Hidden Lake Winery

Walk the trails around the 5-acre lake or sit and enjoy the waterfall and views of the Silent Forest. The beautiful banquet center has space for all size groups or you can book the gazebo for your group.

Carlyle Lake

The largest man-made lake in Illinois (26,000 acres), Carlyle Lake is a premier location for outdoor sports. Well known to sailers, it is one of the best and most challenging for sailboats. There is also boating, fishing, hunting, bird watching, … Continue reading →

Carlyle Lake Prairie View Trail

The trail runs from the Carlyle Lake Visitor’s Center (Trailhead) east for 10 miles across the Carlyle Lake/Kaskaskia River Dam and the saddle dams. The surface is black top and concrete with some crushed rock surface on the eastern end.

South Shore State Park

Southeast side of Carlyle Lake, fishing, boating, picnicking, and controlled deer hunting.

Eldon Hazlet State Park

3,000 acre site on the west side of Carlyle Lake; camping, boating, fishing, hunting, picnicking, bird watching, hiking, swimming pool