Cache River State Natural Area
Managed by Illinois Department of Natural Resources
546 acres0.6 mi of trail
Walking Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the trailheadWebsite ↗
–Not graded
Outdoors in Karnak
48% of Karnak’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. The biggest trail networks: Cache River State Natural Area (0.6 mi). 48% of Karnak’s land is conserved, about 557 acres.
Conserved land
48%
557 acres · of 1.8 sq mi of land
Trails
0.6 mi
0.3 per sq mi of land
Park land
30 ac
63 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
99%+
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
1.7 mi
1.7 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
The longest trail network is Cache River State Natural Area, with 0.6 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Who protects it
557 conserved acres
48% of Karnak’s land. Who manages Karnak’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
State conservation1,030 ac
State natural resources498 ac
USDA easements (NRCS)136 ac
Other state land36 ac
Conservation Easement · 1,166 acState Conservation Area · 498 acState Recreation Area · 36 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 28 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cache River State Natural Area State Conservation Area | State natural resources | 498 | Open |
| Tunnel Hill State Recreation Area | Other state land | 36 | Open |
Things to do
1 places to go in Karnak
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Campgrounds in Karnak
Main Brothers CampgroundFee · Village of Karnak
DirectionsTrails & water
1 named trail
Named trails
Walking Trail0.3 mi
Biking & sports
1.7 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
1.7 mi
off-road bike paths
Courts & fields
1Baseball
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
When to get out
June is the best month for walking in Karnak
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 | 5.2 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 3.1 | 3.3 | 3.9 | 4.5 | 4.1 |
August is the driest month (3.1 in) and July the warmest (highs of 89 °F). 5.2 inches fall in May, the wettest month. Summer highs reach 89 °F, too hot for the outline. The climate in Karnak →
Questions about parks and trails in Karnak
Where can I hike in Karnak?
The longest trail networks: Cache River State Natural Area, 0.6 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
Are dogs allowed on Karnak’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 Karnak?
1.7 miles of bike routes are on the map: 1.7 of off-road paths.
Is there public land near Karnak?
7,967 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Karnak or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 30 of them inside the town line.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Karnak 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 →