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The State of Illinois has a multitude of parks available to the public. In fact, the parks department has actually broken the state up into five regions. They are:
Region 1 – Northwest area of the state.
Apple River Canyon State Park
Located at 8763 E. Canyon Road, Apple River Illinois
Apple River Canyon is a 297-acre park that was purchased by the state in 1932. It is a scenic area that was formed by the waters of the Apple River. There is Limestone bluffs, deep ravines, clear water springs and streams and a multitude of various kinds of wildlife. The park offers picnicking, camping, fishing and hiking trails. No swimming or boating of the river is allowed.
Argyle Lake State Park
Located at 640 Argyle Park Rd. Colchester, IL 62326
The 1,700-acre Argyle Lake State Park was purchased by the state in 1948. After purchase a dam was erected which created the lake. Located just 7 miles from Macomb, the park offers a 93-acre lake for boating and fishing and five miles of trails through beautiful virgin forests. Amenities include camping, picnicking and boating facilities. There is also a concession stand, dining room, canoes, boat and horseback riding available. They do have an area for the purchase of bait and fishing supplies.
Lake Le Aqua Na State Park
Located at 8542 North Lake Rd. Lena, IL 61048
The Park was started as a land acquisition program in 1948. It consists of 715 acres of land and a 40-acre lake. Visitors can take advantage of the camping, boating, fishing, swimming, hunting and equestrian facilities. For the patient animal watchers, there are even badgers to be found. Visitors are allowed to bring pets, but they must be kept on a leash at all times.
Region 2 – Northeast area of the state.
Chain of Lakes State Park
Located at 8916 Wilmot Rd., Spring Grove, IL 60081
This 2,793-acre park with its adjacent 3,230-acre conservation area is located in the middle of Illinois’ largest group of natural lakes. The park boarders the Grass, Marie and Nippersink lakes and the Fox River that connects to seven other lakes. These seven additional lakes are the Bluff, Fox, Pistakee, Channel, Petite, Catherine and Redhead. Located just sixty miles northwest of Chicago and twenty miles west of Lake Michigan it offers 6,500 acres of water. Visitors can rent bicycles, canoes, boats, horses and tents. Also available are picnic, camping, hunting, handicapped facilities and fishing. There is a concession stand available.
Kankakee River State Park
Mailing address is P.O. Box 37,Bourbonnais, IL 60914
Kankakee Park consists of about 4,000 acres. The Kankakee river flows through its center for about 11 miles. The park is located just 6 miles northwest of Kankakee and is easily accessed by IL. Routs 103 and 113. A favorite place for hunters, Kankakee Pare allows bow hunting for deer but duck, pheasant, woodcock, dove, rabbit, squirrel, fox, coyote and raccoon can be had with a firearm. Hunters are urged to contact the park for dates, shooting times, and areas that are open for hunting. Besides hunting, fishing, canoeing, camping, picnicking, hiking, and horse back riding is available. Horses can be rented at the site and guided tours are available. Historians may enjoy checking out several of the prehistoric sites located in the park. There is a concession stand also available for visitors.
Moraine Hills State Park
Located at 914 S. River Road, McHenry, IL 60050
Moraine Hills State Park is made up of 1,690 acres, with about half of that being wetlands. The Fox River and McHenry Dam border one side. The park was donated to the state in 1924 and has 48 acre lake located in its center. Nature lovers can find an abundance of wild life in the park while water lovers can enjoy boating (rentals available) and fishing from the pier. Picnic facilities, biking and hiking trails are available and skiing is permitted. For the convenience of visitors there is a concession stand available.
Region 3 – Eastern central area of the state.
Eagle Creek/Wolf Creek State Parks
Mailing address is P.O. Box 16, Findlay, IL, 62534
The Eagle Creek/Wolf Creek State Parks are located within minutes of Springfield, Decatur and Champaign. With 11,000 acre Lake Shelbyville situated between the two parks there is plenty of attractions for visitors. The large tracts of indigenous woodland ensure hikers, horseback riders, snowmobilers and nature lovers a beautiful setting and enjoyable visit. Fishing, water skiing, pontoon boating, camping, picnicking and windsurfing are all allowed. Children and adults will both enjoy watching the large herds of deer that in habit the area.
Kickapoo State Park
Located at 10906 Kickapoo Park Road, Oakwood, IL 61858
The park area was purchased by the state in 1939 and was the first in the nation built on strip-mined land. The scars of the past have been mostly erased with lush forests and twenty-two beautiful crystal clear ponds. These ponds vary in size from .2 of an acre to 57 acres and provide an enjoyable area for boating, canoeing, fishing and even scuba diving while nature lovers can enjoy the trees, wildflowers, birds and wide variety of wildlife. Those wanting to stay can picnic or even camp overnight. Kickapoo State Park is located near Danville and can easily be reached by I-74.
Weldon Springs State Park
Located on R.R. 2, Box 87, Clinton, IL 62727
Weldon Springs State Park is a 425-acre park located near Clinton. Those that enjoy water sports will find a 29-acre spring fed lake for boating and fishing on or off the pier. Boaters need to be aware that only electric motors may be used. For those needing a boat, rentals are available. Other amenities include picnic and camping areas, hiking trails, horseshoe pits and two outdoor amphitheaters. During the winter months visitors can enjoy sledding, tobogganing, ice fishing and cross-country skiing. There are handicapped facilities available as well as a concession stand.
Region 4 – Western central area of the state.
Beaver Dam State Park
Located at 14548 Beaver Dam Lane, Plainview, Illinois 62685
Beaver Dam State Park was part of the land acquisition program in 1947. Its original 425 original acres has now grown to 751. It is a combination of upland and bottomland woods, farmland, open fields, a lake and a marsh that provide habitat for many kinds of animals for nature lovers. A few of the possible animals a patient observer might see are deer, fox, raccoons, white and gray squirrels, wild turkeys, hawks, owls and a host of woodpeckers and songbirds. Nature watching isn’t the only attraction at Beaver Dam. There are camping and picnic sites, a 59-acre lake for anglers who love to catch largemouth bass, bluegill, sunfish and channel catfish, as well as hiking trails, an archery range and a playground for the youngsters. During the winter visitors can enjoy ice fishing, ice-skating, cross-country skiing and sledding.
Nauvoo State Park
Mailing address is P.O. Box 426, Nauvoo, IL 62354
Nauvoo is a Hebrew name that means beautiful place. Before a treaty in 1824, the land belonged to the Fox Indians and they called it Quashquema, which means peaceful place. These two names should give the visitor an idea about the quiet beauty of the park. Nauvoo is a 148-acre park on Illinois Route 96 and includes a 13-acre lake with over a mile of shoreline. The usual water activities of fishing and boating are allowed but there is only a primitive boat launch available. Boaters should also be aware that only electric motors are allowed. There are hiking trails, a museum and aenjoy variety of wild life as well. Visitors should keep pets on a leash and warn children not to approach the black critters with the white stripes as the trip back home may not be as pleasant when the odor of skunk abounds. The Nauvoo Grape Festival is held annually over Labor Day weekend.
Siloam Springs State Park
Located at R.R. 1, Box 204, Clayton, IL 62324
Siloam Springs State Park is a 3,323-acre park that is reportedly one of the most beautiful in the entire state. It has a lake and plenty of woods that make for an enjoyable time spent hiking, bird watching, hunting, fishing, camping, boating or picnicking. Those who enjoy seeing wildflowers in nature will love the wild roses, black-eyed Susans, snapdragons and indigo plants. Campers will enjoy the benefits of well cared for campgrounds, showers, restrooms and a concession stand. Fishermen will be required to acquire an Illinois fishing license and stamp, which can be purchased at the park but they will find the lake well stocked with largemouth bass, bluegill, redear and green sunfish, carp, crappie, channel catfish and rainbow trout. Horseback riding trails and a place to keep a horse are available but not horse rentals.
Region 5 – Southern area of the state.
Cave-In-Rock State Park
Located at Box 338, New State Park Rd. Cave-In-Rock, IL 62919
Cave-In-Rock State Park is bordered by the Ohio River for nearly a mile. It 204-acres and is about one-quarter mile northeast of Cave-In-Rock and can be accessed from Route 1. There is a panoramic view of the river from 60-foot-high hills and rugged bluffs as well a beautiful wooded area. A Frenchman named M.de Lery in 1729 first wrote of the “cave in the rock” and it became something of a curiosity site for the local inhabitants. After the American Revolution it became home to pirates, who laid in wait for travelers along the Ohio River. Today the pirates are gone but the cave remains and visitors can enjoy the Cave-in-Rock indoor/outdoor restaurant and available guesthouses that features large bedroom and private patio decks. For those wanting to explore there are established hiking trails, four large covered picnic areas as well as several open areas at different locations in the park. Boaters will be interested in the overnight moorage, visitor docks, free launch areas, bait and tackle shop as well as a marine service and repair shop. There are also three playgrounds available for the children.
Fort Massac State Park
Located at 1308 E. 5th Street, Metropolis, IL 62960
The 1,450-acre Fort Massac State Park was the first park opened to the public in 1908 as result of the efforts of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The park offers historians a rare treat in the form of a replica of the fort that was located on the site in 1794. There is a museum with archive photos, period clothing and numerous artifacts. There are also the sites of different archeological digs. During the year there are routinely eleven weekends when the park offers living history re-enactments, which allow the visitor to observe pioneer life during the 1700’s. For those who don’t care for history, there is the unbelievably beautiful scenery, camping, picnicking, hiking trails, boating and even seasonal hunting.
The sites mentioned above are just a few of the over one hundred parks and recreational areas available in the State of Illinois. For more information, contact the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs, Bureau of Tourism.
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