Argyle Lake

Argyle Lake State Park encompasses 1,700 heavily wooded acres surrounding a 93-acre lake just seven miles from Macomb in McDonough County, Illinois. Established in 1948 when the state purchased land from local farmers and homesteaders, the park was created by damming Argyle Hollow to form the picturesque lake. This hollow once served as part of the historic stage route between Galena and Beardstown, where high-wheeled coaches with double horse teams rumbled through several times weekly during the 1800s. Today the park offers a peaceful retreat featuring diverse recreational opportunities from fishing and boating to camping and hiking through luxuriant forests that have reclaimed the former agricultural lands.