At this secluded Conservation Area in southwest Illinois, campers, sportsmen and trail riders all have it made in the shade. Rando lph Coun ty Esc ap e

Story By Joe McFarland he angler seated in the small fishing boat on Randolph County Photos By Adele Hodde Lake paused before making another cast. Until a moment earlier, he had the lake nearly to hTimself. Finally, he responded with a Looking for a peaceful reluctant wave of his hand. Yet he retreat in rural Illinois? seemed nervous about the inquiry. Randolph County “A few,” the gray-haired man replied, Conservation Area has a the standard response of all fishermen. Then he looked away again, fearful, great supply of both. perhaps, he might be expected to tell the truth. The truth is, fishing at this 65-acre lake in the forests of southern Illinois hill country really is no secret—not for the ini - fishermen who come here for trout still tiated regulars who come here. Randolph manage to catch a few into the summer.” County Lake boasts a strong fishery, and As she described the comparatively not just for traditional southern species. unique fishing opportunities at Ran - “Last week, a fisherman caught a 25- dolph County Conservation Area, a inch walleye that weighed almost 9 mounted black crappie of distracting pounds,” said Joan Bade, site superin - proportions hung from the wall beside tendent for the secluded Randolph the park office counter. County Conservation Area. From her “That came from here,” Bade office at the end of a winding forest acknowledged the massive panfish, Anglers find plenty of room to cast road, Bade described the rainbow trout then added as an update: “The crappie at Randolph County Lake. The anglers hook here throughout the year. fishing has been pretty good.” popular site attracts visitors seeking “Because the lake is deep, trout can Such pronouncements remain relative survive in the cool water year-around,” secrets in this part of rural Illinois, but not great fishing—and solitude. Bade explained. “They’re stocked in the because of any conspiratorial code fall for the Catchable Trout program, but among fishermen. The forests prevent conversations from traveling very far. 12 / Outdoor Illinois August 2005 Located five miles northeast of Chester, which overlooks the Mississippi River in southwest Illinois, Randolph County Conservation Area would seem a million miles from nowhere at times. But for all of the right reasons. Peace and quiet are limitless commodities at this 1,101-acre retreat in the forest, where even the sound of a closing camper door dissolves within sight. No major highways or airports border the This is a part of Illinois where man- With 610 acres of forest, 210 acres park. It’s 5 miles of pleasant country dri - made sound doesn’t travel far, and there of open grassland and a 65-acre ving before the city limits of historic is no reason to want it otherwise. lake, visitors to Randolph County Chester come into view. Beyond that, “We almost never have a problem the shimmering Mississippi River passes with rowdy campers or noise in the Conservation Area find exactly the below rocky bluffs. park,” explained Conservation Officer nature they seek. Ralph Sievers, who patrols the site on a August 2005 Outdoor Illinois / 13 Boaters on Randolph County to the boat launch, site office and nearly Lake take it easy with a 10 horse - every other major site destination. “We have 95 Class C camping sites power limit. here,” Bade said. “But there are no elec - regular basis. “It really is a peaceful tric hookups.” place where families can have picnics or There is a dump station for campers, camp out without much distraction.” pit toilets and tables and grills. Yet Of course, welcome distractions do camping here—$8 per night—is a more await the outdoor recreationist at Ran - traditional experience, without shower Channel catfish are plentiful in the dolph County Conservation Area. While facilities or electricity. 65-acre lake, which also is stocked fishermen haul in everything from wall - It would seem this conservation eye to rainbow trout in the deep, man- area was created specifically with visi - with rainbow trout, largemouth made impoundment in the woods, tor’s peace in mind. The isolated bass, walleye, bluegill and crappie. equestrian owners saddle up and ride acreage is bordered by pastoral proper - along some 13 miles of horse trails. Dur - ties where livestock and farm equipment day of fishing, to picnic, stroll the trails ing the winter, cross-country skiers take outnumber actual residents. Lands or observe wildlife. There are six shady advantage of the occasional snow cover which would become Randolph County picnic areas, complete with shelters, to glide along the well-maintained Conservation Area were purchased by water fountains, fire grills and picnic equestrian trails. the state in 1958, and after construction tables. Some of the picnic shelters can “We have people compliment us on of a dam and spillway along Little Mary’s be reserved for groups. the quality of our horse trails,” Bade Creek, the 65-acre Randolph County Hunters find a bonanza of squirrels noted, explaining how the wide path - Lake was completed in 1961. in the oak-hickory forests, as well as ways are free from hat-knocking branch - Today the site attracts 266,000 visi - wild turkeys and white-tailed deer. Dove, es and deep potholes. And while there tors annually, many of whom come for a rabbit and quail also attract upland are some 2 miles of interconnecting, designated hiking trails throughout the upland habitats of this conservation area, “A lot of people hike on the eques - trian trails, which you are allowed to do here,” Bade added. Of the total acreage of this conserva - tion area, more than half consists of oak-hickory forest on lazy, rolling hills. Paved roads connect the campgrounds

Kids just want to play outdoors? Randolph County Conservation Area offers that option.

14 / Outdoor Illinois August 2005 game hunters. All hunters must check in at the park office before heading afield. Although there are wildlife food plots here, rolling hills of agricultural fields beyond the site boundaries offer up classic Illinois bucks that visit the con - servation area. Deer hunting is limited to archery. Shotgun hunting is permitted for other species in season. Trapping is allowed during the winter season, with water sets and box traps only. Site per - mits, issued through a Springfield draw - ing, are required for spring turkey hunt - ing as well as for winter trapping. A concession stand near the lake’s northern boat launch awaits reopening, powered cartoon hero in 1929. There are 95 Class C camping sites which means anglers seeking bait Two nearby sites managed by Ran - available without electricity for a should make alternate plans ahead. Live dolph County Conservation Area include peace-and-quiet experience in the bait is available in Chester 5 miles away. Turkey Bluffs State Fish and Wildlife So are other essential supplies for the Area (a favorite of spring gobbler hills of southern Illinois. outdoor recreationist, including a scoop hunters, as well as whitetail enthusi - of ice cream, groceries, fine dining and— asts), along with the prehistoric treasure To sharpen wingshooting skills, a for those drawn to such quirks—don’t known as Piney Creek Nature Preserve, bring-your-own-supplies trap field is forget to visit the Popeye Museum on listed on the National Register of His - located at the conservation area. There State Street, a hometown salute to the toric Places and featuring the state’s is no archery range. Chester native who created the spinach- largest known collection of aboriginal On the lake, boaters are limited to 10 rock art in Illinois, in addition to the horsepower engines, and anglers are namesake shortleaf pine forest. Both allowed to use no more than two poles. Facts at a sites are located off Illinois Route 3, There is a creel limit of six fish daily for glance south of the conservation area, but still channel catfish. A 14-inch minimum within Randolph County. length limit is in effect for largemouth Randolph and smallmouth bass, with a limit of no County State more than three per day. There’s no An equestrian Class C campground Conservation limit for crappie or bluegill. The limit on Area, at the 13-mile trail head offers walleye/saugeye is 14 inches, with a 4301 S. Lake eight stalls for horses, available on daily limit of six. Drive, Chester, IL Randollph 62233. Countty Sttatte a first-come, first-served basis. The forest hills and nearby Kaskaskia Telephone: Conservattiion River bottoms attract morel mushroom Area There is no additional charge for (618) 826-2706. hunters during April. Following summer Website: www.dnr.state. the use of stalls, but owners must thunderstorms between June and il.us/lands/landmgt/PARKS/ clean up before they leave. R4/RAND.HTM. August, yellow-orange chanterelles—a Directions: Randolph County SCA is popular but rarely collected edible wild located off Illinois Route 150, 5 miles mushroom—appear scattered across northeast of Chester, which is located the forest floor near oak trees. on Illinois Route 3. Those who visit Randolph County Conservation Area seem to forget what - ever worldly troubles they left behind. But they always remember their visit. “Most of our visitors are repeat visi - tors,” site superintendent Bade observed. “And not just from nearby Chester. We draw a lot of people from the Belleville area as well as St. Louis.”

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