Edward R. Madigan State Fish and Wildlife Area | Fox Ridge State Park | Kennekuk County Park | Kickapoo State Park and Recreation Area | Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve and Middle Fork River Forest Preserve | Mill Creek Park | Shelbyville State Fish and Wildlife Area | Eagle Creek State Recreation Area/Wolf Creek State Park
Edward R. Madigan State Fish and Wildlife Area
RIVER: Lake Fork and Salt Creek
WHAT TO DO: Biking, canoeing, fishing hiking, picnicking, and wildlife viewing
ADDRESS: 1366 1010th Avenue, Lincoln, IL 62656 217/732-1552
WEBSITE: www.dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/parks/r4/EDMAD.HTM
NEARBY SUPPLIES: Scheells Sports, 3801 South MacArthur Blvd., Springfield, IL 62711, 217/726-6330
Edward R. Madigan State Fish and Wildlife Area lies along Salt Creek just south of the City of Lincoln. Full of duck, quail, and pheasant, the park offers bird watching in a pristine habitat. The park also houses a canoe launch with a popular mid-length trail to Rocky Ford Bridge as well as fishing along the banks of Salt Creek.
Fox Ridge State Park
RIVER: Embarras River
WHAT TO DO: Boating, camping, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, picnicking, and wildlife viewing
ADDRESS: 18175 State Park Road, Charleston, IL 61920 217/345-6416
WEBSITE: dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/parks/r3/fox/fox.htm
NEARBY SUPPLIES: Prairie Outfitters Inc., 930 18th Street, Charleston, IL 61920-2939, Phone: 217/348-6770
Fox Ridge State Park offers a wide variety of outdoor recreation on the banks of the Embarras River. The 2,000 acre, family friendly natural area is equipped with a picnic ground, rest rooms, running water, and Class A campsites available by reservation. Two canoe launches allow river recreation enthusiasts the opportunity to paddle 5 miles of the Embarras, or angle for catfish, bluegill, and bass, which is allowed in river and by reservation on Ridge Lake. 9 miles of trail meander through the park, including long stretches along the bluffs beside the banks of the river itself, offering excellent wildlife viewing and scenic overlooks.
Kennekuk County Park
RIVER: Middle Fork River
WHAT TO DO: Hiking, fishing, boating, canoeing, biking, picnicking, hayrides, mushroom hunting, and wildlife viewing
ADDRESS: 22296-A Henning Road, Danville, IL 61834 217/442-1691
WEBSITE: www.vccd.org/gikennekuk.html
NEARBY SUPPLIES:
Champaign Surplus, 303 S Neil Street, Champaign, IL 61820, +1 877 480 HIKE (4453)
Wild Country Outfitters, 2012 N Prospect Rd, Champaign, IL 61822, 217/351-4754
Fishing on the Middle Fork River on a series of lakes and ponds, or canoeing along the Middle Fork National Scenic River, Kennekuk houses some of the finest riverine opportunities in East Central Illinois. Just north of Danville, the area is part of a complex of parks in the area protecting wildlife along the Middle Fork which includes Middle Fork State Wildlife Area and Kickapoo State Park. The myriad of recreation opportunities and 17.5 miles of accessible trails and facilities make Kennekuk a prime spot for outdoor and riverine recreation.
Kickapoo State Park and Recreation Area
RIVER: Middle Fork River
WHAT TO DO: Boating, camping, canoeing, cross-country skiing, fishing, hiking and running, horseback riding, tubing, mountain biking, scuba diving, wildlife viewing, and winter sports
ADDRESS: 10906 Kickapoo Park Road, Oakwood, IL 61858 217/442-4915
WEBSITE: www.dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/parks/r3/kickapoo.htm
NEARBY SUPPLIES:
Champaign Surplus, 303 S Neil Street, Champaign, IL 61820, +1 877 480 HIKE (4453)
Wild Country Outfitters, 2012 N Prospect Rd, Champaign, IL 61822, 217/351-4754
Kickapoo Landing (canoe/kayak/tube rental, fishing and hiking supplies, live music and restaurant), located within Kickapoo State Park, 217/446-8399
Resting on an area reclaimed from a former strip mine, Kickapoo State Park and Recreation Area has been nursed back to ecological health under the watchful eye of the State of Illinois and concerned citizens from the surrounding region. Nearby Kickapoo Landing offers canoe and kayak rentals, as fishing and hiking supply, and a restaurant along the banks of the Vermillion’s Middle Fork, a State and National Scenic River. Thunder Wolf Trail Rides rents horses for use on Kickapoo’s equestrian trails. Also unique to Kickapoo is scuba diving, allowed in the park’s lakes and ponds, as well as snowmobiling and cross-country skiing in winter. The site also houses nearly 200 campsites, some with electrical hookup, some more rustic. Kickapoo is home to 12 miles of mountain bike trails of varying difficulty.
Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve and Middle Fork River Forest Preserve
RIVERS: Sangamon River, Lake of the Woods, Vermillion River Middle Fork
WHAT TO DO: Biking, boating, educational programs, fishing, golfing, hiking, cultural and natural museum, pedal boats, picnicking, cross-country skiing, sledding, and wildlife viewing
ADDRESS: Main Entrance- 109 S Lake of the Woods Rd Mahomet IL, 61853 217/586-3360
WEBSITES: www.ccfpd.org/Preserves/LakeoftheWoods.html
NEARBY SUPPLIES:
Champaign Surplus, 303 S Neil Street, Champaign, IL 61820, +1 877 480 HIKE (4453)
Wild Country Outfitters, 2012 N Prospect Rd, Champaign, IL 61822, 217/351-4754
A pair of natural havens, Middle Fork River Forest Preserve plays host to a 65- site campground and waterfowl management area, while Lake of the Woods offers access to a botanical garden, cultural and natural museum, golf course, and summer youth programs. Combined with a number of aquatic recreation opportunities including angling and boating in the lake and rivers, the two CCFPD managed areas offer comprehensive, family-friendly experiences just a few miles apart. Pedal boats and kayaks are available for rental on-site at the Lake of the Woods, while the avid canoeist or kayaker can float along the area’s calm corridor of the Sangamon River. Though the waterfowl management area of Middle Fork is closed March-June, the parks both offer extensive trails during fair-weather, as well as running and still water for fishing and boating (contact sites for details.) Open in fall and winter as well, cross-country skiing and sledding are possible at either park for year-round outdoor opportunities.
Mill Creek Park
RIVERS: Mill Creek, Mill Creek Lake
WHAT TO DO: Biking, boating, camping, hiking, horseback riding, off-roading, picnicking, and wildlife viewing
ADDRESS: 20482 N. Park Entrance Rd, Marshall, IL 62441
Office – 217/889-3901 Gatehouse – 217/889-3601
WEBSITE: www.clarkcountyparkdistrict.com/
NEARBY SUPPLIES: Wal-Mart in Marshall, 108 Kyden Dr., Marshall, IL 62441, 217/826-8061
Mill Creek Park is an accommodating county park located close to Marshall, IL, near the eastern border of Illinois. Spreading over 2,600 acres, the park offers a wide variety of activities featuring 8 miles of trails accessible by foot or bike, 6-8 miles of equestrian trails, and 15 miles for ATVs. Lake fishing is popular at the park and camping of all sorts can be had at over 100 Class A campgrounds with adjacent recreation areas. Primitive camping and cabin rentals are also available. A boat launch is located on site, and pontoon and kayak rentals are available through the park. Keep an eye out for a resident pair of eagles nesting in the park, as well as a diverse array of migrating waterfowl that utilize Mill Creek Park on their annual migrations.
Shelbyville State Fish and Wildlife Area
RIVERS: Kaskaskia River, West Okaw River, Lake Shelbyville
WHAT TO DO: Boating, fishing, hiking, and wildlife viewing
ADDRESS: 562 State Hwy 121, Bethany, IL 61914 217/665-3112
WEBSITE: dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/parks/r3/shelby.htm
NEARBY SUPPLIES/LODGING: Kaskaskia River Camp (canoe rentals), Phone: 217/774-4721
Separated into two distinct areas along the Kaskaskia and West Okaw Rivers, Shelbyville State Fish and Wildlife Area is a conservation area situated toward the northern reaches of Central Illinois’ Lake Shelbyville region. The park is especially notable as an oasis of nature amid east-central Illinois’ “corn prairie.” It is home to diverse riparian and upland habitats, encompassing everything from hardwood forest to restored prairie. Visitors can immerse themselves in these areas on miles of nature trails, enjoy the water in canoes or larger boat, and yet still remain close to modern conveniences and amenities offered in the many towns and resorts that surround the Lake. 5 miles of the Kaskaskia are open to canoes when the water sits at safe levels, and a fishing license is required to fish on the lake or river.
Eagle Creek State Recreation Area/Wolf Creek State Park
RIVERS: Access to Eagle Creek, Wolf Creek, Kaskaskia River, Lake Shelbyville
WHAT TO DO: Archery, boating, camping, canoeing, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, picnicking, swimming, snowmobiling, and wildlife viewing
ADDRESS: R.R. 1 Box 198-B, Findlay, IL 62534 217/756-8260
WEBSITE: dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/parks/R3/EAGLECRK.HTM
NEARBY SUPPLIES: D & M Family Fashions & Sport Center, 1303 South Hamilton St., Sullivan, IL 61951, 217/728-8060
Straddling the banks of the northern inlet to Lake Shelbyville, Eagle Creek and Wolf Creek comprise thousands of acres of forest and bottomland habitat indigenous to Illinois. Besides excellent wildlife viewing, the site plays houses numerous streams feeding Lake Shelbyville brimming with a range of fish including crappie, bass, walleye, and catfish. Equine and walking trails wind through carefully managed day-use areas, and a large public boat launch enables easy access to the lake and creeks. Visitors can stay at Class A, B/S, C, or D campsites.