Cache River State Natural Area
Managed by Illinois Department of Natural Resources
216 acres
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yetWebsite ↗
Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY-SA 4.0–Not graded
Outdoors in Belknap
37% of Belknap’s land is conserved, and virtually every resident lives within a half mile of a park
Virtually every resident lives within a half mile of a park. 37% of Belknap’s land is conserved, about 241 acres. 18 acres are parks and preserves, 158 per 1,000 residents.
Conserved land
37%
241 acres · of 1.1 sq mi of land
Trails
0.7 mi
0.7 per sq mi of land
Park land
18 ac
158 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
99%+
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
1.2 mi
1.2 mi paths
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Who protects it
241 conserved acres
37% of Belknap’s land. Who manages Belknap’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
State conservation211 ac
USDA easements (NRCS)201 ac
Land trusts & nonprofits172 ac
State natural resources43 ac
Other state land16 ac
Conservation Easement · 412 acPrivate Conservation · 172 acState Conservation Area · 43 acState Recreation Area · 16 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 13 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. Public access isn’t recorded for 1 of 5 parcels. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cache River Wetlands Fee Private Conservation | Land trusts & nonprofits | 172 | Unknown |
| Cache River State Natural Area State Conservation Area | State natural resources | 43 | Open |
| Tunnel Hill State Recreation Area | Other state land | 16 | Open |
Biking & sports
1.2 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
1.2 mi
off-road bike paths
When to get out
June is the best month for walking in Belknap
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.9 | 10.8 | 11.9 | 13.1 | 14.2 | 14.7 | 14.5 | 13.6 | 12.4 | 11.2 | 10.1 | 9.6 |
| High (°F) | 43 | 48 | 58 | 69 | 78 | 86 | 89 | 88 | 82 | 71 | 57 | 47 |
| Rain (in) | 3.6 | 3.6 | 4.7 | 5.1 | 5.1 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 3.9 | 4.4 | 4.1 |
August is the driest month (3.2 in) and July the warmest (highs of 89 °F). 5.1 inches fall in April, the wettest month. Summer highs reach 89 °F, too hot for the outline. The climate in Belknap →
Questions about parks and trails in Belknap
Are dogs allowed on Belknap’s trails?
Cache River State Natural Area doesn’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Belknap?
1.2 miles of bike routes are on the map: 1.2 of off-road paths.
Is there public land near Belknap?
4,321 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Belknap or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 18 of them inside the town line.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Belknap neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →