Kinkaid Lake

About Kinkaid Lake

Kinkaid Lake is a picturesque 2,350 hectare reservoir surrounded by rolling hills and has a population of about 1,500 and a total area of 2.5 million hectares. The lake is bordered in the north and south by the Illinois River, the Mississippi River and the Chicago River as well as the Indiana River.

Kinkaid Lake was founded in 1972 when the Crisenberry Dam took over Kinksaid Creek from Kink Creek. The dam belongs to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Illinois State Water Authority (ISWA).

Kinkaid Lake is known for its numerous recreational activities, while providing water to residents of Jackson and Perry County. The land around the lake belongs to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Illinois State Water Board (ISWA), which monitors water quality. It receives water from Crisenberry Dam and Kinksaid Creek and Kink Creek, as well as from other streams and rivers.

Access to Lake Kinkaid is provided by the Illinois State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Illinois State Water Board (ISWA). Although there are no limits on horsepower, a maximum speed of 60 km / h applies to motor vehicles.

Boaters, canoeists, kayakers and fishermen share the waters of Kinkaid Lake and explore the topography, which ranges from flat expanses of prairie grass to sandstone cliffs and hills covered with oak and hickory trees. The cool waters of Lake Kinksaid are supporting a successful musk-stocking program, with the fish reaching 40 inches just five years later. Illinois also has one of the largest populations of whales in the United States, which grow up to 16 inches tall. Kinkyard Lake is known for its fishing and offers anglers the opportunity to catch a wide variety of fish, from small perch to large white perch, as well as some of the largest perch in Illinois.

In 1998, the DNR established an overflow barrier to prevent the loss of large fish, but in heavy rainfall fish would escape from the lake when flooded. The Illinois Department of Health recommends removing all mercury from Kinkaid Lake and its tributaries to limit the possibility of mercury entering the food chain.

Shawnee National Forest attracts outdoor enthusiasts to Kinkaid Lake and its tributaries, as well as other lakes and rivers in the area. The Buttermilk Hill picnic area offers boat moorings, picnic tables and lavatories on the lake shore, as well as a picnic area with picnic benches and picnic chairs. KinksaidLake's network of paths includes well-maintained hiking trails and a number of picnic areas. Several trails provide access to the trail system, including Hidden Lake Trail, KINKaid River Trail and Lakeview Trail.

Hiking tours range from short circular routes to long, long, multi-day and weekend excursions to opportunities for short day trips.

The Kinkaid Lake Trail is a popular network of hiking trails for demanding hikers, cyclists and mountain bikers.

Cyclists can ride on the waterfall path and forest trails, as well as cross-country skiing and mountain biking on the trails.

Take your time to enjoy the trails in autumn, when the leaves in the forest are majestic, in winter when there is no snow and the covered paths exude an aura of tranquility. The U.S. Forest Service allows a maximum of 14 days on the Kinkaid Lake Trail, a 1,500-foot trail from the waterfall trail to the creek. On August 14, 2011, a tornado crossed the Mississippi and hit an area of 2,450 hectares in the KINKID Lake National Forest, Illinois, north of Chicago.

Parts of the Kinkaid Lake road system have been buried under rubble and the removal of debris is ongoing. Those who take this route should check with the forest office whether the road is clear.

The beach area offers three miles of wakeboarding recreation under the supervision of a lifeguard and the beach is open from May 1 to Labor Day. The campsites and boat moorings are open all year round and family fun is offered with a variety of activities such as canoeing, horse riding, kayaking, fishing and hiking.

The boat ramp provides access to the water for kayaking, canoeing, fishing and other recreational activities, as well as a variety of other activities such as swimming and fishing.

The Crisenberry Dam area, known as the Spillway, is another popular recreational area. At the bottom of the overflow there are picnic tables, barbecues and toilets, and there are also picnic facilities, toilets and play equipment. When the water level of Kinkaid Lake is high, it offers many picturesque photo opportunities, especially in the summer months.

The waterfalls can be dangerous in heavy rain, but in moderate water sitting on the landslides is a popular activity.

The oak and hickory parks around the lake provide ideal habitat for deer and turkeys and are a great place to hike, camp, fish, hunt and other outdoor activities.

Johnson Creek Recreation Area offers easy access to top hunting, but hunting is prohibited within 150 meters of the recreation area. Kinkaid Lake promises fun and relaxation for the whole family, so ask the Illinois DNR for hunting regulations and start planning your next trip to the lake or other outdoor recreation areas in Illinois.