State Parks and National Parks

Argyle Lake State Park

Argyle Lake State Park is located along an old stagecoach route in western Illinois between the towns of Galena and Beardstown.

The 1,700-acre park is home to 93-acre Argyle Lake. The lake offers great fishing, while five miles of rugged trails weave through old-growth forests.

There is a full-service campground in the heavily wooded park.

In 1948, the state purchased the land from local farmers and homesteaders and the state established the dam that created the lake.

Today, visitors enjoy wildflowers in spring, picnicking, fishing and boating in summer, spectacular fall foliage in autumn and ice skating, sledding and snowmobiling in winter.

Photo credits in order: Courtesy of Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Courtesy of Illinois Department of Natural Resources.