By:
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Dam East Day Use Area sits above the shore of Lake Shelbyville in the heart of central Illinois.
The lake and surrounding land offer outdoor activities for people of all ages, including fishing, picnicking and simply relaxing by the water.
This facility sits above the lake with a steep descent to the shoreline. Oak and hickory trees dominate the landscape.
Foliage turns a variety of red, orange, purple and yellow each fall, while prairie flowers dot the landscape in spring and summer.
Numerous species of songbirds, shorebirds, waterfowl and raptors inhabit the lake area, as do mammals such as cottontail rabbit, white-tail deer, gray and fox squirrel, muskrat and mink.
With a playground, volleyball court and horseshoe pit, Dam East Day Use is a fun place for families to relax along the lake.
Within a short drive, Lake Shelbyville offers a multitude of fishing opportunities for catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, muskie, walleye, white bass and bluegill. For those without a boat, several ponds with farmed fish are available around the lake.
Nearby hunting areas offer numerous game species, including quail, rabbit, pheasant, deer, dove, turkey, waterfowl and woodcock.
This facility offers one reservable group picnic shelter that can accommodate up to 50 people. Six picnic tables, a large grill, flush toilets and electric hookups are provided.
Wolf Creek State Park, Woods Lake Waterfowl Refuge and Okaw Bluff Wetlands Complex are popular locations for wildlife watching, birding and hunting near Lake Shelbyville.
From Shelbyville, Illinois, take State Route 16 east. Turn left after the dam, following signs for the facility.
