Moraine View State Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Moraine View State Park is located in central Illinois, not Michigan.
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Summary
The park covers over 1,700 acres and offers a variety of recreational activities such as camping, hiking, fishing, boating, and more. Visitors can enjoy the park's scenic views of Lake Evergreen and the surrounding forests and prairies.
Some of the specific points of interest in Moraine View State Park include the Hickory Hollow Nature Trail, a 1.5 mile trail that winds through a forest and offers views of the lake, and the Evergreen Lake Dam, which provides excellent opportunities for fishing. The park also has several picnic areas, a beach, and a variety of campsites, including cabins and RV sites.
Interesting facts about the park include that it was created in the 1960s as part of a statewide initiative to provide more outdoor recreational opportunities for Illinois residents. The park is also home to a variety of wildlife, including deer, foxes, and a variety of bird species.
The best time of year to visit Moraine View State Park is during the spring and summer months when the weather is warm and the park is in full swing. However, visitors should be aware that the park can get crowded during peak season, so it's important to plan ahead and make reservations in advance.
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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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