The Best Kept Summer Secret in Illinois Is This Sailing Lake With Quiet Beaches

When the mercury rises, and you're aching for a lake with a sandy beach, a lock-tousling breeze, and sunsets worthy of the sea, set your sails for Carlyle Lake. Located just an hour east of St. Louis, it’s not quite a secret, but many of its endless outdoor amenities are. Most people come here to boat, since it’s considered the best lake in Illinois for sailing. But what I love most about Carlyle Lake is the campground in the cove and the bike trail that takes you from campsite to beach, over a dam, and beyond.

What Makes The Carlyle Lake Beaches So Special

I think we can all agree that the best summer spots in Illinois include swimming holes where we can float away our worries. And the best of the best don’t require sharing them with hundreds of other sunbathers. Somehow, the beaches at Carlyle Lake still seem to be a bit of a secret since I’ve yet to see the deep golden shores crowded. It’s hidden on the southwest corner of the lake, which is flanked by several peninsulas and coves. South of the campgrounds, you’ll first encounter the yacht club and then the picturesque marina before you come to West Dam Beach. We discovered it while biking the Carlyle Dam Road, an awesome multi-use trail. It’s just 2.5 miles out and back, crossing into the lakeside forest at Carlyle City Park (also called Lakeview Park). Biking to the beach and then continuing over the dam, dripping wet and bikini-clad, is the ultimate summer experience. From the top of the trail, it’s all lake breezes, brilliantly colored sailboats, and fishermen tossing lines from the shores. At Lakeview Park, we kept biking, passing through the McNair campground and onto McNair Beach, even more secret and secluded than West Dam Beach. 

What It’s Like To Visit These Places To Swim in Illinois

If you’ve ever camped at an Army Corps of Engineers (COE) campground, you probably already know they are often the quietest and cleanest campgrounds you can find. And the beaches are no exception, making them some of my favorite places to swim in Illinois. We saw many shorebirds and waterfowl, such as terns, sandpipers, herons, and egrets. So by day we waded and floated in the clear, blue coves, and every sunrise and sunset I was drawn out to the golden waters to gaze at sailboats and birds. It was easy to believe we were enjoying a coastal getaway, especially since Carlyle Lake is so massive, stretching 12 miles in length and 8 miles in width. It truly is among the most beautiful lakes I’ve experienced in the region. Despite its size, the shorelines are mostly shallow and wide, offering ample wading opportunities with surprisingly warm midsummer water temperatures in the low 80s.

What to Know Before You Go To West Dam Beach

Before heading out to these secret spots in Illinois to go swimming, remember to plan in advance for camping reservations. The campgrounds at Carlyle Lake can book out several months in advance, even if the beaches remain hidden gems. If you’d like to go swimming but not camping, you can visit the beaches without a camping reservation; you’ll just need to buy a $5 beach-use permit per vehicle. Keep in mind that there are no lifeguards on duty at Caryle Lake, and swimming is only allowed in designated areas. Be aware of your limitations, bring your own life vest if necessary, and never swim alone. These beaches also offer limited services: concessions are not guaranteed, equipment for rent (such as bikes, kayaks, and paddleboards) is unavailable, and organized excursions are generally nonexistent. However, you will find showers and restrooms open seasonally, playgrounds and picnic shelters nearby, and plentiful parking. 

The beaches at  Carlyle Lake are a hidden summer secret, even amongst busy campgrounds and marinas. And in the place where most visitors are out sailing, the coves on the south shore are quiet, serene, and clean. Add it to your list of must-visit summer destinations, and don’t forget to leave the beaches better than you found them.