes, raccoons, squirrels, woodchucks, quail, doves and songbirds, including bluebirds, are among the wildlife species to be seen. More than 200,000 waterfowl stop at the lake on their migratory travels north and south each year. Along with waterfowl, other types of birds commonly seen at the park include wading birds, such as herons and egrets, as well as shorebirds, songbirds and raptors.

A combination of wide open water, low surrounding terrain and strong winds provides the conditions which make Carlyle Lake one of the Midwest’s most popular sailing lakes. Regional and national regattas are held here, and in 1994 the US Olympic Festival games sailing competition was hosted by Eldon Hazlet State Park and the Carlyle Sailing Association.

A 40-acre sailboat harbor, protected in a deep inlet, is at the south end of the park and is operated as a land-based marina, meaning all boats are stored on land. The sailboat harbor is leased from the park by the Carlyle Sailing Association, which operates it as a concession for members. Non-members may launch boats for fee.

In addition to boat launching privileges, payment of the fee entitles the non-member to use the harbor’s other facilities - showers, picnic tables, play equipment, day-use docks, and a large shelter with electricity and a barbecue pit. When slots are available, parking privileges in the harbor’s members-only overnight boat parking area may be extended to non-members staying several days at the park and paying the launching fee.

The harbor complex has a conventional boat launching ramp and three electric hoists which can place sailboats up to 2,000 pounds (in the 16- to 18-foot range) in the water from the harbor wall. For additional information, contact the harbor master at (618) 594-3622 or visit www.csa-sailing.org

Because of its central location relative to the lake, the park is a great place to launch a boat. Three boat ramps are available to the public free-of-charge. With a four-lane boat ramp with a handicapped accessible courtesy dock, two picnic shelters and privy toilets, Allen Branch Day Use Area is one of the most popular boat launching spots on the lake. Apache Day Use Area has a two-lane ramp, picnic shelter, play equipment, fish cleaning station and privy toilets. Peppenhorst Branch has a graveled small-boat ramp used by anglers and hunters.

More than 9 miles of trails are available to hikers at Eldon Hazlet. The 3-mile Cherokee Trail has three separate loops that pass through a mature oak-hickory forest over gently rolling terrain, offering great views of the lake. The Pawnee Trail is a 1-mile loop trail running along the highest point on Carlyle Lake. Both the Cherokee and Pawnee trails lead to Burnside Cemetery, a restored cemetery with tombstones dating to the 1830s.

The Kaskaskian Trail is a 2 1/2-mile loop trail that begins at the park office and passes by the youth campground, the Pawnee Trail, various day-use areas and the Eagle trail, a 3/4-mile loop near the north end of Illini Campground. A 1/4 -mile accessible interpretive trail is located within the 3-acre prairie restoration directly across from the park office. The 1-mile Illini Trail is located across from the Campground Store and loops around the Illini Fishing Pond. All trails are closed Wednesday through Sunday during pheasant season.

Eight picnic areas are available in the park, all of which are located near the lake. Tables and grills are provided at all of the picnic areas, and five of the areas have electricity-equipped shelters that can be reserved at www.ReserveAmerica.com. The largest shelter is 40-by-80-foot located at the Olympic Festival Day Use Area.

Interpretive Programs

A full-time site interpreter and seasonal interpreters are available to provide educational programs for school and youth groups throughout the year. During the summer months, hikes, interpretive programs and recreational activities are offered every weekend to campers and visitors. For more information and to schedule programs contact the site interpreter at (618) 594-3015.

Certainly one of the most popular activities at Carlyle Lake is fishing. More than 30 species of fish occur at the lake, including such local favorites as white bass, channel catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, bluegill, carp and buffalo. Bank fishing is allowed anywhere in the park. The Allen Branch area is used most often and offers an accessible fishing pier. A fish cleaning station (also accessible) is located at Apache Boat Ramp.

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Illini Pond is a 4-acre fishing pond with a walk-out pier and located across from the Campground Store on the Illini Trail. The lake is stocked with bass, bluegill and catfish and provides easy fishing opportunities for children.

The park has more than 50 acres designated for archery deer, dove, and upland game hunting. In addition, a controlled pheasant hunting program is held every year, usually from early November to early January. Permits and controlled pheasant hunting information is available on the IDNR website. Eldon Hazlet can accommodate 125 hunters per day, Wednesday through Sunday.

The park also offers pheasant hunting and archery deer hunting opportunities for disabled hunters. For more information and site specific regulations on hunting, please contact the park office at (618) 594-3015 and review the Hunter Fact Sheet.

An archery range with an elevated platform is open all year except during the controlled pheasant season. 

Lakefront Cottages

Twenty lakefront cottages are available for rent ofer spectacular views of the lake and the 780 square foot units contain a kitchenette, bar, living area, bedroom, loft and deck. The kitchenette is equipped with stove, refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker and sink. Other amenities include cable TV, linens and cookware. Twelve complimentary boat docks are available to cottage renters upon request. For more information on prices and availability, call (877) 342-8862 or (618) 594-3386.  

• While groups of 25 or more are welcome and encouraged to use the park's facilities, they are required to register in advance with the site office to avoid crowding or scheduling conflicts.
• At least one responsible adult must accompany each group of 15 minors.
• Pets must be kept on leashes at all times.
• Actions by nature can result in closed roads and other facilities. Please call ahead to the park office before you make your trip.
• We hope you enjoy your stay. Remember, take only memories, leave only footprints.
• For more information on tourism in Illinois, call the Illinois Department of Economic Opportunity, Bureau of Tourism at 1-800-2Connect.
• Telecommunication Device for Deaf and Hearing Impaired Natural Resources Information (217) 782-9175 for TDD only Relay Number 800-526-0844.