Summary
The park covers over 3,000 acres and includes a variety of recreational activities such as camping, fishing, hiking, and boating.
One of the main attractions of the park is Lake Okhissa, a 1,100-acre lake that is popular for fishing and boating. The lake is home to a variety of fish species, including bass, catfish, and crappie. The park also has several hiking trails that offer scenic views of the lake and surrounding forested areas.
Other points of interest at Hugh White State Park include the historic McElroy House, which was built in the early 1900s and is available for tours, and the park's many wildlife viewing areas. Visitors can see a variety of wildlife, including deer, turkey, and bald eagles.
The best time to visit Hugh White State Park is during the summer months when the weather is warm and the lake is perfect for swimming and boating. However, the park is also open year-round and offers activities such as hunting and hiking during the fall and winter months.
Overall, Hugh White State Park is a great destination for anyone looking to enjoy the great outdoors in Illinois. With its beautiful lake, scenic hiking trails, and abundant wildlife, it offers something for everyone.
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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.
Related References
Hugh White State Park
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North Abutment - Grenada Lake
Skuna/Turkey Creek - Grenada Lake
Choctaw - Grenada Lake
North Graysport - Grenada Lake