“known as a badger refuge”
Whether you visit for an afternoon or stay a few days, you will leave Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Recreation Area with many happy memories. Located in Stephenson County just west of Route 73 on Lake Road, the park is 6 miles south of the Illinois-Wisconsin state line and 3 miles north of Lena. Highlighted by a 40-acre lake and all the recreational opportunities there, the park also offers multi-use trails, picnic areas, and RV, tent, equestrian and youth group campgrounds. Developed as part of a statewide plan to provide Illinois citizens with recreational opportunities close to home, the park was started with a land acquisition program in 1948 and dedicated as a 715-acre state recreation area 10 years later. Lake Le-Aqua-Na’s name is the result of a contest sponsored by the Stephenson County Sportmans Club, one of the park’s many sponsors. The name is a combination of the town of Lena and the Latin word for water, aqua. Oak, hickory, walnut and other hardwood trees are in abundance, along with large tracts of pine plantation. A good variety of woodland wildflowers, including Dutchmans breeches, bloodroot and bluebells, cover the ground in the spring and early summer. Squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits and other small animals are often seen in the wooded areas, and deer also are frequently sighted.Observant visitors might catch a glimpse of a badger. For many years, Lake Le-Aqua-Na was the only state recreation area where badgers could be seen. They have begun to populate other state recreation areas and are becoming less rare. Three engagements of the Black Hawk War took place within a few miles of the park, and a minor skirmish occurred near the park in the mid-1800s. A year after the war ended, the first permanent settler in Stephenson County, William Waddams, built a home just west of the current park site, along a trail that was to become the principal east-west route across northern Illinois for stagecoach and early automobile traffic. A small community was established and extended east into the park site.
Reviews of Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Recreation Area
5 people have reviewed this location
Ratings Summary
Cell Coverage
Verizon 4G
Confirmed by 2 users | Last reported on October 13, 2022AT&T 4G/5G
Confirmed by 2 users | Last reported on September 30, 2019Great hidden gem! We were one of about a dozen campers. Sites a bit close so if this ever was packed, it would be packed! Nice clean shower house. Neat hiking trails. Lake looked like a fun fishing spot. Restaurant available for those of us who forgot coffee!
Lake Le Aqua -Na State Recreational Area
This is a pretty state park area especially in the fall. Summer could be busy as it is near the Lake. I was there in September and another time in October so really not that many campers. In 2012, the summer was a hot one in Illinois, and many lakes including this one had green algae so no swimming. This may be one of the reasons it wasn't quite so busy. I probably like some of the end sites best.
Hiking trails from campground were nice and hike at Apple River Canyon! Kayaked the Pecotonia River (Farwell Bridge to Sumner Park). At Sumner Park there is a dam, but several of my crazy friends went down it without injury. Since Q-dog would probably follow me over it, I just put out before the dam.
Nightly Rate: -
Days Stayed: 14
Site Number: 13 & 11
I stayed here on the weekend before Memorial Day and there were only about 12-15 other campers here. I was a nice campground--lots of grass and trees. The electric-only sites were reasonably spaced apart, but somewhat unlevel. There was a fire pit/grill at every site. Very quiet and the camp hosts were very nice. They had some maps and firewood for sale. Good dump station. I didn't need water so didn't use any of the sources available. The bathrooms/showers were very clean and the hot shower was good. The hiking trails were nice but none are near the water. The park road going to the campground was pretty rough. Overall it was a good experience.
Nightly Rate: $20.00
Days Stayed: 2
Site Number: 122
Cell Coverage Rating
Verizon 4G
AT&T
I spent a lot of time in Lena during my childhood, so Lake Le-Aqua-Na has special significance. My family used to get ice cream flurries at the Lena Drive-Inn down the street, then drive slowly through this park at dusk, looking for deer at the salt licks.
The campground is spacious, $20/night, electric hookups at every site. Most sites are not super level, but many have shade. There’s a separate campground for tents.
They’ve temporarily drained the lake to clear out some of the silt and are planning to do major repairs to the roads over the next year, so many areas may be closed in the near future.
Sweet Gum Trail is a nice walk. Just enjoy the vibe of this special park!
Nightly Rate: $20.00
Days Stayed: 1
Site Number: 103
Cell Coverage Rating
AT&T 4G
A bit off the beaten path just over the border with Wisconsin. Was here on October 13. The hard wood trees were putting on a colorful show. Mid week and there were about 10 or so other RVs. All the sites in this campground, Hilltop, have electricity. Some have 50 amp . Water is available through out the park at various spigots. Dump station and shower use include with camping fee. Both were well kept and clean. Roads are paved. Sites are mostly flat with gravel. A few of the sites, especially the ones away from the center had slopes to them. But for the most part you could back in and not have to do much or anything to be level.
Nightly Rate: -
Days Stayed: 1
Site Number: -
Cell Coverage Rating
Verizon 4G
We were going to stop for a picnic but it’s closed for Covid. Make sure you check before you drive out there!
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Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Recreation Area
Hours
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Parking
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Pets Allowed
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Restrooms
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Wifi
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Wheelchair Accessible
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Credit Cards Accepted
- Affiliation
- State park or forest
- Back In RV Sites Count
- 20
- Last Nightly Rate
- 20.0
- Longest Vehicle Length Reported
- 50.0
- Lowest Nightly Rate
- 20.0
- Max Length
- 80ft
- Max Stay
- 14
- Sites Count
- 170
- Standard Tent Sites Count
- 35
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Paved Sites
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Fifty Amp
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Full Hookup
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Rec Facilities
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Pull Through
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Tent Sites
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Dump Station
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Big Rigs
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Open Seasonally
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Age Restricted
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Back In RV Sites
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Boondock
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Cabin Sites
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Dispersed Sites
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Firewood
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Fulltime Residents
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Group Tent Sites
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Laundry
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Mobile Homes
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Permit Required
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Propane
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Public Water
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Pull Through RV Sites
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Reservations
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Sewer Hookup
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Showers
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Sites
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Standard Tent Sites
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Vehicle Wash Permitted
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Water Hookup
Campground
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