Photo: Nyttend · Public domainFew parks or trails are on the map in Elsah
32% of Elsah’s land is conserved, about 219 acres. 9 acres are parks and preserves, 12 per 1,000 residents. 2.9 miles of mapped trail cross Elsah, 2.7 per square mile of land.
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
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219 conserved acres
32% of Elsah’s land. Who manages Elsah’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Principia Hill Prairies - East Natural Heritage Landmark Private Historic or Cultural | Private owners | 138 | Open |
| Principia Hill Prairies East Private Conservation | Private owners | 58 | Restricted |
| Principia Hill Prairies - West Natural Heritage Landmark Private Historic or Cultural | Private owners | 17 | Open |
| Vadalabene Bike Trail State Recreation Area | Other state land | 7 | Open |
| Principia Hill Prairies West Private Conservation | Private owners | 6 | Restricted |
2 places to go in Elsah
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
1 scenic view without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
1 named trail
4.4 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
2 places on the National Register, one a National Historic Landmark
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service). The map also marks 2 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
The walking year in Elsah
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) | 9.7 | 10.7 | 11.8 | 13.2 | 14.3 | 14.9 | 14.6 | 13.7 | 12.4 | 11.1 | 10.0 | 9.4 |
| High (°F) | 39 | 45 | 55 | 67 | 76 | 85 | 88 | 87 | 80 | 69 | 55 | 44 |
| Rain (in) | 2.4 | 2.2 | 3.2 | 4.6 | 4.9 | 4.2 | 3.9 | 3.6 | 3.3 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 2.5 |
February is the driest month (2.2 in) and July the warmest (highs of 88 °F). 4.9 inches fall in May, the wettest month. Summer highs reach 88 °F, too hot for the outline. The climate in Elsah →
Questions about parks and trails in Elsah
Where can I bike in Elsah?
4.4 miles of bike routes are on the map: 2.9 of painted or protected lanes and 1.5 of off-road paths.
Is there public land near Elsah?
3,834 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Elsah or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 9 of them inside the town line.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Elsah neighbors.
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 →