Keyesport Recreation Area

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Keyesport Recreation Area, located on Carlyle Lake in southern Illinois, is known for its scenic lakeside views, fishing, boating, and quiet campgrounds.


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Summary

It offers easy access to the lake’s vast waters—Illinois' largest man-made lake—making it ideal for water sports, birdwatching, and sunsets. Open year-round with peak season in spring through fall, entry is free; camping may require a fee or reservation. Though it lacks waterfalls or major hiking trails, its calm setting and abundant wildlife, including migratory birds, make it a peaceful getaway. Top draws include boat ramps, swimming beaches, and shaded picnic areas.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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