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Camping and Hiking in Illinois
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Johnson-Sauk Trail State Park
Johnson-Sauk Trail State Park is located in a part of Illinois
that was a vast shallow sea millions of years ago. Two glaciers
covered this part of Illinois, the last being the Wisconsinian
Glacier, which shaped the land as we know it today. The Chief
Keokuk Campground features 68 pads with electrical hook-ups for
trailers (Class A camping), plus 25 tent sites (Class C
camping). There is a shower building on site. A sanitary dump
station is near the camping area. In addition, there are two
sites available for youth group camping. Johnson-Sauk Trail has
10 to 15 miles of trails, ranging from 1/4 mile to 1 1/2 miles
in length, from easy to moderate and taking hikers along the
lake or through land ranging from rolling prairie to pine
plantations and bottomland hardwood forests, so even the
pickiest of hikers should find a trail to his or her liking. If
added miles are desired, the trails have been designed to
connect so you can link one to another. For information call:
(309)853-5589
Goose Lake Prairie Natural Area
Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area is a study in contrasts.
Tall Grass Nature Trail displays the largest stand of tall grass
prairie remaining in Illinois. Marsh Loop Trail shows the ponds
and marshes that resulted from the 1890 decision by local
farmers to drain Goose Lake. Prairie View Trail takes you to the
highest point in Goose Lake Prairie - a strip mine spoil mound -
and offers a panoramic view of reclaimed mine areas, prairie and
prairie marsh. One of the best ways to experience Goose Lake
Prairie is to hit the trails. With 7 miles of hiking trails
including a floating bridge, you'll have ample opportunity for
viewing the plants and animals that make the area unique.
Prairie View Trail, with 3.5 miles of moderate hiking, goes
along a prairie and through a prairie restoration. As its name
implies, Prairie View gives you an overview of the prairie.
Visible are strip mine reclamation areas, low-lying marshes.
You'll also note two power plants outside Goose Lake Prairie's
borders. Nearby, Heidecke Lake, whose hunting and fishing
programs are managed by the state, serves as a cooling pond for
the Collins Station Plant. Tall Grass Nature Trail is a
self-guiding trek that winds through the prairie and the trail's
trademark grasses of big bluestem and Indian grass, which can
get to be 8 feet in height. Depending on the route you decide to
take, the trail can be 1 or 3.5 miles long. One loop offers a
hard-packed, wheelchair-accessible surface. The half-mile Marsh
Loop Trail is located within the nature preserve and lets you
see the effects of a turn-of-the-century attempt to gain more
farmland by draining Goose Lake: farmers found the drained land,
which remained very wet even after the draining, was suitable
only for grazing livestock, and some acreage couldn't even be
used for that. Keep in mind that one of the major reasons why
Goose Lake Prairie survived was that it was generally far too
wet to plant crops on. The marsh here was helped along by the
decision to drain the lake, and today is home to all kinds of
wetlands wildlife. Trails are available for cross-country skiing
in the winter. Check the visitor center for maps. For
information call: (815)942-2899
Middle Fork State Fish and Wildlife Area
The area consists of 2,700 acres of grass, forest and cropland,
and provides excellent wildlife habitat. There are 35 miles of
marked scenic equestrian, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling
trails in the Middle Fork State Fish & Wildlife Area, and nine
miles of designated hiking trails are available at nearby
Kickapoo State Park. All marked trails are accessible from the
parking lot near the office at 2400N, just off Road 900E. The
Middle Fork State Fish & Wildlife area has Class C, D, and
equestrian camping facilities. Other classes of camping also are
available at nearby Kickapoo State Park. The state park
facilities are readily accessible from the Kickapoo canoe
take-out point at the park's west entrance. Kickapoo is located
five miles south of the Middle Fork State Fish & Wildlife Area.
For information call: (217)442-4915
Washington County Conservation Area
Wildlife abounds in the Washington County Conservation Area
located four miles south of Nashville in southern Illinois.
Visitors will marvel at the sight of rabbit, quail, squirrel,
dove, deer and woodcock among the stands of pines, brushy draws
and fallow fields. The beautiful Washington County Lake makes
this site a special place for relaxing or fishing. Whether
boating on its 248 acres, or fishing or hiking its 13-mile
shoreline, the lake offers a perfect opportunity for family fun.
Whether camping, hunting, fishing, boating, hiking or
picnicking, you will find Washington County Conservation Area
has what you are looking for. Enjoying the out-of-doors is easy
with tent and trailer spaces readily accessible. Electricity and
disposal are available for trailers. A shower building is also
located in the camping area. For an invigorating walk, a
seven-mile-long, marked trail is available. This trail circles
the lake and hikers can enjoy viewing the majestic trees,
beautiful wildflowers or the numerous birds and animals residing
in the area. For information call: (618)327-3137
The Cache River State Natural Area
This large state-owned and managed area is 11,768 acres and is
composed of two distinct management units, including the Little
Black Slough and the Lower Cache, situated on the Cache River in
Johnson and Pulaski counties. Little Black Slough lies on the
Upper Cache River north of Belknap, while Lower Cache is along
the stretch of Lower Cache River from Karnak to Perks. The main
objective at Cache River State Natural Area is to preserve,
protect and enhance the natural resources while providing the
opportunity for quality outdoor recreation. Critical habitat is
managed to preserve and protect endangered, threatened and rare
plants and animals. In addition, three areas have been dedicated
as Illinois Nature Preserves to ensure permanent protection of
examples of some of the outstanding natural communities
characteristic of deep southern Illinois. Compatible outdoor
recreational uses include sightseeing, birding, hiking, hunting,
fishing and canoeing. The area is also available for scientific
research and educational use by permit. There are 18 miles of
designated foot trails on the Cache River State Natural Area.
Mileage is figured on roundtrip distance totals. For information
call: (618)634-9678
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