Horseshoe Lake State Park (Madison County)
- Status
- Open (per official listing)
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Not stated — check with park
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- dnr.illinois.gov(618) 931-0270
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 1
Construction Park noticeCLOSED • The Stock Pond will be closed September 17 - 19, 2026, for a fishing derby. • There will be no access to Chouteau Island until… (more)
CLOSED • The Stock Pond will be closed September 17 - 19, 2026, for a fishing derby. • There will be no access to Chouteau Island until approximately October 1, 2026, due to bridge repair. • Shelter #3 and the hiking trail are closed until October 1, 2026. • The campground and the road leading to the campground are closed until May 2027, for an installation project on the causeway.
Posted by the park. Official alert
Overview
Horseshoe Lake State Park (Madison County) is a park in Madison County, in Pontoon Beach.
Fees and passes
Free: 'The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) does not charge an Entrance Fee to any state owned or operated land.' Camping, cabins and shelters are fee-based.
Statewide fee rule from Illinois's park system; this park’s page doesn’t list its own fees.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- ExploreMoreIL (IDNR camping, cabins, group camps and shelters)
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Camping
Camping
Horseshoe Lake State Park accommodates 26 tent or trailer campsites. A sanitary dump station, pit toilets, and water hydrants are conveniently located. The campground is open from May 1 to September 30. Campers can stay a maximum of 7 days in a 30-day period. We do not take reservations for camping. Although group camping reservations are accepted through the ExploreMoreIL™ website.
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
Trails
Hiking
Four miles of hiking trails wander through the natural vegetation at Horseshoe Lake State Park.
Fishing
Fishing and Boating
Horseshoe Lake contains channel catfish, bass, crappie, bluegill, carp, and buffalo. Boat fishing is allowed, except during waterfowl season. A 50-horsepower limit exists for all watercraft. Two boat ramps are available for public use.
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Picnic areas
- Park or camp store
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
Physical Accessibility at Horseshoe Lake-Madison
- Parking - All parking lots are asphalt with accessible parking spaces. There is approximately a 20' distance to the nearest sidewalk.
- There is a wheelchair ramp to the park office.
- Fishing - There is an accessible fishing pier at the boat dock. Surface is wood and is approximately 150' from the parking lot.
- There are 4 accessible restrooms available at shelters 1, 2, 4, and 5. They are also available at the north shore boat ramp.
- Service animals are allowed in the park. There are outdoor water fountains available.
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- 3321 Highway 111
Granite City, IL 62040 - Nearest town
- Pontoon Beach
- Coordinates
- 38.7030, -90.0710
- Phone
- (618) 931-0270
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Illinois State Parks (IDNR state parks and recreation areas) — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- IDNR All Parks list (AEM content-fragment list JSON) + each unit's landing page for official title, coordinates, address, phone
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology