List of protected areas of Illinois facts for kids
Map of Protected Areas of Illinois Each dot is linked to the corresponding article: ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Illinois is home to many special places that are protected for everyone to enjoy! These include over 123 state-protected areas, many federal areas, and hundreds of local parks. Some spots in Illinois are even important enough to be recognized around the world. All these different protected areas work together to offer lots of fun activities and help save nature. For example, DeKalb County has a large forest preserve system and a big state park (Shabbona Lake State Park). The city of DeKalb also has its own park system.
Contents
Illinois' State Protected Areas
Illinois has many different types of protected areas owned by the state. These include state parks, state forests, state recreation areas, state fish and wildlife areas, and state natural areas. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources manages most of these places. There are also state historic sites, which are looked after by the Illinois Historic Preservation Division.
What are State Historic Sites?
State historic sites protect important historical and cultural places. Sometimes, they also help preserve nature. Good examples are Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site and Lincoln's New Salem.
Exploring Illinois State Parks
State parks are special places owned by the state and usually managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. These parks are chosen because they have amazing scenery and natural features. They offer many fun activities for people to enjoy!
Park Name | County | Size (acres) | Size (km2) | Opened | Water Bodies | Image | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adeline Jay Geo-Karis Illinois Beach State Park | Lake | 4,160 | 16.8 | 1948 | Lake Michigan | ||
Apple River Canyon State Park | Jo Daviess | 297 | 1.20 | 1932 | Apple River | ||
Argyle Lake State Park | McDonough | 1,700 | 6.9 | 1948 | Argyle Lake | ||
Beaver Dam State Park | Macoupin | 750 | 3.0 | 1947 | Beaver Dam Lake | ||
Castle Rock State Park | Ogle | 2,000 | 8.1 | 1921 | Rock River | ||
Cave-in-Rock State Park | Hardin | 204 | 0.83 | 1929 | Ohio River | ||
Chain O'Lakes State Park | McHenry | 1,700 | 6.9 | 1945 | Many lakes and the Fox River | ||
Channahon State Park | Will | 20.5 | 0.083 | 1932 | DuPage River, Des Plaines River, Kankakee River | ||
Dixon Springs State Park | Pope | 801 | 3.24 | 1946 | Wabash River | ||
Ferne Clyffe State Park | Johnson | 2,430 | 9.8 | 1949 | Ferne Clyffe Lake | ||
Fort Massac State Park | Massac | 1,450 | 5.9 | 1908 | Ohio River | ||
Fox Ridge State Park | Coles | 2,064 | 8.35 | 1930s | Ridge Lake, Embarras River | ||
Gebhard Woods State Park | Grundy | 30 | 0.12 | 1934 | Nettle Creek | ||
Giant City State Park | Jackson, Union | 1,100 | 4.5 | 1927 | Little Grassy Lake, Indian Creek | ||
Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park | Bureau, Lee, Whiteside, Rock Island, Henry | 60,314 | 244.08 | 1970 | Hennepin Canal | A long, narrow park (about 104.5 miles) | |
Horseshoe Lake State Park | Madison | 2,960 | 12.0 | ? | Horseshoe Lake | ||
Illini State Park | LaSalle | 510 | 2.1 | 1934 | Illinois River | ||
Johnson-Sauk Trail State Park | Henry | 1,365 | 5.52 | ? | Johnson-Sauk Trail Lake | ||
Jubilee College State Park | Peoria | 3,200 | 13 | 1933 | Jubilee Creek | ||
Kankakee River State Park | Kankakee, Will | 4,000 | 16 | 1938 | Kankakee River | ||
Lake Murphysboro State Park | Jackson | 1,022 | 4.14 | 1948 | Lake Murphysboro | ||
Lincoln Trail State Park | Clark | 1,023 | 4.14 | 1958 | Lincoln Trail Lake | ||
Lowden State Park | Ogle | 207 | 0.84 | 1945 | Rock River | ||
Matthiessen State Park | LaSalle | 1,700 | 6.9 | 1943 | Deer Park Lake, Vermilion River | ||
Mississippi Palisades State Park | Carroll | 2,500 | 10 | 1973 | Mississippi River, Apple River | ||
Moraine Hills State Park | McHenry | 2,200 | 8.9 | 1939 | Lake Defiance, Fox River | ||
Morrison-Rockwood State Park | Whiteside | 1,164 | 4.71 | 1971 | Rock Creek, Lake Carlton | ||
Nauvoo State Park | Hancock | 148 | 0.60 | ? | Mississippi River, Lake Horton | ||
Pere Marquette State Park | Jersey | 8,050 | 32.6 | 1931 | Mississippi River, Illinois River | ||
Red Hills State Park | Lawrence | 967 | 3.91 | 1953 | Muddy Creek | ||
Rock Cut State Park | Winnebago | 3,092 | 12.51 | 1957 | Pierce Lake, Olson Lake | ||
Rock Island Trail State Park | Stark, Peoria | 1989 | None | A 26-mile public rail trail. | |||
Shabbona Lake State Park | DeKalb | 1,550 | 6.3 | 1978 | Shabbona Lake | ||
Starved Rock State Park | LaSalle | 2,630 | 10.6 | 1911 | Illinois River |
State Fish and Wildlife Areas: Protecting Animals and Nature
These areas are mainly set aside to protect fish and wildlife. They also allow activities like hunting, fishing, trapping, and observing animals.
Area Name | County | Size (acres) | Size (km2) | Opened | Water Bodies | Image | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Anderson Lake State Fish & Wildlife Area | Fulton | 2,247 | 9.09 | 1947 | Anderson Lake | ||
Baldwin Lake State Fish & Wildlife Area | Randolph | 2,018 | 8.17 | ? | Baldwin Lake | ||
Banner Marsh State Fish and Wildlife Area | Fulton | 4,363 | 17.66 | 1980s | Illinois River | ||
Carlyle Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area | Fayette | 37,000 | 150 | 1966 | Carlyle Lake | ||
Des Plaines Fish and Wildlife Area | Will | 5,000 | 20 | 1948 | Kankakee River, Milliken Lake | ||
Green River State Wildlife Area | Lee | 2,565 | 10.38 | 1940 | Green River | ||
Horseshoe Lake State Fish & Wildlife Area | Alexander | 10,200 | 41 | ? | Horseshoe Lake | ||
Iroquois County State Wildlife Area | Iroquois | 2,480 | 10.0 | 1944 | None | This area is on the edge of what used to be Glacial Lake Watseka. | |
Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area | Cass | 16,550 | 67.0 | June 1993 | Gridley Lake, Prairie Lake, Drake Lake | ||
Kaskaskia River State Fish & Wildlife Area | St. Clair, Monroe, Randolph | 20,000 | 81 | ? | Kaskaskia River, Baldwin Lake | ||
Kinkaid Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area | Jackson | 11,750 | 47.6 | 1968 | Kinkaid Lake, Johnson Creek, Reed Creek | ||
Kishwaukee River State Fish and Wildlife Area | DeKalb | 570 | 2.3 | 2002 | Kishwaukee River | ||
Marshall State Fish & Wildlife Area | Marshall | 6,000 | 24 | 1925 | Illinois River | ||
Mermet Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area | Massac | 2,630 | 10.6 | 1949 | Mermet Lake | ||
Middle Fork State Fish and Wildlife Area | Vermilion | 2,700 | 11 | 1986 | Middle Fork | ||
Mississippi River State Fish and Wildlife Area | Jersey, Calhoun | 24,386 | 98.69 | ? | Stump Lake, Fuller Lake | ||
Newton Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area | Jasper | 1,775 | 7.18 | 1979 | Newton Lake, Sand Creek, Laws Creek | ||
Rend Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area | Franklin, Jefferson | 38,900 | 157 | ? | Rend Lake | ||
Rice Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area | Fulton | 5,660 | 22.9 | 1945 | Rice Lake | ||
Saline County State Fish and Wildlife Area | Saline | 1,270 | 5.1 | 1959 | Glen O. Jones Lake | ||
Sam Dale Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area | Wayne | 1,302 | 5.27 | 1959 | Sam Dale Lake | ||
Sam Parr State Fish and Wildlife Area | Jasper | 1,180 | 4.8 | 1960 | |||
Sanganois State Fish and Wildlife Area | Cass, Schuyler, Mason | 10,360 | 41.9 | 1948 | |||
Shelbyville State Fish and Wildlife Area | Moultrie | 6,200 | 25 | ? | Kaskaskia River, West Okaw River | ||
Silver Springs State Fish & Wildlife Area | Kendall | 1,350 | 5.5 | 1969 | Fox River, Loon Lake, Beaver Lake, Silver Springs | ||
Snakeden Hollow State Fish and Wildlife Area | Knox | 2,500 | 10 | 1987 | Snakeden Hollow Lake | ||
Spring Lake Fish and Wildlife Area | Tazewell | 2,032 | 8.22 | 1950 | Spring Lake | ||
Ten Mile Creek State Fish & Wildlife Area | Hamilton, Jefferson | 6,000 | 24 | 1988 | Ten Mile Creek | ||
Union County State Fish and Wildlife Area | Union | 6,202 | 25.10 | 1940s | |||
Woodford State Fish and Wildlife Area | Woodford | 2,900 | 12 | Illinois River, Upper Peoria Lake |
State Recreation Areas: Fun for Everyone
These areas are designed for many types of outdoor fun and relaxation.
Area Name | County | Size (acres) | Size (km2) | Opened | Water Bodies | Image | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Clinton Lake State Recreation Area | DeWitt | 9,300 | 38 | 1978 | Clinton Lake, Salt Creek, Old Creek | ||
Eagle Creek State Recreation Area | Shelby | 11,100 | 45 | May 1963 | Lake Shelbyville, Eagle Creek | ||
Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area | Clinton | 3,000 | 12 | ? | Carlyle Lake, Lake Shelbyville | ||
Frank Holten State Recreation Area | St. Clair | 1,080 | 4.4 | 1964 | Whispering Willow Lake, Grand Marais Lake | ||
Kickapoo State Recreation Area | Vermilion | 2,842 | 11.50 | 1939 | Middle Fork | ||
Moraine View State Recreation Area | McLean | 1,687 | 6.83 | 1959 | Dawson Lake, Salt Creek | ||
Pyramid State Recreation Area | Perry | 19,701 | 79.73 | 1968 | Super Lake | ||
Ramsey Lake State Recreation Area | Fayette | 1,980 | 8.0 | ? | Ramsey Lake, Ramsey Creek | ||
Randolph County State Recreation Area | Randolph | 1,101 | 4.46 | 1958 | Randolph County Lake | ||
Sangchris Lake State Recreation Area | Christian, Sangamon | 3,022 | 12.23 | 1964 | Sangchris Lake | ||
Stephen A. Forbes State Recreation Area | Marion | 3,103 | 12.56 | 1959 | |||
Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area | Franklin, Jefferson | 3,300 | 13 | 1975 | Rend Lake, Big Muddy River | ||
Weldon Springs State Recreation Area | DeWitt | 550 | 2.2 | 1948 | Salt Creek |
State Natural Areas: Preserving Illinois' Wild Side
These areas are protected because they still have their original natural look, or they have special plants, animals, geology, or historical features.
Area Name | County | Size (acres) | Size (km2) | Opened | Water Bodies | Image | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cache River State Natural Area | Johnson | 14,314 | 57.93 | 1970 | Cache River | ||
Franklin Creek State Natural Area | Lee | 882 | 3.57 | 1982 | Franklin Creek | ||
Fults Hill Prairie State Natural Area | Monroe | 997 | 4.03 | 1970 | Kidd Lake | ||
Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area | Grundy | 2,537 | 10.27 | 1969 | Goose Lake, Des Plaines River, Kankakee River, Illinois River | ||
Illinois Caverns State Natural Area | Monroe | 120 | 0.49 | 1985 | None | This park has 9.6 km (about 6 miles) of underground passages! | |
Piney Creek Ravine State Natural Area | Jackson, Randolph | 198 | 0.80 | 1972 | Piney Creek | ||
Volo Bog State Natural Area | Lake | 1,150 | 4.7 | 1970 | Volo Bog |
Other State Protected Areas
Illinois also has state forests and trails for people to enjoy.
Area Name | County | Size (acres) | Size (km2) | Opened | Water Bodies | Image | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Big River State Forest | Henderson | 2,900 | 12 | 1925 | Mississippi River | ||
Hidden Springs State Forest | Shelby | 1,200 | 4.9 | 1960 | Richland Creek, Possum Creek | ||
Sand Ridge State Forest | Mason | 7,200 | 29 | 1939 | None | ||
Trail of Tears State Forest | Union | 5,114 | 20.70 | 1929 | Mississippi River, Clear Creek | ||
Tunnel Hill State Trail | Johnson, Pulaski, Saline, Williamson | None | This is a 45-mile long trail. | ||||
Wildlife Prairie Park | Peoria | 1,700 | 6.9 | 2000 | Deep Lake, Caboose Lake, Beaver Lake, Horseshoe Lake |
Federally Protected Areas in Illinois
The United States government also protects many areas in Illinois. These include a national forest, a national grassland, and several sites managed by the National Park Service. There are also special places called National Wildlife Refuges.
National Forests and Grasslands
- Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie - This is a huge grassland, about 25,000 acres.
- Shawnee National Forest - A very large forest, covering about 500,000 acres.
U.S. Wilderness Areas: Wild and Untouched
These are truly wild places within the Shawnee National Forest. They are managed to stay as natural as possible.
- Bald Knob Wilderness
- Bay Creek Wilderness
- Burden Falls Wilderness
- Clear Springs Wilderness
- Garden of the Gods Wilderness
- Lusk Creek Wilderness
- Panther Den Wilderness
- Crab Orchard Wilderness is inside the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Areas: Helping Wildlife Thrive
These refuges are important for protecting different kinds of wildlife.
- Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge
- Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge - About 43,500 acres, including the 4,050-acre Crab Orchard Wilderness.
- Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge
- Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge
- Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge
- Kankakee National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area
- Mark Twain National Wildlife Refuge Complex (parts are in Illinois)
- Meredosia National Wildlife Refuge
- Middle Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge
- Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge
- Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (parts are in Illinois)
National Park Service Sites: Preserving History
The National Park Service looks after important historical sites in Illinois:
- Lincoln Home National Historic Site in Springfield.
- Pullman National Historical Park in Chicago.
- New Philadelphia National Historic Site in Pike County.
- The Chicago Portage National Historic Site is connected to the National Park Service and is located in the Forest Preserve District of Cook County.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Managing Waterways
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages large lakes and waterways that are also used for recreation.
- Carlyle Lake - A big lake with 26,000 acres of water and 11,000 acres of public land.
- Illinois Waterway
- Lake Shelbyville - A large lake (11,100 acres) with 23,000 acres of land around it.
- Rend Lake - This lake has 18,900 acres of water and 20,000 acres of land.
Internationally Recognized Protected Areas
Some places in Illinois are so special that they are recognized around the world!
World Heritage Sites
One UNESCO World Heritage Site in Illinois is Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site. This ancient site is protected as a state historic site. Also, two buildings in Illinois designed by the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright are World Heritage Sites: Unity Temple and the Robie House. These are protected by local and federal groups.
Wetlands of International Importance
Illinois also has five wetland areas that are recognized as important wetlands under the Ramsar Convention. These wetlands are crucial for many plants and animals.
- Cache River-Cypress Creek Wetlands (includes Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge)
- Chiwaukee Prairie Illinois Beach Lake Plain (shared with Wisconsin)
- The Emiquon Complex (includes Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge)
- Sue and Wes Dixon Waterfowl Refuge
- The Upper Mississippi River Floodplain Wetlands (shared with Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin)
Local Parks and Preserves
Many counties and towns in Illinois have their own protected areas. These include city park districts and county-wide Forest Preserve or Conservation Districts. Even private groups own some protected lands.
One of the biggest local systems is the Forest Preserve District of Cook County. It includes places like Brookfield Zoo and the Chicago Botanic Garden, plus 70,000 acres of open land! That's about 11.6% of all the land in Cook County. In Illinois, counties can create these land-holding districts if voters approve. While not all 102 counties have done this, here are some that have:
- Boone County Conservation District - 4,000 acres
- Byron Forest Preserve District - 1,708 acres
- Champaign County Forest Preserve District - 4,000 acres
- Forest Preserve District of Cook County - 70,000 acres
- DeKalb County Forest Preserve - 4,000 acres
- Forest Preserve District of DuPage County - 26,000 acres
- Forest Preserve District of Kane County - 20,000 acres
- Forest Preserves of the Kankakee River Valley - 465 acres
- Kendall County Forest Preserve District - 2,663 acres
- Lake County Forest Preserve - 31,000 acres
- Macon County Conservation District - 3,490 acres
- McHenry County Conservation District - 24,000 acres
- Putnam Country Conservation District - 1,100 acres
- Rock Island Forest Preserve District - 2,529 acres
- Vermilion County Conservation District - 6,600 acres
- Forest Preserve District of Will County - 21,966 acres
- Winnebago County Forest Preserve District - 11,500 acres