Forrest W. Bo Wood

FORREST W. BO WOOD

Part of Lake Shelbyville

Overview

Forrest W. ''Bo'' Wood Recreation Area has a large campground on the northern shore of Lake Shelbyville in the heart of central Illinois. The lake and surrounding land offer outdoor activities for people of all ages, including fishing, swimming, picnicking and simply relaxing.

Visit the Lake Shelbyville, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Facebook page for News Releases, Event Information, & Emergency Updates. https://www.facebook.com/LakeShelbyvilleUSACE

Visit it our USACE Lake Shelbyville Website for more information on Lake Shelbyville. https://www.mvs.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/Lake-Shelbyville/

Facilities

Bo Wood is a large facility with more than 140 campsites that all provide electric hookups. For those without RVs, there are several tent-only sites. The campground has flush toilets, showers, a playground, dog park, fish cleaning station, dump station and a high-water boat ramp.

Natural Features

This facility lies on the shoreline with a steep descent down to the water. Oak and hickory forests offer plenty of shade. Foliage turns a variety of red, orange, purple and yellow each fall, while prairie flowers dot the landscape in spring and summer. Numerous species of songbirds, shorebirds, waterfowl and raptors inhabit the lake area, as do mammals such as cottontail rabbit, white-tail deer, gray and fox squirrel, muskrat and mink, raccoons, & opossums.

Recreation

Lake Shelbyville offers a multitude of fishing opportunities for catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, muskie, walleye, white bass and bluegill.

The campground has a boat ramp for easy access to the water, and for those without a boat, several ponds with farmed fish are available around the lake.

Hunting areas located within a short drive offer numerous game species, including quail, rabbit, pheasant, deer, dove, turkey, waterfowl and woodcock.

Nearby Attractions

Wolf Creek State Park, Woods Lake Waterfowl Refuge and Okaw Bluff Wetlands Complex are popular locations for wildlife watching, birding and hunting near Lake Shelbyville.

Important Notices

  • Attention – Customers who do not arrive at the campground by 4 p.m. on the day after scheduled arrival date will be No Showed. Please Review the R1S No Show policy for complete details.

  • Must have a reservation prior to setting up on site.

  • Must check-in at the fee booth during normal operation hours.

  • Tent camping is always permitted, but not recommended for some sites
  • One RV and three tents, or four tents per site
  • Two RVs and six tents, or eight tents per double site
  • The banks are steep and it may be difficult to get to the water from many sites
  • The adjacent Forrest W. 'Bo' Wood Day Use Area offers a picnic shelter, available for reservations at Recreation.gov, and individual picnic sites.

  • No outside firewood allowed; obtain or purchase firewood at or near your camping destination and burn it on-site; firewood can carry invasive insects and diseases that destroy forests; learn more
  • Don't Move Firewood: Protect your forests from tree-killing pests by buying your firewood locally and burning it on-site. Visit Dontmovefirewood.org for further information.

Available Activities

  • Day Use Area - Day Use Area
  • Wildlife Viewing - Wildlife Viewing
  • Visitor Center - Visitor Center
  • Fishing - Fishing
  • Camping - Camping
  • Boating - Boating
  • Birding - Birding
  • Picnicking - Picnicking
  • Photography - Photography
  • Water Access - Water Access
  • Water Activities - Water Activities
  • Paddling - Paddling
  • Kayaking - Kayaking

Directions

From Sullivan, Illinois, take State Route 32 south for two miles to the Forrest W. ''Bo'' Wood sign, then turn right and drive a half-mile to the campground.

Contact Information

Phone: 217-774-3951

1989 St. Highway 16
SHELBYVILLE, IL 62565

Rental Options

Learn more about gear rental options for your trip

Available Campsites

Photo Gallery