Woodall's...Camping & RVing in the Great Outdoors!

ILLINOIS

Ballooning
Camping Resorts | Canoeing
Fishing | Hiking | Horseback Riding
Scenic Drives | Spelunking

Lincoln Art & Balloon Festival
Aug. 25-27, Lincoln, Ill., features balloon launches from the Logan County Fairgrounds, a special night glow, art events, flea market and crafts. Contact: Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce, 303 S. Kickapoo St., Lincoln, IL 62656-2899, (217)735-2385.

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Des Plaines River
Tributary of the Illinois River flows through a heavily populated part of the state—completely within Greater Chicagoland area, but the large number of parks, forest preserves and other natural areas creates a wilderness character. Counties: Lake and Cook. Lengths: 33, 11 and 30 miles. Locations: From small dams near Melrose Park to Wheeling, from Wheeling to Libertyville and from Libertyville to channelization near Wisconsin state line.

Embarras River
River has exceptionally fine sand and gravel bars bordering clear, fast riffles. Counties: Jasper and Coles. Length: 73 miles. Location: From Ste. Marie to Lake Charleston. Features & Activities: Scenic, recreational, fishing and wildlife viewing.

Fox River
First two segments are heavily used for fishing and canoeing; latter is one of the state's better river segments—generally free flowing and quiet with many islands, scenic beauty, high bluffs, well-wooded banks and very good canoeing. Counties: Kane, McHenry, LaSalle and Kendall. Lengths: 6, 32 and 25 miles. Locations: From Elgin to West Dundee Dam, from Algonquin to Wilmot Dam and from Wedron to Yorkville. Features & Activities: Scenic, recreational, geological and fishing.

Kankakee River
Eastern Illinois canoeing stream with a wooded corridor flows through Kankakee River State Park. County: Kankakee. Length: 22 miles. Location: From near confluence with Rock Creek to Indiana state line.

Pecatonica Stream
Scenic, northern stream with some high bluffs and much forest land along corridor flows mainly through farm country with rolling hills. Counties: Stephenson and Winnebago. Lengths: 65 and 18 miles. Locations: From confluence with the Rock River near Rockton to Freeport and from beyond Freeport to McConnell Road near McConnell. Features & Activities: Scenic, recreational and fishing.

Rock River
Flowing out of Wisconsin, this broad, interstate river offers canoeists a leisurely journey as it moves slowly through an intensely farmed portion of Illinois. Counties: Ogle, Lee, Whiteside and Henry. Lengths: 68 and 29 miles. Locations: From Osborn to Sterling and from Sterling to Oregon.

Sangamon River
A long, meandering, canoeing river in the heart of agricultural country flows for several miles through Allerton Park National Natural Landmark and the Greater Springfield area; the segment between Decatur and new Salem is the "Lincoln Heritage Canoe Trail." Counties: McLean, Menard, Sangamon, Macon, Piatt and Champaign. Lengths: 10, 15, 13, 16, 9, 22, 30, 3 and 5 miles. Locations: From confluence with Salt Fork to Petersburg; from Petersburg to Springfield; from S.R. 29 to U.S. 36; from U.S. 36 to Harts Park; from Lincoln Homestead Memorial Park to Decatur dam; from Decatur to Monticello; from Monticello to Mahomet; from Mahomet to Norfolk & Western R.R.; and from Ford county line to Saybrook. Features & Activities: Scenic, recreational and fishing.

Vemilion Stream of the Illinois River
The best whitewater canoeing in the state on a scenic stream in agriculture land with generally forested banks and numerous bluffs. County: Livingston. Length: 51 miles. Location: From confluence with the Illinois River to Pontiac.

Middlefork of the Vermilion River
River with good water quality and well wooded corridor flows through central Illinois farm country; several archaeological sites along the river, flows through Kickapoo State Park. State Protected River and National Scenic River. Counties: Vermilion, Champaign and Ford. Length: 43 miles. Location: From confluence with Salt Fork to Ford-Champaign county line. Features & Activities: Scenic, recreational and cultural.

For information on fishing licenses and regulations, contact the Illinois Dept. of Conservation, Div. of Fisheries, Lincoln Tower Plaza, 524 S. Second St., Springfield, IL 62701-1787. (217-782-6424).

Carlyle Lake
The largest man-made lake in the state with 26,000 acres of water on the Kaskaskia River in south-central Illinois. Located north of Carlyle. Favorite catches: bass, bluegill, sunfish, crappie, channel catfish, walleye and sauger.
Places to camp nearby: Boulder, Carlyle, Hillsboro, Litchfield, Ramsey, Salem

Fox Chain O'Lakes
6,576 acres of water in a string of 10 lakes on the Fox River in northeastern Illinois. The major fishing lakes include Fox Lake, Lake Marie, Channel Lake and Lake Catherine. Located around the towns of Fox Lake, Spring Grove and Antioch. Favorite catches: largemouth & yellow bass, walleye, bluegill, catfish, perch, muskie and crappie.
Places to camp nearby: Fox Lake, Volo, Zion

Fox River
The river starts in southeastern Wisconsin and flows 185 miles south to the Illinois River near Ottawa in northeastern Illinois. Its 115 Illinois miles meander through the Fox Chain 'O Lakes, and past Elgin, Aurora and Yorkville. Favorite catches: bass, bluegill, sunfish, crappie, channel catfish, bullhead, northern pike, walleye and perch.
Places to camp nearby: Belvidere, Channahon, Fox Lake, Marseilles, Millbrook, Morris, Shabbona, Somonauk, Utica, Volo, Yorkville, Zion

Green River
The river starts south of Rochelle near the junction of U.S. 30 & 51 and runs southwest by Amboy to the Rock River near Moline on the Iowa border. Favorite catches: smallmouth bass, bluegill, sunfish, crappie, catfish, bullhead, northern pike and suckers.
Places to camp nearby: Amboy, De Pue, Geneseo, Hampton, Morrison, Ohio, Prophetstown, Rock Island, Shabbona

Illinois River
The largest tributary of the Mississippi in the state. The river starts near Chicago in northeastern Illinois and flows 327 miles southwest to Grafton, just north of St. Louis, on the western side of Illinois. Favorite catches: bass, crappie, bluegill, catfish, drum and also sauger-between Peoria and LaSalle.
Places to camp nearby: Canton, Carlock, Channahon, Depue, Goodfield, Grafton, Havana, Lacon, Marseilles, Millbrook, Morris, Pekin, Peoria, Petersburg, Pittsfield, Pleasant Hill, Tinley Park, Utica, Wilmington, Yorkville

Mississippi River
580 mi. of the 2,350-mile river form the entire western border of Illinois. Favorite catches: bass, sauger, catfish, crappie, drum and bluegill. North of Nauvoo there's also northern pike and walleye.
Places to camp nearby: Andalusa, Ava, Belleville, Carbondale, Chester, Galesburg, Grafton, Granite City, Hampton, Hanover, Illinois City, Morrison, Murphysboro, Nauvoo, Olive Branch, Oquawka, Pittsfield, Pleasant Hill, Prophetstown, Quincy, Rock Island, Savanna, Sterling, Stockton, Thomson, Ursa

Ferne Clyffe State Park
The 1,100-acre state park in southern Illinois provides 10 well marked trails totalling 15 miles in length through deep forests and high rock formations. The easy, 1-mile Big Rocky Hollow Trail ends at a 100-foot intermittent waterfall. The Blackjack Oak Trail is a moderately difficult trail along the blufftops. The Happy Hollow Trail, a 5 1/2 mile stretch-of-the-legs through woods and open fields, and includes several steep climbs. Located on Hwy. 37, one mile S. of Goreville. For more information, phone (618) 995-2411.
Places to camp nearby: Ava, Carbondale, Goreville, Murphysboro, Vienna.

Shawnee National Forest
This 267,000-acre forest covers the central portion of the far southern region of the state. The scenery includes rocky bluffs, sandstone canyons, deep forests of oak and pine, and many lakes and streams. Canada geese and wild turkeys are native to the area, as well as deer, fox, raccoon and squirrel. About 200 miles of multi-use (non-motorized trails are available. The Garden of the Gods Trail is an 8-mile trail by some fascinating rock formations, such as: Camel Rock, Chimney Rock, Tower of Babble, Fat Man's Squeeze and Anvil Rock. The River to River Trail is a 140-mile trail meandering through some of the remote areas. It starts near Karber Ridge at Camp Cadiz, a small, primitive campsite, and ends at the Mississippi River near Grand Tower, IL. Many other trails ranging from easy to moderately difficult are provided, most of which are well-marked. For more information, phone (618) 253-7114 or 1-800-MY-WOODS.
Places to camp nearby: Ava, Carbondale, Cave In Rock, Chester, DuQuoin, Equality, Golconda, Goreville, Karber Ridge, Metropolis, Murphysboro, Olive Branch, Vienna.

Starved Rock State Park
The 2,630-acre state park in Utica, off Hwy. 71, in north-central Illinois offers 15 miles of moderate to difficult trails by deep canyons, seasonal waterfalls, sandstone cliffs, bluffs and bridges. Hikers are urged to stay on the marked trails and not to rock-climb, as loose sedimentary rocks can suddenly crumble and cause a serious accident, as well as cause serious erosion. For more information, phone (815) 667-4726.
Places to camp nearby: De Pue, Marseilles, Utica.

Bay Creek Ranch. Located in Simpson. Year-round facility offers guided trail rides through the Shawnee National Forest as well as outfitting services. Custom design a perfect pack trip! You bring tent, sleeping bag & personal items. For information call (618) 695-2670.

Forest View Farms. Located in Tinley Park
Year-round facility offers trail rides, hayrides and sleigh rides. For information call (708) 560-0306. Hitch'n Post Stables. Located near Kickapoo State Park. One-hour and two-hour trail rides. Hayrides are available each Saturday. Open May-Nov. 1. For information call (217) 446-8575.

Lake Glendale Stables/Outfitters, Inc.
Located in the Shawnee National Forest of southern Illinois. Guided trail rides for one hour, two hours, half-day and full-day outings. Customized overnight trips ranging from 2-8 days are also available. For information call (618) 949-3737.

34 Ranch & Campground
Located in Herod. Guided outfitting trips include overnighters as well as hourly rentals. For information call (618) 264-2141.

Lockwood Park/Trailside Centre Stables
Owned and operated by the Rockford Park District. Guided weekend trail rides. Riders must be able to mount and dismount unassisted. Pony rides, hayrides, winter sleigh rides and catered dinner rides for groups are also available. For information call (815) 987-8809.

Pere Marquette Stables
Located two miles north of Grafton, on Rt. 100. Guided trail rides. Group rates available. For information call (618) 786-2156.

State Park Riding Stables
Located in Bourbonnais on Deselm Rd. north of Rt. 102. Weekend trail rides by the half-hour and hour. Also available are pony rides and cookouts. For information call (815) 939-0309

Trail of Tears Sports Resort
Located in Jonesboro, 15 minutes from Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Guided trail rides thorough the beautiful Shawnee National Forest. Open year-round. For information call (618) 833-8697

Willow Brook Acres Riding Club
Located in Morton Grove. Trail rides average 45 min. to one hour. Open year-round. For information call (708) 967-9800.

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