Fall Opportunities at Carlyle Lake

CARLYLE LAKE – Fall is a beautiful time for camping!  Enjoy the cool fall temperatures with family and friends while roasting hot dogs and marshmallows over a crackling campfire.  Carlyle Lake offers opportunities at several campgrounds that stay open for fall camping.  Dam West and McNair Campgrounds will be open through 4 p.m. Sunday, November 1^st, Boulder and Coles Creek Campgrounds will be open through 4 p.m. Sunday, October 16^th, and Dam East and Hazlet State Park Campgrounds are open year round.   

The 2016 Haunted Trail at Carlyle Lake will be Friday, October 21^st and Saturday October 22^nd from 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.  The trail will begin at the Carlyle McDonalds parking lot with a hayride down to the Little Prairie Nature trail where ghost and goblins await.  Admission to the trail is $6 per person; all proceeds will go to support the 2017 Fireworks Spectacular.  The Haunted Trail is supported by groups who volunteer their time to set up a spook spots along the Little Prairie Nature Trail and haunt the visitors as they pass through.  Prizes for the most ghoulish spot will be awarded with a $300 first place prize, $200 for second place, and $100 for third place.  If you are interested in volunteering on the trail contact Peggy Hilmes at (618)594-4354.  The Haunted Trail is sponsored by the Carlyle Lake Fireworks Committee and the Carlyle Optimist Club, in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Carlyle Lake. 

Plans are also underway for special Halloween themed activities at Dam West Campground on Saturday, October 29^th.  Campers are encouraged to decorate their site with a Halloween theme for a chance to win free camping.  If you plan on decorating your campsite please make sure your sites are family friendly.  Park Rangers will be judging sites beginning at 8:00 p.m. and participants will be awarded with five days of free camping for first place, three days of free camping for second place, and two days of free camping for third place.  Sites will be judged for creativity.             

Saturday, October 29^th Halloween Activities at Dam West Campground:                                               

                        5:30 p.m. - Campground Costume Parade

                        6:00 p.m. - “Creatures of the Night” Program at the West Bay Amphitheater

                        6:30 p.m. - Campground Trick or Treating

                        8:00 p.m. - Campsite Decorating Judging  

   For more information on Carlyle Lake, contact the Carlyle Lake Project Office at (618) 594-2484 or email at carlylelake@usace.army.mil.