Agencies
Services
Picnicking
The park features five picnic areas with tables and cook stoves/grills. Chief Senachwine Shelter offers electricity and can be reserved at ExploreMoreIL™
Camping
The Chief Keokuk Campground features 70 pads with electrical hook-ups for campers or tents (Class A camping), plus 25 non-electrical, 'tent only' sites (Class C camping) that are not accessible by vehicle. A shower building and a sanitary dump station in the camping area, and all water are open May 1 and close November 1. The park does not provide water November 1 - May 1, however the campground is open during these winter months for electric or non-electric 'dry' camping. In addition, "Blackhawk Group Area" on Lakeshore Loop Road is available for organized youth/adult group camping May 1 - November 1. ExploreMoreIL™ reservations are available for the Chief Keokuk Campground, Cabin, Black Hawk Group Camp May 1 thru October 31. ExploreMoreIL™.
A primitive cabin, Chief Tecumseh, is available year round. The cabin is located on a slope overlooking Johnson Lake. During the months of May thru October reservations must be made using ExploreMoreIL™. December thru April, visitors can call the park office at 309-853-2425 for information on how to rent the cabin (no cooking, pets or smoking in the cabin). A fire grill, table and BBQ grill are provided outside. A full sized bed, two sets of bunk beds, a table and benches are provided inside. The cabin has heat and air conditioning, as well as two ceiling fans. Bring your own bedding. May thru October, cabin guests may use the campground shower facilities and potable water is available within 150 yards of the cabin. The park does not provide water or shower facilities November thru April.
Playgrounds
The playground in Chief Keokuk Campground is available to campers.
Fishing
The 58-acre lake at Johnson-Sauk Trail SRA has a maximum depth of 21 feet, and features excellent populations of largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, channel catfish and bullhead. Numerous fish cribs and attractors have been installed to enhance fishing. In addition, muskie and northern pike have been released in recent years, providing visitors with an exciting new fishing opportunity. Fishing is permitted by boat and along the shoreline. Fishing hours are the same as regular park hours. Night fishing is not allowed. The park is open only to campers after park hours.
Boating
Johnson-Sauk Trail Lake's boat launch is adjacent to the marina near the dam.
Trails
Johnson-Sauk Trail has 4 miles of trails, ranging from one-quarter mile to 1 mile in length, from easy to moderate, and taking hikers along the lake or through land ranging from rolling prairie to pine plantations and bottomland hardwood forests. Even the pickiest of hikers should find a trail to his or her liking. If additional miles are desired, the trails have been designed to connect, so hikers can link one to another, providing up to an 8 mile loop around Lake Johnson.
Winter Sports
Johnson-Sauk Trail is an all-season park, with summer hiking trails doubling as trails for 3 miles of cross-country ski trails. Trail maps are available.
The park's hills also are ideal for sledding, and the lake provides an excellent place for ice fishing or ice skating when conditions permit.
Hunting
Hunting is a popular activity at the park. Johnson-Sauk Trail is one of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources' popular controlled pheasant hunting sites, with pheasant released daily during the statewide hunting season (closed Mondays and Tuesdays, Christmas and New Year’s Day). A fee is charged and reservations can be made for the controlled pheasant program.
The park also allows hunters to pursue deer with a bow and arrow, plus dove and squirrel with shotgun only. Spring turkey hunting is by permit only. Check the Site Hunting Information for more information.
