Park listing
Lake Le Aqua Na State Recreation Area
8542 North Lake Road, Lena, IL 61048
Whether you visit for an afternoon or stay a few days, you will leave Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Recreation Area with many happy memories.
Trip starter
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Lake Le Aqua Na 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
159 trailer-capable sites, max listed vehicle length 40ft, driveway mix: 3 pull-through, 162 back-in
Weather
Monthly weather notes pending
Why this park
Facilities
Showers and restrooms are surfaced in the current listing data.
Trailer fit
159 trailer-capable sites, max listed vehicle length 40ft, driveway mix: 3 pull-through, 162 back-in
Activity mix
25 named routes are surfaced for hiking and activity planning.
About this park
Whether you visit for an afternoon or stay a few days, you will leave Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Recreation Area with many happy memories. Located in Stephenson County just west of Route 73 on Lake Road, the park is 6 miles south of the Illinois-Wisconsin state line and 3 miles north of Lena.
Read full park description
Whether you visit for an afternoon or stay a few days, you will leave Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Recreation Area with many happy memories. Located in Stephenson County just west of Route 73 on Lake Road, the park is 6 miles south of the Illinois-Wisconsin state line and 3 miles north of Lena. Highlighted by a 40-acre lake and all the recreational opportunities there, the park also offers multi-use trails, picnic areas, and RV, tent, equestrian and youth group campgrounds. Developed as part of a statewide plan to provide Illinois citizens with recreational opportunities close to home, the park was started with a land acquisition program in 1948 and dedicated as a 715-acre state recreation area 10 years later. Lake Le-Aqua-Na’s name is the result of a contest sponsored by the Stephenson County Sportsman’s Club, one of the park’s many sponsors. The name is a combination of the town of Lena and the Latin word for water, aqua.
Campsite fit
Group-designated sites listed in park data: 2. 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
159 trailer-capable sites, max listed vehicle length 40ft, driveway mix: 3 pull-through, 162 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
25 named trail routes are surfaced here from 98 mapped source segments. Start with the featured routes, then expand the full list if this park stays on your shortlist.
Cheese Country Trail
24.6 miles total • 42 mapped segments • unpaved and gravel • path
Jane Addams Trail
13.1 miles total • 12 mapped segments • unpaved • path
Sweet Gum Trail
3.5 miles total • 7 mapped segments • ground • foot trail
View all trail routes
High Point Trail
2.8 miles total • 5 mapped segments • grass • foot trail
Whitetail Trail
1.7 miles total • 4 mapped segments • ground • foot trail
Perimeter Trail
1.2 miles total • 6 mapped segments • ground • path
Equestrian Trail Spur
0.9 miles total • 3 mapped segments • grass • foot trail
Zander Lake Nature Trail
0.8 miles total • ground • foot trail
Buss Loop Trail
0.8 miles total • ground • path
North/South Trail Link
0.7 miles total • ground • foot trail
Cranes Grove Trail
0.7 miles total • ground • path
Pine Ridge Nature Trail
0.7 miles total • ground • foot trail
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
The current listing surfaces a short set of park rules worth checking before you finalize the trip.
Directions
From Chicago: Take I-90 West to Rte 20 West at Rockford. Travel on Rte 20 West to IL 73 North (approximately 60 miles). Turn right onto IL 73 and travel north two miles into the town of Lena. Turn left on Lena Street. Proceed two blocks, turn right onto Lake Road and go approximately three miles to the park entrance. From the south: Take I-39 to Rte 20 West at Rockford. Travel on Rte 20 West to IL 73 North (approximately 58 miles). Turn right onto IL 73 North go two miles into the town of Lena. Turn left onto Lena Street. Proceed two blocks, turn right onto Lake Road and go approximately three miles to the park entrance. From the north: Take WI 69 South which will turn into IL 26 South at the IL - WI line. Turn right onto West Orangeville Road. Proceed to park entrance. From the west: Travel on Rte 20 East to IL 73 North. Turn left onto IL 73 North and go two miles into the town of Lena. Turn left onto Lena Street. Proceed two blocks, turn right onto Lake Road and go approximately 3 miles to the park entrance.
Contact
(815) 369-4282
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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