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Old Channel Wood River

Wood River · East Alton, Illinois — Madison County.

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7.7Surface acres

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 42878270).

Nearest airports

The closest airport with scheduled passenger flights to Old Channel Wood River, plus larger airports within about 150 miles:

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Airports with scheduled airline service from OurAirports (large and medium airports); larger airports are FAA large, medium and small hubs by FAA CY2025 enplanements ("major airport" = FAA large hub). Distances are straight-line from the lake's center, not driving distance; road routes are longer.

Location & fast facts

Where Old Channel Wood River is in Illinois

The red circle marks Old Channel Wood River.

Fast facts

About Old Channel Wood River

  • County: Madison
  • Cities & towns on the shore: Wood River, East Alton
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 68 mi from Springfield and 92 mi from Carbondale, straight-line (not driving distance)

Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline (Illinois: incorporated places touching the lake, otherwise the nearest one).

Fishing in Illinois

Official IDNR pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.

Good for & watch for

Good for

  • Camping. 9 campgrounds within 15 mi (list)

Watch for

    Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.

    Lake map

    Old Channel Wood River shoreline

    0.1 mileN

    No public access sites are listed for this water in the OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used) data.

    Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 42878270), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

    Campgrounds near Old Channel Wood River

    We found 9 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Old Channel Wood River, 3 of them within 5 miles. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

    3 more within 15 miles

    All campgrounds & RV parks in Illinois

    Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.

    Campground data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.

    Conditions right now

    Air temperature & conditions (nearest NWS station)Loading…
    Fetching the latest National Weather Service observation…

    Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (38.8648, -90.1156). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Old Channel Wood River. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.

    Sun, moon & best fishing times

    Sun & moon at Old Channel Wood River

    Best fishing times

    Major periodMinor periodDaylight

      Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in CT (America/Chicago), and accurate to within a few minutes.

      Contact & official info

      Questions about Old Channel Wood River

      How big is Old Channel Wood River?

      Old Channel Wood River covers about 8 acres in Wood River and East Alton, Illinois (Madison County).

      Are there campgrounds near Old Channel Wood River?

      Yes. We list 9 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 3 of them within 5 miles.

      What towns are on Old Channel Wood River?

      Old Channel Wood River touches Wood River and East Alton in Madison County, Illinois.

      Share a tip or fishing report

      Know Old Channel Wood River? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).

      Lakes & ponds nearby

      Straight-line distance between lake centers. All Illinois lakes & ponds · All waters in Wood River