Parks, Camping, Sports, Hunting & Recreation Facilities

Bureau Junction

Children's Memorial Park

Children's Memorial Park and Playground in downtown Bureau offers a basketball court, shelter, and picnic facilities for public use.

Hormel Ponds

Located northeast of the Children's Memorial Park, Hormel Ponds are a part of the Department of Conservation Natural Lands and offers great fishing for family or solitary outings.

DePue

Lake DePue Park

Enjoy a sunny day along Lake DePue at this park, located on First Street. Playground equipment, camping, and picnic facilities, restrooms, and trailer hook-up are available.

Ladd

Ladd Park

Visit the World War II Army tank that stands in honor of all veterans. A picnic area with a shelter, a playground, and tennis courts provide several recreational options for residents and visitors alike. Restrooms are available.

Princeton

Alexander Park and Pool

Alexander park on Anderson Street offers tennis courts, playground equipment, an outdoor pool, and picnic facilities. Admission is charged for the pool only, which is open to the public in the summer. Restrooms are available near the picnic area. Call 815-872-0840 or use the website www.princetonparkdistrict.org.

Zearing Park

Zearing Park is the site of many community activities, as it offers facilities for soccer, baseball, and sand volleyball as well as picnic shelters, restrooms, and playground equipment. Come early on the 4th of July to get the best seats in the park for the annual fireworks display, sponsored by the Princeton Jaycees. Visit www.princetonparkdistrict.org for more information.

City County Park

Several shelters and outdoor grills are available to picnickers. After a picnic lunch, play catch on the baseball field, let the kids play on the playground equipment, or take a leisurely hike on the nature trails. Route 26 north of Princeton. www.princetonparkdistrict.org

Sheffield

Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park

Originally built at the turn of the 20th century to connect the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers, the Hennepin Canal now provides the public with a perfect location for many recreational activities. This 104.5 mile long state park spans five counties and offers opportunities for hiking, biking, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, fishing, canoeing, boating, hunting, camping, picnicking, and more. At the Visitor Center, located one mile south of Interstate 80 on Route 40, learn about the history of the canal and the plant and animal life that flourishes along the waterway. Segmented hikes are held throughout the year through Friends of the Canal.

Please note the Visitor Center is currently closed weekends! Call 815-454-2328 or visit http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/Landmgt/PARKS/R1/HENNPIN.HTM#Visitor.

Hike the Hennepin

The Friends of the Canal is a local organization that holds monthly hikes along small legs of the Canal and Feeder Canal. One need not be a member of Friends to join in the hikes, which are broken up into roughly 2-5 mile increments between the locks. The hikes are a great way to see what the Canal has to offer. For more information call one of the following members: Ed Hermann at 815-664-2403; Gary Wagle at 309-766-6681; or Pat Stier at 815-454-2502. One can also visit the Friends of the Canal website to learn more about the organization and how to join www.fhcanal.home.mchsi.com/

Grand Illinois Trail

This hiking and biking trail runs throughout Bureau County. A trail for all ages and abilities offering sightseeing and nature experiences with numerous access points. Be sure to pick up a copy of The Complete Grand Illinois Trail Guidebook before you start. Contact First Serve Press at 815-431-1999. 

Mautino State Fish and Wildlife Area

This 871-acre site, including twelve lakes, is part of the Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park. This park is open year round, providing the public with opportunities for hunting, boating, and fishing. You’ll find largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, channel catfish, and crappie living in the lakes, and free boat launch areas are available. Call to find out more about dove and deer hunting 815-454-2328.

Hickory Grove Campground

Take Rt. 40 north of Interstate 80 and look for the sign on the left. Go 1.5 miles to the campground. Private camping with Canal access. Call 815-454-2600.

Recreational Overview

Fishing

Bureau County offers a great variety of excellent locations for those who love to fish. Besides the obvious locations such as the Illinois River, Bureau Creek, and the Hennepin Canal, there are ponds, strip mines, and creeks that offer an angler a great deal of success. Rawson Lake (yearly fee–Contact Robert Jaskowiak 815-659-3047), Ponderosa Wilderness (yearly fee–Contact Duane Wirth 309-288-6561), Strunk's Pond (yearly fee–Contact Kevin Knudsen, 815-872-0329), and Horseshoe Lakes (yearly fee–Contact Dave Brokaw, 309-852-3019) are private and will require a fee. Lake DePue, Little Bureau Creek, Coal Creek, Brush Creek, and Pond Creek can produce some nice catches (locate these on a larger Bureau County map available from the Princeton Chamber or Bureau County Tourism. Many farm ponds are available with proper permission. IMPORTANT: Any creek or pond that borders private property requires permission of the landowner or tenant. A popular event for anglers is the Department of Natural Resources' Inland Trout Season. This is held at the Hennepin Canal Visitor's Center the first weekend of April and the first weekend of October. Proper fishing license and a trout stamp is all that is needed. The Center is open during this event. Fishing licenses and trout stamps can be purchased at Garfield Stier's in Sheffield, through the IDNR website at http://dnr.state.il.us, or by phoning 1-888-673-7648.

Biking & Hiking

Many pleasurable miles are available to bikers and hikers along the Hennepin Canal bike path. Bureau County, along with two others counties offer 91 miles of continuous biking enjoyment. Riders needing parts or other bike gear can pick up items at Bike Works in Peru, Illinois.

Camping

Public camping is available along the Hennepin Canal at Locks 6-11-17-21-22 and Bridge 14 for a fee. Stop at the Hennepin Canal Visitor Center for a map and fee payment (but note the Center is closed on weekends!). Download maps at http://dnr.state.il.us. Private camping plus a boat ramp into the Canal is available at Hickory Grove Campground near Mineral. Call 815-454-2600.

Dove Hunting

Mautino Recreation Area and the Hennepin Canal Visitor Center. Visit the following website in May: www.dnr.state.il.us/admin/waterfowl.htm

Deer Hunting

Archery hunting at the Mautino Recreation Area involves getting a windshield sticker, a deer permit, and proper license. At the Visitor Center, the archers must be registered and a permit applied for before July 31st. Those hunters accepted will be given a territory to hunt. Call 815-454-2328.

Snowmobiling & Cross Country Skiing

Bureau County offers 91 miles of snowmobiling along the Hennepin Canal. Snowmobilers use the bike paths and, when safe, the canal itself. Cross country skiing is also done at the McCune Sand Prairie.

Bird Hunting

Pheasant, chuckar, and quail hunting is available at the Hickory Grove Hunting Club on a membership or special occasion basis. For more information contact Mike Wirth at 815-699-2603.

Horseback Riding

Permitted along the Grand Illinois Trail bike path. There is equestrian camping along the Hennepin Canal to the south side of Lock 21. Please clean up after your horses.

Boating & Canoeing

Concrete pad launching is available along the Hennepin Canal at Locks 21 and 22, the Visitor Center, and the Feeder Canal at bridges 56 and 64. Also along the Illinois River at Barto Landing (north of the river on Rt. 89) and the Spring Valley Boat Club in Spring Valley (south of the river). Canoe launching can be done almost anywhere along the Canal.

Duck Hunting

Bureau County and the Illinois River Valley have renowned duck and goose hunting. The Lake DePue State Fish and Wildlife Area is available on a daily basis with hunters drawing for available blinds. Drawings are usually held in July for the Lake DePue State Fish and Wildlife Area, Bureau County: Registration from 10 A.M.–2 P.M. at Oak Grove Park, 3/4 miles west of DePue on Illinois Route 29. Try the Illinois Department of Natural Resources website at www.dnr.state.il.us/admin/systems.