Cotton Tail Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Cotton Tail Park is a popular destination in the state of Illinois, known for its beautiful scenery and diverse wildlife.
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Summary
Some of the best reasons to visit the park include its many hiking trails, fishing opportunities, and camping facilities. The park is home to a variety of animals, including deer, foxes, and several species of birds, making it a great spot for nature lovers.
Some of the specific points of interest in the park include the lake, which is stocked with fish and offers great fishing opportunities, as well as the many picnic areas and playgrounds. The park also boasts a number of historic sites, including an old farmstead and a restored log cabin.
One interesting fact about Cotton Tail Park is that it was once the site of a historic battle during the Civil War. Today, visitors can explore the park's historic sites and learn about the area's rich history.
The best time of year to visit Cotton Tail Park is typically during the spring and summer, when the weather is mild and the park's many outdoor activities are in full swing. However, the park is open year-round and offers a variety of activities throughout the year, including winter hiking and cross-country skiing.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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