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 1st, Boulder and Coles Creek Campgrounds will be open through 4 p.m. Thursday, October 15th, and Dam East and Hazlet State Park Campgrounds are open year round.
The 2015 Haunted Trail at Carlyle Lake will be Friday, October 23rd and Saturday October 24th 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 2016 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 31st. 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 31st Halloween Activities at Dam West Campground:
5:30 p.m. – Campground Costume Parade
6:00 p.m. – “Creepy Crawlers” 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.
