The beautiful state parks around Stockton, IL, are the ideal camping destinations for nature lovers who enjoy exciting outdoor activities in scenic natural surroundings. Here you can hike, bike, horseback ride, swim, fish, paddle, and boat, and get cozy around campfires, listen to the sounds of nature and sleep under the stars.
1. Apple River Canyon State Park
Escape to the scenic hills, limestone bluffs, and deep ravines in the 1,907-acre Apple River Canyon State Park and hike and bike through the beautiful landscape along the Apple River.
The river is a great fishing spot and teeming with smallmouth bass, carp, crappie, suckers, and sunfish. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources also stocks the river seasonally with keeper-sized trout. The park has four picnic areas along the riverbanks, with tables, grills, drinking water, and restroom facilities.
Campgrounds
The park has two scenic campgrounds. The Canyon Ridge Campground doesn’t have shower facilities. The Walnut Grove Youth Campground is open throughout the year.
2. Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Recreation Area
Camp on the shores of the beautiful 40-acre Lake Le-Aqua-Na and enjoy loads of exciting outdoor activities. Hike, bike, and horseback ride down 8.5 miles of marked trails that wind through the woods and along the 1.4-mile wooded shoreline, and swim, fish, paddle, and boat on the lake. There is a boat ramp and a concession stand close to the swimming beach.
Bring your fishing tackle along and reel in largemouth bass, crappie, bullhead, and bluegill. The lake is periodically stocked with walleye channel catfish and northern pike. In winter, the recreation area offers ice fishing, sledding, and cross-country skiing.
Campgrounds
The recreation area has spacious and open RV, tent, and equestrian campgrounds to choose from. At least half of the campsites in the campgrounds are in the shade with electricity and water. There are showers, flush toilets, and a dump station. The RV campground is open throughout the year.
3. Mississippi Palisades State Park
The 2,500-acre Mississippi Palisades State Park on the confluence of the Apple and Mississippi Rivers is steeped in Native American History. Explore the rock palisades of the Mississippi River and walk in the footsteps of Native American pathfinders who used these routes, some nearly a thousand ago. Over 15 miles of scenic trails cut through the rugged terrain filled with animal and plant life.
The Mississippi and Apple Rivers are excellent waters to fish in and hold bass, catfish, carp, bluegill, crappie, walleye, and northern pike. Rock climbers will enjoy scaling the cliffs and rocks in the park. Sentinal Rock, Twin Sisters, and Indian Head are especially popular among rock climbers. Hunters gather in the park for wild turkey and deer firearm and archery hunting. In winter, the park is a favored destination for cross-country skiing, sledding, and ice fishing.
Campgrounds
The well-maintained campground has both shaded and sunny sites for RV and tent campers. There are sites with electrical hookups and restroom facilities with showers and flush toilets nearby. The youth area is only open from May 1 through to October 31.
Pack your gear and head out to one of these beautiful parks and enjoy an exciting and unforgettable adventure. Visit Barkau Automotive Chevrolet today, and our certified technicians will ensure that your vehicle is in excellent running condition for a camp trip of a lifetime.
