Pounds Hollow Recreation Area

Area Status: Open

A picturesque setting, Pounds Hollow campground and lake are tucked away amongst the Shawnee Hills, where you can relax and get away from it all. Completed in the early 1940's, Pounds Hollow Lake is popular for the same reasons it was 60 years ago and continues to provide opportunities to picnic, fish, swim, camp and hike.

Pine Ridge Campground is located on the ridgetop above Pounds Hollow Lake and offers 13 electric sites and 22 non-electric campsites, each with a picnic table, latern pole and fire ring with grill. Water spigot is located at the campground entrance across from pay station. 20, 30 & 50 amp at electric campsites.

Day-use Activities: At 25 acres, Pounds Hollow Lake is large enough to provide its many visitors some seclusion during their visit. This day-use area offers swimming, picnicking, fishing, boating and hiking. No public boat ramp is available. There are several lakeside picnic sites, plus a fishing pier and a large picnic shelter overlooking the beach. The skilled craftsmanship of the Civilian Conservation Corpsmen (CCC) can still be seen today in the hand-cut sandstone foundation of the picnic shelter.
Only small boats and electric motors are allowed on the lake. The lake contains largemouth bass, channel catfish and sunfish. The tranquil surroundings of the area are a great way to spend an afternoon enjoying the outdoors.

Pounds Hollow Recreation Area brochure/map

At a Glance

Operational Hours:	Campground - March 15th to December15th Beach - no lifeguard; swim at your own risk. Lake Access Road and Picnic Area - March 1st to November1st (daily from 6am to 10pm)
Reservations:	We do not accept reservations; Campsites are first-come, first-serve.
Area Amenities:	Interpretive Site: at Picnic Shelter Camping trailer: Campsites & turn radius of campground roads limit truck & trailer size to under 25 ft. Picnic tables: Accessible Design Tent camping Toilets: vault toilet in campground; Picnic Area are open seasonally Parking: day parking at lake Accessible: Picnic and Beach Drinking water
Fees:	Campsite $10/night - 8 people & 2 vehicle maximun. Campground has 13 electric sites and 42 non-electric sites. Payment cash or check only.
Restrictions:	Swimming allowed at the beach only. Picnic area is open 6am - 10pm. Beach area is open dawn to dusk. Pets must be leashed and are not allowed on the beach or in the designated swimming area. Use trash receptacles in developed areas. No glass or metal containers allowed on the beach per Forest Order. Camp only at designated sites. No reservations, campsites are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. There is a maximum of 2 tents, 8 people and 2 vehicles allowed per campsite. A complete list of site regulations is posted on each bulletin board and at fee stations.
Closest Towns:	Harrisburg, IL 62946
Water:	spigot is at campground entrance
Restroom:	vault toilets; Picnic area/beach has flush toilets
Information Center:	Forest Headquarters (618) 253-7114 or Hidden Springs Ranger Station (618) 658-2111

General Information

Directions:

From Harrisburg: Take Highway 34/145 south 6 miles, then continue on Highway 34 south for 9 miles. Turn east onto Karbers Ridge Road and go 9 miles to the recreation area entrance.

From Evansville, Indiana: Take Highway 62 west & continue on IL. State Route 141 to Highway 1. Go south on Highway 1 about 24 miles to Karbers Ridge Road, then west 2 miles to the recreation area entrance.

Recreation Map

Map showing recreational areas. Map Information

Activities

Campground Camping

Gravel Camping area with picnic table and fire ring shaded by dense green trees.

Pine Ridge Campground, located on the ridgetop above Pounds Hollow Lake, offers 13 electric campsites (20,30,50 amp) and 22 non-eletric campsites. The Campsites are not large enough for RVs. Be aware that Loop One's turn around is narrow and not wide enough to accommodate vehicles pulling RVs. Each campsite is equipped with a picnic table, fire ring and lantern pole. Water source is at the entrance of the campground; Vault toilets are centralized within the campground loops. Campers can either walk a trail or drive to the beach area at the lake.

Lake and Pond Fishing

This 25 acres Lake was built in 1940 and provided much sought after pasttimes, before the electronic gadgets of today. There is a fishing pier just below the parking lot. In addition to the pier, shoreline fishing is good on the southwest side of the Lake. A small dirt trail leads to the other side of the lake, but the trail is dense with vegetation and casting is more difficult on that side of the Lake.

Only small boats and electric motors are allowed on the Pounds Hollow Lake. The Lake contains largemouth bass, channel catfish and sunfish.

Backpacking

Picnicking

Open path leading to Picnic Shelter covering several tables surrounded by dense vegitation and shade trees.

Picnicking is offered at the Lake and beach areas. A large picnic shelter is near the bathroom and overlooks the beach and Lake. There are also 6 picnic sites with grills outside of the picnic shelter. The picnic and beach areas are accessible for people with disabilities by parking at the upper end of the parking lot, near the yellow gate. The gate remains locked but visitors can access the area by walking around the gate along the maintenence road, to reach the picnic shelter and ramps to the beach and lakeside picnicking.

Swimming

Swimming is allowed at the beach only. There is no lifeguard so swimming is at your own risk. No dogs are allowed on the beach and must be leashed in surrounding picnic areas and trails, etc.