Public lands in Illinois

23 units whose boundary reaches Illinois, 1.3 million acres counted whole even where a boundary crosses into another state. 13 national wildlife refuges, 8 wilderness areas, 2 national forests and grasslands. Largest first within each type.

National wildlife refuges

All national wildlife refuges →
Refuge · USFWS
Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge
190,553 acres7 campgrounds near
Refuge · USFWS
Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge
45,495 acres1 campground near
Refuge · USFWS
Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge
18,601 acres1 campground near
Refuge · USFWS
Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge
16,622 acresNational Wildlife Refuge
Refuge · USFWS
Great River National Wildlife Refuge
11,823 acresAlso MO
Refuge · USFWS
Middle Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge
8,511 acresAlso MO
Refuge · USFWS
Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge
7,928 acresAlso MO
Refuge · USFWS
Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge
6,582 acresNational Wildlife Refuge
Refuge · USFWS
Clarence Cannon National Wildlife Refuge
3,934 acresAlso MO
Refuge · USFWS
Meredosia National Wildlife Refuge
3,700 acresNational Wildlife Refuge
Refuge · USFWS
Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge
2,692 acresNational Wildlife Refuge
Refuge · USFWS
Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge
1,201 acresAlso WI
Show 1 more
Refuge · USFWS
Kankakee National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area
65 acresNational Wildlife Refuge

Wilderness areas

All wilderness areas →
Wilderness · USFS
Lusk Creek Wilderness
6,352 acresWilderness
Wilderness · USFS
Bald Knob Wilderness
5,800 acres1 campground near
Wilderness · USFS
Clear Springs Wilderness
4,739 acres1 campground near
Wilderness · USFWS
Crab Orchard Wilderness
4,050 acres1 campground near
Wilderness · USFS
Garden of the Gods Wilderness
3,955 acresWilderness
Wilderness · USFS
Burden Falls Wilderness
3,694 acresWilderness
Wilderness · USFS
Bay Creek Wilderness
2,760 acresWilderness
Wilderness · USFS
Panther Den Wilderness
821 acres1 campground near

National forests and grasslands

All national forests and grasslands →
Forest · USFS
Shawnee National Forest
930,027 acres2 campgrounds near
Forest · USFS
Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie
27,566 acresNational Forest

Boundaries come from the agencies’ own layers. A unit is listed in every state its boundary reaches. Data refreshed September 18, 2026.