Directions
From Shelbyville, Illinois, take State Route 128 north for 3.5 miles. Turn right onto County Road 1650 N. Continue nearly a mile to County Road 1880 E. Turn right and travel 0.5 mile to County Road 1600 N. Turn right again and drive one mile into the Opossum Creek facility.
Phone
217-774-3951
Activities
BOATING, CAMPING, FISHING, VISITOR CENTER, WILDLIFE VIEWING
Keywords
OPOS,LAKE SHELBYVILLE,LAKE SHELBYVILLE
Related Link(s)
Illinois State Road Conditions
Overview
Opossum Creek Recreation Area has a quiet campground that sits on the western 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.
Recreation
Lake Shelbyville offers a multitude of fishing opportunities for catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, muskie, walleye, white bass and bluegill.
Opossum Creek provides a fishing pond for children age 12 and under with an accessible fishing dock. There are also several other ponds with farmed fish 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.
Facilities
Most of the campsites have electricity and accommodate both RVs and tents, though there are several tent-only non-electric sites as well.
Flush toilets, showers, a playground and dump station help create a comfortable camping environment.
Natural Features
Opossum Creek overlooks the lake shore and provides plenty of shade. Oak and hickory are the lake region’s dominant tree species.
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.
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.
