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About Illinois State Parks
Welcome to Illinois’ diverse landscape, rich in natural resources and abundant recreation opportunities. Many beautiful places await you in the Land of Lincoln.
The last year marked a new beginning for our great natural areas. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is reintroducing our outdoor heritage through the Great Parks Partnership. We started this initiative to make our state parks even more enjoyable now and in the future, because we want you to come back time and again.
From Illinois Beach on the Lake Michigan shore and the wonders of Starved Rock, to the rolling hills and river bluffs of the Northwest, to the prairies and streams in the heart of the state, and the vast hardwood forests and world-renowned wetlands of Southern Illinois, the Land of Lincoln has much to offer. There is no better way to appreciate this diversity than by enjoying the recreational opportunities offered at Illinois’ state parks, fish and wildlife areas, and conservation areas, on our lakes and rivers, and in our forests. Whether you enjoy hiking, camping, wildlife watching, fishing, hunting or boating, Illinois has an ideal destination for you to explore, or to visit and just relax.
We hope you’ll find this website useful as you plan an eventful day trip to a state park picnic area, a weekend at a state park lodge, a hike in a state forest, a ride on a state trail, or hunting and fishing trips to a state fish and wildlife area. Illinois has so much to offer, and the IDNR is striving to make planning your special getaway hassle-free. You’ll find everything you need, from buying a hunting and fishing license, to reserving a campsite through our online reservation system at ExploreMoreIL™.