This day use area sits on the southwest shore of Lake Shelbyville in the heart of central Illinois. This facility has a variety of amenities and offers outdoor activities for people of all ages, including swimming, walking trails, picnicking, fishing, boating, and simply relaxing.
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This day use area sits on the southwest shore of Lake Shelbyville in the heart of central Illinois. This facility has a variety of amenities and offers outdoor activities for people of all ages, including swimming, walking trails, picnicking, fishing, boating, and simply relaxing.
There are two reservable picnic shelters. The large group picnic shelter has 11 picnic tables, 2 group grills, 4 flushable restrooms attached to the shelter, overhead lights, 14 electrical outlets, water hook-ups, water fountains, and a large paved parking lot. This shelter also has a sidewalk which connects to the public beach. The ramp point picnic shelter has 7 picnic tables, 1 group grill, flushable restrooms attached to the shelter, overhead lights, 8 electrical outlets, and paved parking lot.
Shelter hours are 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. daily
Read Lake Shelbyville Picnic Shelter Reservations Policy
Adult chaperones are required for youths under 18 years of age
No Off-Road Vehicles allowed unless written approval from Operations Manager
First-come first served available when shelter is not reserved
Firewood brought into this facility must be purchased, or collected locally due to invasive insects
The day use area has a perfect, wide-open overlook of the lake. Numerous species of songbirds, shorebirds, waterfowl and raptors inhabit the lake area, as do mammals such as cottontail rabbit, white-tail deer, gray and fox squirrel, muskrat and mink.
The Lake Shelbyville Dam and the Lake Shelbyville Visitor Center is located south of the day use area. Directly west of the day use area is the city park and the town of Shelbyville which offers small town boutiques as well as eateries to explore.
The area features a public beach, boat ramp & fish cleaning station, and multiple picnic areas. It also features the General Dacey Trail, a multi-use biking and walking trail which extends through the south end of the lake, spillway, the dam, and into the city park. The shoreline is accessible in some areas for fishing opportunities. Some of the local fish in the lake are catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, muskie, walleye, white bass, and bluegill.
1989 STATE HWY 16 SHELBYVILLE IL 62565
For campground inquiries, please call: 217-774-3951
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
From Shelbyville, Illinois, go half a mile east of Shelbyville on State Route 16 to Spillway Recreation Area road. Turn left into Spillway Recreation Area. Follow the road to the end, and turn left across the dam. At the stop sign, turn right into the Dam West Recreation Area. Take the 2nd right to reach the large group picnic shelter or take the 3rd right to reach the ramp point picnic shelter.
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