26 TAHSE SA* U-D3U Bi Os N eB sUs ales bean 
Don't Overlook State Conservation Areas 
For Your Fall-Season Brushes With Nature 
Many public recreational areas are not used to their maximum capacity 
because of the confusion that exists in defining state park recreational areas 
and conservation areas, both administered by the Illinois Department of 
Conservation, says Director Henry Barkhausen. 
More than 100 state park recreational areas are available for public 
use, but many are designated as conservation areas and viewed by the 
public as places open only for hunting use. These are many times over- 
looked as picnic and camping spots during summer months. According to 
statute, some conservation areas are specifically designated as game refuge 
areas and nature preserves, while others serve the dual purpose of game 
management as well as recreational sites. 
Campers who like less crowded areas have discovered the conserva- 
tion area camping sites, says Ronald D. Johnson, superintendent of parks 
and memorials, and these are gaining rapidly in popularity. Some of these, 
with facilities, are: 
eHamilton County Conservation Area near McLeansboro has L. P. 
Dolan Lake with fishing, boating, picnicking, camping with electrical out- 
lets, and hunting available during the designated seasons. Entry is east of 
McLeansboro on Route 460. 
®Henderson County Conservation Area near Delabar State Park and 
the village of Oquawka, has Gladstone Lake for boating, fishing and lake- 
side picnic areas. Campsites are around the lake. 
eMcLean County Conservation Area near Bloomington has fishing, 
boats for rent, camping with electrical outlets, picnicking and a refreshment 
stand. Dawson Lake provides waterfront recreation. 
Randolph County Conservation Area has a lake with shaded camp- 
sites, fishing, sandboxes for children, boats for rent and picnic areas. Access 
is off Route 150 near Chester and the historic state parks of Fort Kaskaskia 
and Fort Chartres. 
eSaline County Conservation Area is a convenient spot to camp for 
visiting the scenic areas in the adjacent Shawnee National Forest, such as 
Pounds Hollow or the Garden of the Gods. Glen O. Jones Lake provides 
waterfront camping, picnicking and fishing areas. Rental boats are available 
for those who are unable to transport their own boats to the area. Access 
is near Equality off Route 13. 
eWayne County Conservation Area, with Sam Dale Lake, is another 
pleasant spot with new roads, camping with electrical connections, fishing 
and picnicking. Access is near Orchardville south of Route 50 near Xenia. 
eSpring Lake Conservation Area near Pekin has picnic areas, camping 
with electrical outlets, boat rental, fishing, duck blinds for hunting and 
new access roads. 
®Washington County Conservation Area has a new campground de- 
velopment with a utility building under construction, lake area, conces- 
sionaire, launching ramps for boats, fishing, picnicking and _ hiking. 
®Horseshoe Lake near Olive Branch, off Route 2 in southern Illinois, 
