Cedar Lake is one of the many outdoor facilities that have helped earn Carbondale its title as one of the nations top 200 towns for sportsmen by Outdoor Life magazine.

Whether it is fishing, boating or just relaxing on the beach, residents and visitors have many options here. Located in the western half of the Shawnee National Forest, Cedar Lake is a 1,750-acre recreational facility.

Fishing is one of the most popular activities at Cedar Lake. Some of the common catch include largemouth bass, spotted bass, bluegill, sunfish, channel catfish, bullheads, yellow bass and drum.

There are several boat docks along the 40 miles of shoreline, but boats must be under 10 horsepower to drive on the lake.

Families can picnic on the Poplar Camp Beach from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. every weekday and 9:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekends and holidays. Admission is $2 per person for a single admission to the beach, and children under the age of four are admitted for free.