Park listing
Kickapoo State Recreation Area
Upland Area Directly South of Middle Fork Main Office, Oakwood, IL 61858
Where in Illinois can you go running or hiking, canoeing, fishing for trout, camping, hunting or scuba diving -- all against a backdrop of breathtaking natural beauty?
Trip starter
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Kickapoo State Recreation Area
This listing is currently using verified trip data while licensed photography is being finalized.
Drive time
Set origin in search
Bathrooms
Showers and restrooms
Trailer fit
179 trailer-capable sites, max listed vehicle length 50ft, driveway mix: 8 pull-through, 172 back-in
Weather
Monthly weather notes pending
Why this park
Facilities
Showers and restrooms are surfaced in the current listing data.
Trailer fit
179 trailer-capable sites, max listed vehicle length 50ft, driveway mix: 8 pull-through, 172 back-in
Activity mix
53 named routes are surfaced for hiking and activity planning.
About this park
Where in Illinois can you go running or hiking, canoeing, fishing for trout, camping, hunting or scuba diving -- all against a backdrop of breathtaking natural beauty? Kickapoo State Recreation Area near Danville in Vermilion County - easily accessible via I-74.
Read full park description
Where in Illinois can you go running or hiking, canoeing, fishing for trout, camping, hunting or scuba diving -- all against a backdrop of breathtaking natural beauty? Kickapoo State Recreation Area near Danville in Vermilion County - easily accessible via I-74. Once a turn-of-the-century surface mining operation, Kickapoo State Recreation Area's 3,971 acres now provide an outdoor playground with something to appeal to every member of the family. Twenty two deep-water ponds, ranging in size from 0.2 to 57 acres, provide a total of 221 acres of water for boaters, canoeists and anglers. Lushly forested uplands and bottomlands along the Middle Fork of the Vermilion River is habitat for birds, wildlife and wildflowers, while nature trails and running trails provide pathways to inspiration and physical fitness. Kickapoo also features two major campgrounds for tent or trailer camping, with online reservations available here. Six day use areas provide facilities for picnics, with shelter reservations also available here. Kickapoo owes its crystal clear ponds and luxuriantly forested ridges and hillsides to the regenerative powers of nature. During the past 50 years, trees and vegetation have reclaimed the former mined land. The state's 1939 purchase of 1,290 acres of mined lands from United Electric Coal Co. was largely underwritten with contributions collected from Danville area residents.
Campsite fit
Group-designated sites listed in park data: 7. Verify current group pricing, vehicle maximums, and campground rules on the official reservation page.
Group-site signal
No special group limitations surfaced in the current listing metadata.
Trailer and rig access
179 trailer-capable sites, max listed vehicle length 50ft, driveway mix: 8 pull-through, 172 back-in
Fire rules
Campfires allowed in designated fire pits only. Firewood must be sourced within 50 miles or USDA certified; no out-of-state wood.
Bathrooms and facilities
Trails and activities
53 named trail routes are surfaced here from 86 mapped source segments. Start with the featured routes, then expand the full list if this park stays on your shortlist.
River Ridge Back Pack Trail
8.9 miles total • 5 mapped segments • unpaved • foot trail
Out and Back Trail
3.0 miles total • 2 mapped segments • grass • foot trail
Clear Lake Trail
2.9 miles total • ground • foot trail
View all trail routes
North Riverview Trail
1.7 miles total • 5 mapped segments • ground • foot trail
Trail 1A
1.4 miles total • 2 mapped segments • path
Heaven & Hell
1.1 miles total • dirt • path
White Oak Trail
1.0 miles total • 3 mapped segments • ground • foot trail
Brian Plawer Trail
1.0 miles total • grass • foot trail
Road 2350 North
1.0 miles total • 2 mapped segments • track
X-Country Trail
1.0 miles total • grass • foot trail
East 3300 N Road
1.0 miles total • track
Hickory Ridge Trail
1.0 miles total • 5 mapped segments • unpaved • foot trail and path
Weather context
Weather note
weather normals unavailable for selected park/month
Safety and rules
No active alerts surfaced for the selected dates.
Campfires allowed in designated fire pits only. Firewood must be sourced within 50 miles or USDA certified; no out-of-state wood.
Key rules and on-site notes
Start with the highest-signal rules below, then expand the full park policy list only if this park stays in contention.
Directions
From Chicago, head south on I-57 to Exit 237A (Near Champaign). head right on the ramp for I-74 East toward Indianapolis. At Exit 206, head right on the ramp toward Oakwood/Potomac. Bear left onto N Oakwood St, which becomes Newtown Rd. In 1 mile, turn right onto Glenburn Creek Rd. Follow Glenburn Creek Rd for 1.5 miles into the park and campground entrance is on south side of road 0.2 miles past the Middle Fork River.
Contact
(217) 442-4915
Fire policy
Campfires allowed in designated fire pits only. Firewood must be sourced within 50 miles or USDA certified; no out-of-state wood.
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