Update: 2012 Season - Closure Notice: The shower building in Cheif Keokuk Campground is closed. All camping will be at B/E pricing. Lakeshore Loop Road in Johnson-Sauk Trail State Recreational Area is closed until further notice. This road services 1 Blackhawk Group Camp, Annawan non-reservable shelter and 3 day use areas. This seasonal road that is closed November 1st – May 1st each year is not scheduled to open May 1st. For more information contact the park office, 309-853-5589.
From cross-country skiing
in the winter to a lazy picnic in the summer, from a fishing trip in the
spring to exploring fields of wildflowers amidst the fall colors of the
giant oaks, Johnson-Sauk Trail State Recreation Area truly is a park for all seasons.
Located on a glacial
moraine that forms the beautiful, rolling hills of Henry County in north-central
Illinois, the park sits astride a trail that led Native Americans from
Lake Michigan to the confluence of the Mississippi and Rock rivers.
Located off Illinois
Route 78, Johnson-Sauk Trail is 6 miles south of Interstate 80 and 5 miles
north of Kewanee. Originally known as the Henry County Conservation Area,
a local newspaper invited the public to suggest names when the conservation
area was going to be changed to a state park. Two names were popular with
the public. One would name the park after State Senator Frank P. Johnson,
a tireless advocate on behalf of the park, while the second suggested Sauk
Trail as a fitting name, for the Indian tribes most associated with the
park when Europeans began settling the area.
The two most popular
choices were combined to form the park's official name. Today, Johnson-Sauk
Trail State Recreation Area features 1,365 acres and abundant recreation opportunities.
Park hours are May
1 - November 1 from sunrise - 10 p.m.; November 1 - May 1 from sunrise
- sunset. Lakeshore
Loop Road is a day use area that is open May 1 - November 1 from sunrise - sunset.
History
 Johnson-Sauk
Trail State Recreation Area is located in a part of Illinois that was a vast, shallow
sea millions of years ago. Two glaciers covered this part of Illinois,
the last being the Wisconsinian Glacier, which shaped the land as we know
it today.
The state park is
located on the southern edge of what once was the Great Willow Swamp,
a marsh area covering the low-lying areas between the Mississippi, Rock
and Green rivers, and is believed to have contained one of the most concentrated
and varied wildlife populations in the central part of North America.
Attracting large numbers
of both market and sport hunters, the area was considered a sportsman's
paradise. The marsh eventually was drained for agricultural purposes.
The abundance of wild
game and furbearing animals was what attracted Native Americans -- the area's
first inhabitants -- to this part of Illinois. Although mound-building
tribes were the first Native Americans to settle this part of the state,
tribes of Sauk, Fox, Winnebago, Kickapoo, Potawatomi, Kaskaskia, Peoria
and Piankashaw later established villages in the area.
Winnebago Indians
used the Sauk Trail and regularly camped at or near the
park. The Sauk tribe moved from Wisconsin to the confluence
of the Rock and Mississippi rivers and joined the Fox Indians to form
a confederation. These tribes frequently sent hunting parties to this part of the
marsh.
French trappers and
traders were the first Europeans to pass through this area. The land encompassing
Johnson-Sauk Trail State Recreation Area was part of the Great Northwest Territory
claimed by France. Following the French and Indian War, the land was ceded
to Great Britain in 1765, becoming part of the colony of Virginia. The
land later was part of the Northwest Territory and Illinois Territory
before Illinois gained statehood.
Natural
Features
Johnson-Sauk Trail
State Recreation Area features a varied terrain, with rolling hills covered with
a mix of hardwoods and pines in the south half of the park, and a flatter
landscape with wildlife plantings and grasslands making up the northern
half of the park.
The park's centerpiece
is a 58-acre lake that offers both fishing and boating, as well as nearly
2.5 miles of shoreline to explore.
 After studying a number
of sites, 369 acres of land known as Whiting's Woods were purchased and
construction of a lake began in 1949. Work halted soon
after, when engineers encountered unfavorable soil conditions, and resumed in the summer of 1955 after advanced methods of
dam construction were developed.
The park also has
Sauk Trail Pond, a scenic 3-acre pond near the park's round barn, that
provides fishing opportunities in a more restful setting.
From spring through
fall, visitors will find a wide array of woodland and prairie wildflowers,
including bluebells, Dutchman's breeches, trillium, prairie anemone, yarrow,
field daisies, vervain and goldenrod. While
fewer than 1,000 natural areas exist in Illinois, one of them is located
in Johnson-Sauk Trail State Recreation Area. The area contains a population of skunk
cabbage, an early bloomer that sometimes blossoms in the snow which is rare
for this part of the state.
White-tailed deer,
raccoons, squirrels, opossums and rabbits are among the myriad wildlife
found in the park. Birders have ample opportunities to catch sight
of chickadees, nuthatches, goldfinches and hundreds of other avian visitors.
Picnicking
The park features five picnic
areas with tables and cook stoves/grills. Chief Senachwine Shelter offers electricity and can be reserved at ReserveAmerica.com. Currently, Lakeshore Loop road is closed.
Camping - Currently, the shower builiding will not be open for the 2012 camping season. All camping in Cheif Keokuk Campground will be Class B/E pricing.
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. Currently, Lakeshore Loop Road is closed.
Reservations can be made, for dates between May 1 and November 1, at ReserveAmerica.com for many of the Class A and Blackhawk Group Area. Currenty, Blackhawk Group Area is closed.
A primitive cabin, Chief Tecumseh, also is available. The cabin is located on a slope overlooking Johnson Lake. Reservations must be made using www.reserveamerica.com. There is no cooking, pets or smoking in the cabin. Fire grill, table and BBQ grill are provided outside. A full size 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. The cabin is available April - November; however, during the months of April and November, no water or showers available. May - October, potable water is available within 100 yards of the cabin and the shower building is open.
Cabin Photogallery
Playgrounds
The playground in Chief Keokuk
Campground is available to campers.
Fishing
 The
58-acre lake 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 (electric trolling motor only)
and along the shoreline. Fishing hours are within the above 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. Only electric trolling motors are permitted
on the lake.
Trails
Johnson-Sauk Trail
has 4 miles of trails, ranging from 1/4 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
you can link one to another, providing up to an 8 mile loop around Lake
Johnson. Lakeshore Loop Road is closed, therefore any trails accessed from Lakeshore Loop road require hiking in from the main park road.
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 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 Years). A fee is charged and reservations
can be made for our 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.
Archery Deer Fact Sheet | Spring
Turkey Hunter Fact Sheet | Dove
/ Squirrel Hunter Fact Sheet | Upland Hunter Fact Sheet
Concession
The Red Earth Café and Camper Store is open this season. The Red Earth Café will be open Tuesday through Sunday 8am – 2pm, March and April, serving breakfast and lunch. In May, they will begin serving dinner on Thurs, Fri & Saturday evenings from 5pm – 8pm. The Camper Store will open in May from 7 a.m.-7 p.m., Tues – Sat and 7 a.m.–2 p.m. on Sundays. The Camper Store will provide firewood, ice, snacks and various camping supplies. For more information please contact them at 309-85EARTH (309-853-2784).
Ryan's
Round Barn
 One
of the most unique features of Johnson-Sauk Trail State Recreation Area is the large,
round barn built in 1910 and located near the park entrance. One of the
largest round barns in the country, this architectural marvel stands more
than 80 feet high and is 85 feet in diameter.The barn has a full-size, 16-foot
wide silo inside. Round barns originally were built by religious groups
because they "left no corners in which the devil could hide."
Today, the barn is available to be toured the 1st, 3rd and 5th Saturdays,
May through October from 1p.m. - 4p.m. Tours are provided by Friends of Johnson's
Park Foundation. For more information and barn tour schedule, contact
the park office.
Local Attractions:
Bishop Hill Historical Site: Located 20 miles southwest of Johnson-Sauk State Recreation Area, this National Landmark Village is the perfect place to spend an afternoon or full day. There are museums, eateries, unique gift shops and art galleries, as well as a variety of festivals. For details or assistance in planning your visit to Bishop Hill call (309) 927-3890.
Francis Park: Located 5 miles southeast of Johnson-Sauk State Recreation Area, the unique home of Frederick Francis was built in 1890 out of brick, stone and native wood. The house features disappearing doors and windows, an air cooling system, radiant heat deflectors in the fireplace chimney and running water, all without the benefit of electricity. Admission for the Woodland Palace is $2 for adults, $1 for kids, and is open seven days a week from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. from the end of April to the end of September. (309) 852-0511.
Directions
Johnson Sauk Trail
State Park is located in west central Henry County. The park entrance
is located on the eastern side of IL Rt. 78 just five miles north of Kewanee
or six miles south of I-80 (Exit 33) and Annawan. The entrance is well
marked and easy to find.
- While groups of 25 or
more are welcome and encouraged to use the park's facilities, they are required
to register in advance with the site office to avoid crowding or scheduling
conflicts.
- At least one responsible
adult must accompany each group of 15 minors.
- Pets must be kept on
leashes at all times.
- Actions by nature can
result in closed roads and other facilities. Please call ahead to the park
office before you make your trip.
- We hope you enjoy your
stay. Remember, take only memories, leave only footprints.
- For more information
on tourism in Illinois, call the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community
Affairs' Bureau of Tourism at 1-800-2Connect.
- Telecommunication Device
for Deaf and Hearing Impaired Natural Resources Information (217) 782-9175
for TDD only Relay Number 800-526-0844.
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