Moraine View State Recreation Area

27374 Moraine View Park Rd.
LeRoy, IL 61752
(309) 724-8032

With fully developed facilities for picnicking, camping, hiking, swimming, fishing, boating, horseback riding and hunting, the 1,687-acre Moraine View State Recreation Area, with its 158-acre lake, is a beautiful, convenient and accessible locale for relaxation and recreation.

From I 74, Exit #149 at LeRoy. Follow signs into LeRoy. Turn left on US 150 to Casey General Store. Turn Right on LeRoy-Lexington blacktop (County Hwy. 21). North to sign (Moraine View State Park), next right. Follow road into park, past main entrance to flagpole.

When the glaciers of the last Ice Age moved through central Illinois 14,000 years ago, they pushed massive amounts of rock and earth before them, leaving in their wake long and expansive ridges that ripple across the landscape. Scientist call these irregular crests “moraines.” On their gentle swells and their broad valleys are scattered groves of white oak, red oak, black walnut, maple, hickory, ash and elm.

One of the four largest of these moraines in Illinois “the Bloomington Moraine” stretches across the state from Elgin to the Illinois River at Peoria east to Saybrook. In the middle of this sprawling feature, Moraine View State Recreation Area provides an ideal opportunity to enjoy both the tranquil natural beauty of Midwestern woodland and refreshing outdoor activity.

In 1959 the State of Illinois purchased 760 acres in Dawson Township. The state awarded clearing contracts in 1960, and by July of 1962, construction had begun on a dam on the North Fork tributary of Salt Creek between US 150 and Illinois Route 9. In 1963, they opened the resulting lake, called Dawson Lake after the families of early settlers, for fishing.

Originally known as the McLean County Conservation Area, additional acquisitions have expanded the area to its present 1,687 acres, and in 1975, the state designated it as Moraine View State Recreation Area.

Picnicking

There are five picnic shelters, three available for reservations and two for first-come, first-serve use. There are four playground areas for the kids.

History

When early Europeans first arrived in this area, they found the Kickapoo and Potawatomi Indian tribes peacefully sharing the countryside. Following the War of 1812, the tribes signed a treaty with the Europeans enabling them to continue to live on the land and take game until white settlers moved in. In 1830 there were 630 Kickapoo living in a village in “Old Town Timber” south of Ellsworth.

The scattered groves of timber along the streams provided these early settlers with shelter from the bitter winds of winter, building materials, fuel and shade. The wet, sometimes marshy, prairie lands, though tough and difficult to turn with their primitive implements, were gradually drained or cleared, and small farms sprang up everywhere, taking advantage of the rich fertile soils left by the glacial retreat.

Lake Activities

A concession stand, located near the boat dock and launch, offers dock and boat rental, fishing tackle, bait, refreshments and various supplies. A restaurant, seating 60, serves breakfast and lunch daily. For information, call (309) 724-8295.

Fishing

The state regularly stocks the lake with largemouth bass, bluegill, sunfish, bullhead, crappie, channel catfish, walleye, yellow perch and northern pike.

Boating

Drifting and bobbing on the glittering expanse of Dawson Lake is one of the site's most popular activities, whether aboard a sailboat or in a motor craft of 10 horsepower or less. Presently, an idle-speed/no-wake speed limit exists for boat motors over 10 horsepower. There is a two-lane launching ramp and docking facility and boat rentals are available at the concession stand.

Swimming

The Black Locust picnic area includes a public, sandy beach where swimming is permitted from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The park does not allow alcohol or pets on the beach, and swimmers are to remain in the buoyed area. There are no lifeguards.

Hiking

The half-mile Tanglewood Self-Guiding Nature Trail winds around the lake finger in a wooded area and will take you within sight of a thriving beaver dam and lodge. Tall Timber Trail, a 1.5-mile backpack and hiking trail over moderate terrain, also provides sites for primitive camping along its course. The Timber Point Handicapped Trail is a half-mile long opportunity for the disabled visitor to enjoy the pleasures of the woods as well.

Horseback Riding

More than 10 miles of bridle paths on Timberline Ridge Trail wind through most of the area. There is an equestrian campground available and horses are available at the stables for group trail rides.

Winter Sports

When the season brings sufficient snow, 7 miles of trails are open for cross-country skiing, and the field trial trails accommodate the higher horsepower of snowmobiles. Ice fishing and ice-skating are available when the ice is thick enough.

Hunting

Thirteen hundred acres of this are open to public hunting in season. Moraine View is one of eight sites in Illinois that has nine weeks of controlled pheasant hunting. Please consult the park office for specific information concerning hunting and opening dates for various species.

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