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Located in southwestern Illinois' Jackson County, Kinkaid Lake is approximately 5 miles north of Murphysboro and 100 miles southeast of St. Louis.

Built in 1968, the lake encompasses 2,750 acres. Ownership of the surrounding land is divided among the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, which manages approximately 4,000 acres, the U.S. Forest Service, which administers 5,000 acres, and Kinkaid-Reed's Creek Conservancy District, which oversees 300 acres.

Natural Features

Topography varies from sandstone bluff formations to rolling hills surrounding the lake where oaks and hickories predominate. Numerous flat contours are planted with prairie grasses, cool-season grasses and wildlife food plots.