Carlyle and Coffeen Offers Two of Central Illinois Best Boating Lakes

Illinois has many beautiful lakes for your boating pleasure. These two I am personally familiar with. The scenery around them is magnificent, and they are great fishing lakes if you want to stop your boat and throw a reel in.

Carlyle Lake

Carlyle sits right on Highway 127 just about 50 miles from St. Louis Mo. The town's claim to fame is the beautiful lake and beaches it offers its tourists. Carlyle Lake is the largest man made lake Illinois has to offer. It boasts of having 26000 acres of water! That is a boater's paradise.

Carlyle Lake has nearly 14 different locations for boaters to drop into the water. Some are primitive and only offer a ramp to back down, while others are fully functional service accesses.

While cruising around Carlyle Lake, you will find island that you can dock on and go exploring. These islands are only accessible by boat, so their beauty is unspoiled by motor vehicles trampling them down.

Carlyle has its own Sailing Association that hosts many events on the lake. They do anything from slow casual sail trips to racing across the water. You can even be a crew member if you don't have your own sail boat!

The lake is the setting for a spectacular Fourth of July display. Boats sit out in the water to watch the fireworks while campers crowd the shores of the sandy beach. It really is a sight to behold! Speaking of camping, Carlyle Lake has some of the best camping facilities around.

Whether you like primitive camping or all the amenities, Carlyle Lake is sure to have something you'll like. If you are not into camping, there is a selection of hotels to choose from, some right near the lake.

I could go on and on about everything you will find in and around the Carlyle area, but the best thing you can do is check out the website and make plans to spend a day or a weekend exploring the largest man made lake in Illinois...Lake Carlyle.

http://www.carlylelake.com/

Coffeen Lake

Coffeen Lake is my other favorite lake in Central Illinois. It is located about 3 miles off of Highway 127 near Donnellson Illinois, or about 50 miles from Springfield Illinois.
Beautiful forests surround Coffeen lake and it's the closest thing you can get to reliving what might have been an excursion in the pioneer days. The beauty and serenity of this lake will have you coming back time and time again.

Coffeen Lake does have a boat motor restriction of 25 horsepower or less. The lake is not meant for speed boats or skiers. The boat crowd on the lake is mainly those interested in fishing or just a quiet relaxing boat ride.

You will find many pontoons cruising the beautiful open waters or snuggled into the many coves of the lake, enjoying some leisurely fishing. The main access ramp is a newly constructed facility that is handicapped accessible.

There are several campsites near the lake, or hotels are available within a few minutes drive. Check out what the Department of natural resources web site has to say about Coffeen Lake and I am sure you will be planning your next boating trip there.

http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/parks/r4/coffeen.htm