Army Corps of Engineers · Illinois
Shagbark Group Area
Army Corps of Engineers · Illinois, United States
- Sites
- 1
- Hookups
- 1 electric
- Season
- March 27 to November 1
- Group sites
- Yes
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 459 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 4
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile weak · AT&T good · Verizon good (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Lake
- Rend Lake
- Nearest town
- Benton
- Address
- Rend Lake Project Office, Benton, IL, 62812
- Phone
- 618-724-2493
- Activities
- Biking, Birding, Boating, Camping, Fishing, Water Access
1 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Shagbark Group Camp is located on the western shore of Rend Lake near the Sandusky cove— the perfect place to enjoy a wide variety of activities, events, and nature at its best. Rend Lake is made up of 20,633 acres of water and 19,523 acres of land. Whether you're looking for high adventure, a peaceful retreat, or something in between, you'll find it here in the heart of Southern Illinois.
Recreation
Within the area, visitors can access the Rend Lake Bike Trail—over 20 miles of paved pathways that guide riders through scenic woodlands and across views of Rend Lake and the Big Muddy River. The area offers abundant opportunities for boating, hiking, fishing, hunting, swimming, and general outdoor exploration. Additional recreation features around Rend Lake include an archery complex with a 3D trail and elevated shooting platform, a dog park with a swimming feature, and two public swimming beaches (including the pet-friendly North Marcum Beach).
Facilities
Shagbark Group Area Campground can accommodate up to 200 campers. The campground consists of electric hookups, flush toilets, and drinking water, in order to create a comfortable camping experience. A dump station and shower house are conveniently located nearby at the North Sandusky Campground entrance and the North Sandusky Maple loop.
Natural Features
The fields, forests, and waters of Rend Lake provide a natural haven for wildlife and an outdoor wonderland for you. Woodland areas are made up of hickory, oak, and beautiful maples providing habitat to white-tail deer, turkeys, racoons, and many more native species. The shorelines are an excellent viewing area for waterfowl, shorebirds, and bank fishing the known crappie population.
Nearby Attractions
North Sandusky Day Use Area
North Sandusky Disc Golf
Rend Lake Bike Trail
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 40° | 27° | 5° | 68° | 10 of 11 |
| February | 47° | 30° | 1° | 72° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 59° | 40° | 18° | 80° | 5 of 11 |
| April | 68° | 50° | 31° | 85° | 1 of 11 |
| May | 80° | 63° | 46° | 90° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 87° | 69° | 56° | 97° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 88° | 73° | 66° | 97° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 86° | 71° | 64° | 95° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 84° | 67° | 54° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 67° | 51° | 36° | 83° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 55° | 40° | 17° | 75° | 3 of 10 |
| December | 46° | 32° | 9° | 66° | 9 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- South Sandusky Campground · Army Corps of Engineers · 1 mi · 128 sites
- North Sandusky Campground · Army Corps of Engineers · 2 mi · 118 sites
- Dale Miller Youth · Army Corps of Engineers · 3 mi · 1 sites
- South Marcum Campground · Army Corps of Engineers · 4 mi · 160 sites
- Gun Creek · Army Corps of Engineers · 5 mi · 101 sites
All public campgrounds in Illinois · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-05-09. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.