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Pearl Lake, Illinois
Depths to: 85 feet (26 m) Visibility: 10-40 feet (3-12 m) Water
temperature: Ranges from the lows 40s Fahrenheit (4-6 degrees Celsius) in
the spring and fall to 70 F Marine life: Smallmouth and largemouth bass, walleye, yellow perch, bluegill, channel catfish and freshwater jellyfish. Fees: $15 for divers which includes admission to the swimming beach when open; $7 for nondivers. Air fills cost $7. On-site amenities: Dive center (tanks and air fills available), swimming beach, Pearl Lake Supper Club restaurant, beach bar in swimming area, and campground for tent and RV campers. More info: Call (815) 389-1479. Open: In October, weekends only, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to dusk on Sunday. From April through September, the site is open from 8 a.m. to dusk Sunday through Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Getting there:
From Rockford/Chicago, take Interstate 90 north to South Beloit Exit No. 1,
then west on Highway 75/51. Immediately after the intersection with Highway
251, turn left (south) on Dearborn Avenue (frontage road). The Pearl Lake
entrance will be about three-fourths of a mile on the right. |
At
the Illinois/Wisconsin state line, north of Rockford, Illinois, the onetime
sand and gravel pit offers 30 acres of clear water, plus swimming, camping
and dining facilities, making the spot a recreation destination. New divers
find the site especially friendly, with a dozen training platforms within
20-25 feet (6-7.5 m) of water. Underwater attractions include a school bus,
Beechcraft twin-engine airplane, cabin cruiser, and a 33-foot yellow
submarine, which is a scaled-down version of a World War II U-boat. A c-card
is required.
