The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced the upcoming season’s opening dates for its campgrounds and the Carlyle Lake Visitor Center, signaling the start of the 2024 recreation period.
There is a change in the operating hours of the Carlyle Lake Visitor Center, now set from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., according to an Effingham Radio report.
The campgrounds at Boulder, Coles Creek, and Dam West provide a range of amenities to enhance the camping experience. Boulder offers 82 sites, Coles Creek boasts 148, and Dam West has 113. The campgrounds provide paved pads for convenience, electric hook-ups to keep devices powered, and access to shower and laundry facilities for comfort.
The Carlyle Lake Visitor Center will welcome visitors on Saturdays and Sundays from April 6 to May 19. Starting May 20 through September 2, the center will be open daily, reverting to weekend-only operations from September 7 to September 29.
The Dam West Campground is scheduled to be open from April 5 to November 2, alongside the Dam East-McNair Campground (N & S Loops), which shares the same opening period. The Boulder Campground will be accessible from April 19 to October 14, and the Coles Creek Campground from May 3 to September 28. Additionally, the Dam East-McNair Campground (Spillway Loop) will remain open throughout the year, offering more flexible options for visitors.
Reservations for the USACE campgrounds can be made online at www.recreation.gov. This reservation system allows for bookings from the current day up to six months in advance. Notably, the Dam West Campground is available on a first-come, first-served basis, catering to spontaneous visitors.
Additionally, certain campgrounds, including Coles Creek, Boulder, and Dam East-McNair, feature QR codes at the campsites, enabling visitors to make on-site reservations through their mobile devices, provided the sites are not already booked
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