Facility Details - GUN CREEK, IL

Overview

Gun Creek Campground sits along the banks of Rend Lake in the heart of southern Illinois.

Natural Features:

Completed in the early 1970s, Rend Lake is a dam project that was built to provide dependable water supplies to nearby counties. Since then, the dam and lake have become a natural haven for fish and wildlife as well as a recreational haven for more than 3 million visitors each year.

Rend Lake consists of 18,900 acres of water and 20,000 acres of land. Surrounded by hills, prairies and bottomlands, the scenery at the lake never disappoints.

Recreation:

Rend Lake is a relatively shallow reservoir, filled with countless native species of fish, making it an ideal angling destination. Abundant and large crappie and channel catfish are especially popular, along with hybrid striped bass and flathead catfish.

Birding is a popular pastime at the park, and the area provides the ideal habitat for a diverse range of bird species.

The Rend Lake Bike Trail offers opportunities for hiking and biking, along with the nearby Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park, which also offers horseback riding.

The lake has earned the reputation of being one of the best waterfowl hunting areas in the state for both ducks and geese. There are also plenty of opportunities for archery and firearm deer hunting at higher elevations. Another popular attraction is the annual controlled pheasant hunt held at Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park.

Ranger-led educational programs are available at the Rend Lake Visitor Center. Boat rentals are also available at the Rend Lake Marina.

Facilities:

Gun Creek Campground offers more than 60 reservable campsites and one large group picnic shelter. All campsites have electric hookups, and the campground offers a dump station, hot showers, flush toilets and drinking water in order to provide a comfortable camping experience for guests.

A boat dock, boat ramp and playground are also conveniently located within the campground.

Nearby Attractions:

Golf courses, shopping and a resort are all located within a few miles of the campground.

Activities and Amenities

Within Facility
Accessible Flush Toilets Accessible Sites Biking Birding Boat Ramp Boating Dock Drinking Water Dump Station Electric Hookups Fishing	Grills Hiking Host Interactive Programs Parking Area Picnic Shelters Playground Showers Trails Trash Collection
Within 10 Miles
Fishing Supplies Golf Course Horseback Riding Laundry	Marina Visitors Center Wildlife Viewing

Know Before You Go

One RV and three tents or four tents are permitted per reservation
Register with gate attendant upon arrival
Additional first-come, first-served sites are available

Firewood quarantines are in effect due to the spread of the destructive Emerald Ash Borer. Please purchase or gather firewood near your camping destination and do not remove firewood from the campground. Click here for more information.

Getting There:

GPS Info. (Latitude, Longitude):
38.07861, -88.93028
38°4'43"N, 88°55'49"W

From I-57 take exit 77 and turn west on Route 154. Turn left onto Gun Creek Trail/Larry Foster Parkway, then right onto Golf Course Road. Continue 1/2 mile to park entrance.