List of protected areas of Illinois


Illinois has a variety of protected areas, including over 123 state-protected areas, dozens of federally protected areas, hundreds of county-level and municipal park areas, and historic sites under various governmental levels of protection. Illinois also contains sites designated as internationally important protected areas. These multiple levels of protection contribute to a statewide network of numerous recreation opportunities and conservation schemes, sometimes in a small area. For example, DeKalb County contains a forest preserve system and a state park ; within DeKalb County, the DeKalb Park District in the City of DeKalb has a park system.

State protected areas

Illinois state-owned protected areas include state parks, state forests, state recreation areas, state fish and wildlife areas, state natural areas, and one state trail. These areas are all administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. In addition, dozens of state historic sites are administered by the Illinois Historic Preservation Division.

State historic sites

State historic sites are typically protected for their historic and cultural importance but may include a nature preservation component, such as at Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site and Lincoln's New Salem. For a list, see Illinois Historic Preservation Division.

State parks

State parks are owned by the state and generally administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Specifically, "State Park" refers to sites "exhibiting exceptional scenic and natural features and terrain" and that "offer a wide range of recreational opportunities for the public to enjoy".
NameCountyArea Area EstablishedBodies of waterImageRemarks
Adeline Jay Geo-Karis Illinois Beach State ParkLake1948Lake Michigan-
Apple River Canyon State ParkJo Daviess1932Apple River-
Lake State ParkMcDonough1948Argyle Lake-
Beall Woods State ParkWabash1966Coffee Creek-
Beaver Dam State ParkMacoupin1947Beaver Dam Lake-
Buffalo Rock State Park & Effigy TumuliLaSalleNovember 15, 1928Illinois River-
Castle Rock State ParkOgle1921Rock River-
Cave-in-Rock State ParkHardin1929Ohio River-
Chain O'Lakes State ParkMcHenry1945Bluff Lake, Catherine Lake, Channel Lake, Fox Lake, Fox River, Grass Lake, Marie Lake, Nippersink Lake, Petite Lake, Pistakee Lake, Redhead Lake, Turner Lake-
Channahon State ParkWill1932DuPage River, Des Plaines River, Kankakee River-
Delabar State ParkHenderson1960Mississippi River-
Dixon Springs State ParkPope1946Wabash River-
Donnelley/Depue State ParkPutnam1982Lake DePue, Spring Lake, Coleman Lake, Illinois River-
Ferne Clyffe State ParkJohnson1949Ferne Clyffe Lake-
Fort Massac State ParkMassac1908Ohio River-
Fox Ridge State ParkColes1930sRidge Lake, Embarras River-
Gebhard Woods State ParkGrundy1934Nettle Creek-
Giant City State ParkJackson, Union1927Little Grassy Lake, Indian Creek-
Hennepin Canal Parkway State ParkBureau, Lee, Whiteside, Rock Island, Henry1970Hennepin Canal linear park -
Horseshoe Lake State ParkMadison?Horseshoe Lake-
Illini State ParkLaSalle1934Illinois River-
James "Pate" Philip State ParkDuPage, Kane1991Brewester Creek-
Johnson-Sauk Trail State ParkHenry?Johnson-Sauk Trail Lake-
Jubilee College State ParkPeoria1933Jubilee Creek-
Kankakee River State ParkKankakee, Will1938Kankakee River-
Lake Le-Aqua-Na State ParkStephenson1948Lake Le-Aqua-Na-
Lake Murphysboro State ParkJackson1948Lake Murphysboro-
Lincoln Trail State ParkClark1958Lincoln Trail Lake-
Lowden State ParkOgle1945Rock River-
Matthiessen State ParkLaSalle1943Deer Park Lake, Vermilion River-
Mississippi Palisades State ParkCarroll1973Mississippi River, Apple River-
Moraine Hills State ParkMcHenry1939Lake Defiance, Fox River-
Morrison-Rockwood State ParkWhiteside1971Rock Creek, Lake Carlton-
Nauvoo State ParkHancock?Mississippi River, Lake Horton-
Pere Marquette State ParkJersey1931Mississippi River, Illinois River-
Red Hills State ParkLawrence1953Muddy Creek-
Rock Cut State ParkWinnebago1957Pierce Lake, Olson Lake-
Rock Island Trail State ParkStark, Peoria1989- public rail trail.
Shabbona Lake State ParkDeKalb1978Shabbona Lake-
Siloam Springs State ParkAdams, Brown1940-
South Shore State ParkClinton?Carlyle Lake-
Starved Rock State ParkLaSalle1911Illinois River-
Walnut Point State ParkDouglas1968-
Weinberg-King State ParkSchuyler1968?-
Wolf Creek State ParkShelby1968Lake Shelbyville, Wolf Creek-

State fish and wildlife areas

Areas whose primary purpose is to "reserve land and water areas for production and conservation of fish or wildlife and to provide hunting, fishing, trapping, observation, and other forms of compatible recreational use."
NameCountyArea Area EstablishedBodies of waterImageRemarks
Anderson Lake State Fish & Wildlife AreaFulton1947Anderson Lake-
Baldwin Lake State Fish & Wildlife AreaRandolph?Baldwin Lake-
Banner Marsh State Fish and Wildlife AreaFulton1980sIllinois River-
Cape Bend State Fish and Wildlife AreaAlexander?-
Carlyle Lake State Fish and Wildlife AreaFayette1966Carlyle Lake-
Coffeen Lake State Fish and Wildlife AreaMontgomery1966Coffeen Lake, Shoal Creek-
Crawford County State Fish and Wildlife AreaCrawford?Huston Creek-
Des Plaines Fish and Wildlife AreaWill1948Kankakee River, Milliken Lake-
Devils Island Wildlife Management AreaAlexander, Union?Mississippi River, Picayune Chute-
Double T State Fish and Wildlife AreaFulton2001Double T Lake-
Edward R. Madigan State Fish and Wildlife AreaLogan1971Salt Creek-
Green River State Wildlife AreaLee1940Green River-
Hamilton County State Fish and Wildlife AreaHamilton1962Dolan Lake-
Heidecke Lake State Fish & Wildlife AreaGrundy?Heidecke Lake-
Horseshoe Lake State Fish & Wildlife AreaAlexander?Horseshoe Lake-
Iroquois County State Wildlife AreaIroquois1944-Occupies the edge of the former Glacial Lake Watseka.-
Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife AreaCassJune 1993Gridley Lake, Prairie Lake, Drake Lake-
Kaskaskia River State Fish & Wildlife AreaSt. Clair, Monroe, Randolph?Kaskaskia River, Baldwin Lake-
Kinkaid Lake State Fish and Wildlife AreaJackson1968Kinkaid Lake, Johnson Creek, Reed Creek-
Kishwaukee River State Fish and Wildlife AreaDeKalb2002Kishwaukee River-
LaSalle Lake State Fish & Wildlife AreaLaSalle?LaSalle Lake-
Mackinaw River State Fish and Wildlife AreaTazewell1970Mackinaw River-
Marshall State Fish & Wildlife AreaMarshall1925Illinois River-
Mautino State Fish and Wildlife AreaBureau?15 lakes-
Mazonia/Braidwood State Fish and Wildlife AreaGrundy1981Braidwood Lake-
Mermet Lake State Fish and Wildlife AreaMassac1949Mermet Lake-
Middle Fork State Fish and Wildlife AreaVermilion1986[Middle Fork Vermilion County, Illinois|Vermilion River|Middle Fork]-
Mississippi River State Fish and Wildlife AreaJersey, Calhoun?Stump Lake, Fuller Lake-
Newton Lake State Fish and Wildlife AreaJasper1979Newton Lake, Sand Creek, Laws Creek-
Peabody River State Fish and Wildlife AreaRandolph?20 lakes-
Pekin Lake State Fish and Wildlife AreaTazewell?Pekin Lake, Worley Lake-
Powerton Lake State Fish and Wildlife AreaTazewellSeptember 18, 1984Powerton Lake-
Ray Norbut State Fish and Wildlife AreaPike1970Illinois River-
Rend Lake State Fish and Wildlife AreaFranklin, Jefferson?Rend Lake-
Rice Lake State Fish and Wildlife AreaFulton1945Rice Lake-
Saline County State Fish and Wildlife AreaSaline1959Glen O. Jones Lake-
Sam Dale Lake State Fish and Wildlife AreaWayne1959Sam Dale Lake-
Sam Parr State Fish and Wildlife AreaJasper1960-
Sanganois State Fish and Wildlife AreaCass, Schuyler, Mason1948-
Shelbyville State Fish and Wildlife AreaMoultrie?Kaskaskia River, West Okaw River-
Silver Springs State Fish & Wildlife AreaKendall1969Fox River, Loon Lake, Beaver Lake, Silver Springs-
Snakeden Hollow State Fish and Wildlife AreaKnox1987Snakeden Hollow Lake-
Spring Lake Fish and Wildlife AreaTazewell1950Spring Lake-
Ten Mile Creek State Fish & Wildlife AreaHamilton, Jefferson1988Ten Mile Creek-
Turkey Bluffs State Fish and Wildlife AreaRandolph?-
Union County State Fish and Wildlife AreaUnion1940s-
Woodford State Fish and Wildlife AreaWoodfordIllinois River, Upper Peoria Lake-

State recreation areas

NameCountyArea Area EstablishedBodies of waterImageRemarks
Clinton Lake State Recreation AreaDeWitt1978Clinton Lake, Salt Creek, Old Creek-
Eagle Creek State Recreation AreaShelbyMay 1963Lake Shelbyville, Eagle Creek-
Eldon Hazlet State Recreation AreaClinton?Carlyle Lake, Lake Shelbyville-
Frank Holten State Recreation AreaSt. Clair1964Whispering Willow Lake, Grand Marais Lake-
Golconda Marina State Recreation AreaPope?Ohio River-
Kickapoo State Recreation AreaVermilion1939Middle Fork-
Moraine View State Recreation AreaMcLean1959Dawson Lake, Salt Creek-
Prophetstown State Recreation AreaWhiteside1947Coon Creek, Rock River-
Pyramid State Recreation AreaPerry1968Super Lake-
Ramsey Lake State Recreation AreaFayette?Ramsey Lake, Ramsey Creek-
Randolph County State Recreation AreaRandolph1958Randolph County Lake-
Sangchris Lake State Recreation AreaChristian, Sangamon1964Sangchris Lake-
Stephen A. Forbes State Recreation AreaMarion1959-
Washington County State Recreation AreaWashington1959-
Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation AreaFranklin, Jefferson1975Rend Lake, Big Muddy River-
Weldon Springs State Recreation AreaDeWitt1948Salt Creek-

State natural areas

Areas of land which "either retains or has recovered to a substantial degree its original natural or primeval character, though it need not be completely undisturbed, or has floral, faunal, ecological, geological or archaeological features of scientific, educational, scenic or esthetic interest."
NameCountyArea Area EstablishedBodies of waterImageRemarks
Cache River State Natural AreaJohnson1970Cache River-
Franklin Creek State Natural AreaLee1982Franklin Creek-
Fults Hill Prairie State Natural AreaMonroe1970Kidd Lake-
Goose Lake Prairie State Natural AreaGrundy1969Goose Lake, Des Plaines River, Kankakee River, Illinois River-
Harry "Babe" Woodyard State Natural AreaVermilion?Little Vermilion River (Wabash River tributary)Managed as an outlying unit of Kickapoo State Recreation Area-
Illinois Caverns State Natural AreaMonroe1985-9.6 km of the park are passages underground.-
Mitchell's Grove Nature PreserveLaSalle1997Little Vermilion River (Illinois River tributary)-
Piney Creek Ravine State Natural AreaJackson, Randolph1972Piney Creek-
Prairie Ridge State Natural AreaJasper, Marion--
Revis Hill PrairieMason1973Managed as an outlying unit of Sand Ridge State Forest-
Sand Prairie-Scrub Oak Nature PreserveMason1970Managed as an outlying unit of Sand Ridge State Forest-
Sielbeck Forest Natural AreaJohnson1998-
Spitler Woods State Natural AreaMacon1937Squirrel Creek-
Volo Bog State Natural AreaLake1970Volo Bog-

Other state protected areas

NameCountyArea Area EstablishedBodies of waterImageRemarks
Big River State ForestHenderson1925Mississippi River-
Bohm Woods Nature PreserveMadisonNovember 2006-
Hidden Springs State ForestShelby1960Richland Creek, Possum Creek-
Lewis and Clark State Historic SiteMadison2002-
North Point MarinaLake?Lake Michigan-
Sand Ridge State ForestMason1939--
Trail of Tears State ForestUnion1929Mississippi River, Clear Creek-
Tunnel Hill State TrailJohnson, Pulaski, Saline, Williamson- Trail.
Wildlife Prairie ParkPeoria2000Deep Lake, Caboose Lake, Beaver Lake, Horseshoe Lake-

Federally protected areas

Illinois contains one national forest, the Shawnee National Forest, one national grassland, Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, and several other sites administered by the National Park Service, including portions of National Trails. There are also National Wildlife Refuges.

National Forest Service Areas

U.S. Wilderness Areas

The following U.S. Wilderness areas are located within the Shawnee National Forest and are administered by the U.S. Forest Service:
Crab Orchard Wilderness is located within Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Areas

National Park Service

The National Park Service operates the federally owned Lincoln Home National Historic Site in Springfield, the Pullman National Historical Park in Chicago, and the New Philadelphia National Historic Site in Pike County in rural western Illinois. The Chicago Portage National Historic Site is a National Park Service-affiliated site which is located in the Forest Preserve District of Cook County. In addition, the National Park Service partners with the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Internationally recognized protected areas

One UNESCO World Heritage Site in Illinois, Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, is protected and listed as a state-owned historic site. Two of the eight World Heritage Site structures exemplifying the 20th-Century architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright are also located in Illinois: Unity Temple and the Robie House, and are protected by local and federal schemes.
In addition to cultural sites, Illinois contains five wetland areas designated as wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar Convention:

Local level parks

A variety of county and town protected areas exist in Illinois, including city park districts and county-wide Forest Preserve or Conservation Districts, as well as land owned by private conservation organizations. One of the largest systems is the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, which includes Brookfield Zoo and the Chicago Botanic Garden as well as of open land, or 11.6 percent of Cook County's land area. Under Illinois law, counties may set up a conservation land holding district, after approval by county voters. Although most of the 102 counties have not established such a public landholding agency, below are the approved county districts: