Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Recreation Area Campground

About

Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Recreation Area occupies rolling Stephenson County terrain three miles north of Lena, Illinois, and six miles south of the Wisconsin state line. The park's centerpiece is a manmade lake with moderately clear water, achieved through careful watershed management and an axial-flow destratifier—one of only a handful of such systems operating in Illinois lakes. Oak, hickory, walnut, and pine plantation trees frame the lake, with spring wildflowers including Dutchman's breeches, bloodroot, and bluebells. Badgers, deer, squirrels, and rabbits inhabit the woods. The campground offers RV, tent, equestrian, and youth group camping spread across several loops including Pine Ridge and Hickory Hills. Electric sites with water hookups are plentiful. A shower building with flush toilets operates from May 1 through November 1; vault toilets are available throughout the park year-round. The equestrian camping area has its own vault toilet and hand pump for water but is closed November 15 through April 15. The RV campground remains open year-round, though the trailer dump station is only operational May through October. Historically, the area saw minor Black Hawk War skirmishes in the mid-1800s and sits near the homestead of William Waddams, Stephenson County's first permanent settler, along what became northern Illinois's principal east-west stagecoach route. Reservations are handled through ExploreMoreIL.

Directions

From Lena, Illinois, head north on IL Route 73 approximately 3 miles, then turn west on Lake Road. The park entrance is at 8542 North Lake Road, Lena, IL 61048.