By:
Submission
Dam East Recreation Area is situated on the southern shore of Carlyle Lake, a prime getaway for city-dwellers and families. Located 50 miles east of St. Louis, the area offers the peaceful retreat of a small town combined with the grandeur of Illinois largest man-made lake.
Created in 1967, the 26,000-acre lake is recognized as one of the nations top ten inland sailing lakes and hosts several annual races and regattas.
Carlyle Lake is home to an array of wildlife that can be seen throughout the year. Its waters and shores are a resting spot for migratory waterfowl and other birds. There are six established Watchable Wildlife Sites with viewing towers open to the public around the lake.
The area provides fun both on the water and on shore. Boat ramps and courtesy docks are provided, and the vast lake allows for plenty of water sports.
Fishing is a popular pastime, and white bass, bluegill, crappie, channel catfish, largemouth bass, freshwater drum, carp, flathead catfish and walleye can be found in abundance.
There is an on-site playground and plenty of open space for children to play in, as well as an amphitheater for educational programs. A multi-use biking and walking trail is located a short walk away.
Dam East features a reservable picnic shelter that can accommodate up to 75 people, as well as a boat ramp and courtesy docks. Visitors can walk or bike across the dam to the Dam West facilities and McNair Group Area.
Carlyle Lake Visitor Center, located in the Dam West Recreation Area, has information, a gift shop and nature exhibits, including a 215-gallon aquarium with native fish and a display featuring a live massasauga rattlesnake.
From I-57, take Old U.S. Route 50 west for 37 miles to the Dam East entrance road and turn north. Turn east at the next intersection and continue for 1.2 miles to Dam East Day Use Area.
Our kids love to swim here. Usually very friendly visitors here. Last time we were there white trash started a fight, dude smoking weed in back of his car, people bringing dogs into the water.
I also caught some scum trying to steal people's payments out of the box. I told them to leave it alone. Definitely need a better place/drop box for it.
Great place with family, friends and dogs. Great view of the lake. Great atmosphere with plenty of space to rome. Plenty of wildlife and natural vegetation. Park Rangers and staff are wonderful to talk to. Bathrooms are cleaned and stocked regularly. Trash is picked up regularly. Grass is mowed regularly. Just all around beautiful place to hang out for the day.
I went and enjoyed the solar eclipse with the River Bend Astronomy Club. Although it was cloudy we watched a livestream of the event. The information that was provided and the various telescopes were fascinating to discuss. Also, they offered food and it was delicious and hit the spot on such a cool windy day.
Great location for viewing of the lake, & for the fauna. All kinds of plant life. Moss & ferns were all over. The area that is eroded away with access to the waters edge was the best. All sorts of small to medium rocks to sort over. The smoothed over from wave & sand rocks were neat, I think I found some granite. Made me wonder how they were deposited there.
Wonderfully Beautiful place for an hour or 3 to take in, soak up the environment.
