Beaver Dam State Park is one of the finest recreational areas in the State of Illinois. It is located on 750 acres of woodland comprised mostly of oak and hickory stands. This site is easy enough to find, located about seven miles due Southwest of Carlinville, making access available to everybody. The directions are quite straightforward. Going West, take route 108 eleven miles West to Carlinville. At the Amtrak Station, turn South (left) and go seven miles to Beaver Dam.
There is virtually something to do for everyone in the family with picnicking, camping, fishing and hiking among the most popular activities enjoyed by visitors to this great spot. It is actually named for a beaver dam that created the lake found there. Ironically, there are practically none of these animals located in this area anymore.
This park is flush with wildlife due to the combination of wooded areas, open fields, and water covered areas. Nature watchers are likely to find squirrels, owls, woodpeckers, deer, fox and even some wild turkeys among the inhabitants of this acreage. There are also a great deal of snakes, insects and amphibians who call this place home. For bird lovers, finches, peewees, cardinals and bluebirds are among the fowl that are seen in the park. Thus there is no dearth of animal life located here, as it is virtually an outdoor zoo.
For camping enthusiasts, this is an ideal place to be. Each of the designated areas has electricity and a dumping station. There are showers and flush toilets available in each site although there are no separate water hookups for each individual site. Each campsite is on a first come, first serve basis. These are all located in a wooden area, with stately hickory and oak trees providing respite from the sun. Separate locations are available for tents which also have restrooms close by. For those who want a little more, a new Rent A Cabin is available by reservation only and can be reserved by calling the park office.
For picnickers, a separate section of Beaver Dam State Park is set aside for this activity. A great number of barbecue grills and picnic tables are available although visitors are free to bring their own equipment if they so desire. This area also has four pavilions which may be reserved by contacting the office in advance of the event.
Fishermen will enjoy their time out on the lake which encompasses 59 acres and boasts almost 2 miles of shoreline. With a maximum depth of 10 feet, there are no gasoline engines allowed here, but electric trolling motors can be used freely as patrons can launch their watercraft from the many docks. Many species have been caught here, including bluegill, largemouth bass and catfish.
Other great activities that are available here include hunting and an archery range. The latter is accessible to visitor free of charge. Individual archers must have their own equipment, including bows and arrows. They do not include Broadhead points however. Adults must also accompany any participant under sixteen years old.
Hunters may try their luck at getting some wild game in season, and these include Spring Turkeys and Squirrel just to name a few of the animals that may be found here.
Beaver Dam State park also maintains a concession area where food, supplies, and various hunting and fishing licenses are available. They can be reached at 217 854 6688 for more information on any of these topics.
There are also winter activities for the outdoor sports maven. These include ice skating and ice fishing, as well as sledding and cross country skiing.
As with any park of this size there are some general rules designed to make each experience more enjoyable and a few of them include the following. Any group larger than 25 persons must register in advance with the park office. All pets must be kept on a leash. Each group of 15 minors must have an accompanying adult with them. And there are communication devices available for the hearing impaired.
There are a great deal of opportunities available for vacationers or visitors of every kind. Interested parties can get more information from the Bureau of Tourism by calling toll free 1-800-2Connect.