Cedar Lake (Illinois) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cedar Lake |
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 Cedar Lake
Location in Illinois
Cedar Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Jackson County, Illinois |
| Coordinates | 37°38′24″N 89°16′47″W / 37.6399°N 89.2797°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Cedar Creek |
| Primary outflows | Cedar Creek |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 6 mi (9.7 km) |
| Max. width | 0.5 mi (0.80 km) |
| Surface area | 1,750 acres (710 ha) |
| Average depth | 14 ft (4.3 m) |
| Max. depth | 40 ft (12 m) |
| Shore length1 | 30 mi (48 km) |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Cedar Lake is a large lake in southern Illinois. It covers about 1,750 acres. This lake is actually a reservoir, which means it's a human-made lake. It was created in 1974 by building a dam across Cedar Creek. Cedar Creek is a small stream that flows into the Big Muddy River.
You can find Cedar Lake in Jackson County. It is located southwest of the city of Carbondale, Illinois. You can easily get to the lake from U.S. Highway 51. The main reason Cedar Lake was built was to provide clean tap water for the people living in Carbondale. But it's also a great place for fun activities like fishing, swimming, and other outdoor adventures.
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Fun at Cedar Lake
Cedar Lake is a popular spot for many outdoor activities. Besides being a source of drinking water, the lake is also managed for fishing.
Fishing Adventures
If you love fishing, Cedar Lake is a good choice. You can try to catch different types of bass, like largemouth bass and striped bass. There are also crappie, Channel catfish, and bluegill in the lake. Many people from southern Illinois and southeast Missouri enjoy fishing here.
Swimming and Boating
The city of Carbondale helps manage the lake for visitors. They have a parking lot, a swimming beach, and a boat dock. You might need to pay a small fee to use the swimming beach. However, getting to other parts of the lake is usually free. If you want to bring a boat, remember there's a rule. Your boat's engine can't be more powerful than 10 horsepower (7.5 kW). This helps keep the lake calm and safe for everyone.
Exploring the Trails
Around Cedar Lake, there's a cool system of trails. These trails are perfect for hiking and exploring nature. The Cedar Lake Trail System is about 14 miles long. It's made up of four different trails, so you have many paths to choose from. You can hike these trails all year round.
Camping by the Lake
While there aren't any fancy campgrounds right next to the lake, you can still camp. You are allowed to do "primitive camping" here. This means you can set up a basic camp. Just make sure you are at least 150 feet away from the shoreline. This helps protect the lake and its natural beauty.
The closest major highway exit to Cedar Lake is Exit 30 on Interstate 57.
