Lincoln Woods
Rate this placeNearby: Burr Oak Lincoln Greenway
Last Updated: December 5, 2025
Lincoln Woods is a state park located in the state of Illinois.
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Summary
It is a popular destination for visitors due to its stunning natural beauty and recreational opportunities. The park is located in the Sangamon River Valley and features rolling hills, forests, and a large lake.
There are many reasons to visit Lincoln Woods, including hiking, fishing, picnicking, and boating. The park has many trails for visitors to explore and offers opportunities to view wildlife such as deer, turkeys, and bald eagles. Visitors can also enjoy swimming, boating, and fishing in Lincoln Woods Lake.
Some specific points of interest to see in Lincoln Woods include the park's historic stone bridge, which was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, and the Lincoln Trail Homestead State Memorial, which commemorates the site where Abraham Lincoln's father, Thomas Lincoln, owned land in the early 19th century.
Interesting facts about the area include that Lincoln Woods was named after Abraham Lincoln, who practiced law in nearby Springfield and often visited the park. The park was also used as a training site for World War II soldiers.
The best time of year to visit Lincoln Woods is in the spring or fall when temperatures are mild and the foliage is at its peak. However, the park is open year-round and offers activities such as ice fishing and cross-country skiing in the winter months.
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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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