Lake Shelbyville provides visitors an opportunity to experience over 50 miles of developed multi-purpose trails on public lands. The General Dacey Trail Concept Plan is a mult-partnered regional effort to expand recreational trail opportunities into a 170-mile trail network that will provide opportunities for bicycling, hiking, and other recreational trail uses, and provide off-road connectivity between local communities, public recreation areas and other interesting and scenic attractions in the region.

The General Dacey trail is a multipurpose trail that is designed for walkers, runners, and bicyclists. The trail is a great place for the whole family to spend time together enjoying nature. Besides exercise, the trail is a great place for bird watching, geocaching, and photography. The trail offers users a 15 station outdoor fitness area, located on the lower shelf by the Dam Overlook. The trail opened in 2006 and a total of eight phases completed. The trail starts at the Scout Cabin in Forest Park and will take you through woods, along the lake area, to the main visitors center, through Shelbyville & back to the park. The trail is handicap accessible.

General Dacey Mountain Bike Map. Click here.

Camp Camfield offers some of the best mountain biking with 6.5 miles of trail currently available with a designated bike route connection to the City of Sullivan. Click here for a map

In addition, Wolf Creek State Park provides the only Equestrian Trail on Lake Shelbyville with 15 miles of trail conveniently located adjacent to an equestrian campground. Other trails include the Illini Trail, Okaw Bluff, and Coon Creek Trail, (these trails are listed below under Hiking). Click here to visit the Dacey Trail website.

There are over 1,000 campsites on Lake Shelbyville for your enjoyment Campsites at Bo Wood, Lithia Springs, Lone Point, and Opossum Creek campsites are 100% reservable and can be made up to 6 months in advance. Payments are by credit or debit card only; no cash transactions. Reservations must be made:

1. by calling toll free 1-877-444-6777
2. by going to www.Recreation.gov on the Internet
3. in person at campground fee booths (during season)
4. the R1S mobile app

Site specific reservations may be made at any Corps campground up to 6 months in advance of your camping trip, but not less than two days. User fees must be paid at the time the reservation is made.

Reservations for State Parks: Eagle Creek, Wolf Creek and Hidden Springs State Forest must be done online at camp.exploremoreil.com Visit the Illinois Department of Natural Resources at dnr.state.il.us. There are a limited number of spots for reservation and there are plenty of first come, first serve sites. Site availability cannot be guaranteed without reservations.

Group camps at Lone Point and Wilborn Creek They can be reserved through NRRS™. Wilborn Creek can also be reserved by calling 217-774-3951, x 3 and must be made 14 days in advance up to one year. There are also group camps at Eagle Creek and Wolf Creek State Parks that are open year round.

The Okaw Group Camp contains two houses, which can accommodate a maximum of 34 people Reservations may be made by calling 217-774-3951, x3 beginning the first Monday in December for the next year. Walk-in Reservations may be made starting the first Tuesday after the first Monday in December, at the Lake Shelbyville Project Office. Okaw Bluff Group Camp (2 houses) March 31-November 26. $130 night/house + $30 admin fee. Meeting Room w/o kitchen $75 day.

There are over 1,000 campsites on Lake Shelbyville for your enjoyment All COE campsites are 100% reservable and can be made up to 6 months in advance. Payments are by credit or debit card only; no cash transactions. Reservations must be made at www.recreation.gov, the R1S mobile app, calling 1-877-444-6777, or visit a camground fee booth once they open.

Arrowhead Campground • 217-756-8884
One-half mile east of Lone Point. Offers 149 sites, electric, city water, showers, bait, playground, fishing pond and recreation room. Sewer hook-up or dump station.

Cardinal Campground • 217-774-5064
1 mile east of Lithia Springs. Available are fifteen permanent site. All water and electric. Tent camping, fishing, sand volleyball, bait, horseshoes and showers. Cost: $8-$12.

Coon Creek RV Park & Resort • 217-756-3147
On Coon Creek Road at Lake Shelbyville. Permanent sites only. 1/2 mile from the lake.

La Caille RV Park • 217-756-8846
All amenities. Taking permanent camping reservations for Spring. 1/2 mile east of Lone Point, Findlay.

Kaskaskia River Camp • 217-774-4721
South of dam off Route 16. Tent camping. Limited electric and water. Canoe and boat rentals, bait and showers. On river bank.

Riverfront Campground • 217-774-4442
South of dam...follow signs off Route 16. 100+ sites, tent and RV. Two boat docks on Kaskaskia River. Permanent sites only.

Robin Hood Woods • 217-774-4222
2.5 miles east of dam of Route 16, mostly wooded. Sites with water, electric and sewer. In-ground outdoor pool, pond, horseshoes, 2 playgrounds, game room, tent sites and showers. One-room cottages with bath air, heat and two bedrooms.

The Lake Shelbyville Area boasts numerous fine golfing opportunities within 30 minutes of the lake. Several of our local motels offer a variety of package plans for the traveling golf enthusiast. On site courses include Eagle Creek and Oak Terrace.

Wolf Creek Riding Stables - CLOSED

The stables are closed, but you can still bring your own horse and ride the trails and/or camp with your horse. Wolf Creek State Park has a horse camp, so you can stay for several days or a week and ride. There is a 15-mile equestrian trail.

Coyote Creek Stables - Sigel
217-844-2161/217-821-7783
coyotecreektack@yahoo.com

Far View Stables - Shelbyville
217-774-9510

Owens Top of the Hill Horses-Tower Hill-5 miles from Shelbyville.
217-567-3199, 217-273-3199
owensthh@gmail.com
indoor/outdoor, all ages, rain or shine

You can hunt almost anything in Shelby County. We have an abundance of wildlife both for the enthusiast who enjoys watching wildlife and the avid hunter who enjoys the thrill of the hunt. Best bets for the upcoming season include archery and shotgun deer hunting, rabbit and waterfowl hunting. The waterfowl opportunities are abundant in the subimpoundments for both walk-in hunters and those using boat blinds on the main lake. Other huntable wildlife species that you can expect to find on Lake Shelbyville lands in lesser numbers are: quail, pheasant, gray and fox squirrels, turkey, dove, woodcock, raccoon, fox and coyote.

Controlled dove hunting is conducted during the first two days of the dove hunting season in managed sunflower fields. These hunts limit the number of participants for quality and safety reasons where demand for the sport exceeds available hunting area.

Deer/Turkey Hunters: Lake Shelbyville is considered a Special Hunt Area for Deer and Turkey. Hunters must apply specifically for Lake Shelbyville Project. A general county tag is NOT valid on the lake project.

The Annual Lake Shelbyville Deer Hunt for People with Disabilities, hosted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Wolf Creek State Park, takes place in November. This special three-day hunt proves to be an excellent deer-hunting experience for participating hunters. It provides a wonderful opportunity to those who would not normally be able to participate in this physically demanding sport. Handicap archery is available at Whitley Creek, and you can reserve the blinds for the archery season. To volunteer or reserve, call 217-774-3951, ext 4.

It is important to note that the management of these lands is shared between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, and thus regulations governing each of their respective lands may vary somewhat. Before engaging in any hunting activities at Lake Shelbyville, you should determine which agencies’ land you intend to hunt on, and what rules and regulations are in effect on those particular lands.

The vast majority of huntable State lands (6,200 acres) are located in the upper reaches of the lake along the West Okaw and Kaskaskia Rivers. They also manage Eagle and Wolf Creek State Parks. The Corps manages all other project lands. You must check with State personnel to see what species may be hunted, approved hunting methods, and effective dates before hunting in either State Park. Contact numbers: 217-756-8260 or 217-459-2831 or call IDNR Wildlife Area at 217-665-3112. For permits you can register online at dnr.state.il.us.

Click here for the 2019 Youth Deer Hunt Application.