Beaver Dam State Park
Managed by Illinois Department of Natural Resources
718 acres5.5 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
–Not graded
Outdoors in Polk Township
Few parks or trails are on the map in Polk Township
The biggest trail networks: Beaver Dam State Park (5.5 mi). 9% of Polk Township’s land is conserved, about 2,074 acres. 699 acres are parks and preserves, 1,584 per 1,000 residents.
Conserved land
9%
2,074 acres · of 35.9 sq mi of land
Trails
6.2 mi
0.2 per sq mi of land
Park land
699 ac
1,584 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
13%
of residents within ½ mile
Lakes & rivers
2
1 boat launch
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 Beaver Dam State Park, with 5.5 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Who protects it
2,074 conserved acres
9% of Polk Township’s land. Who manages Polk Township’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
Regional Water Districts1,205 ac
State natural resources700 ac
Private owners153 ac
USDA easements (NRCS)29 ac
State conservation9 ac
Conservation Easement · 1,244 acState Park · 697 acPrivate Historic or Cultural · 105 acState Recreation Area · 42 acState Conservation Area · 10 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 1,221 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beaver Dam State Park State Park | State natural resources | 697 | Open |
| Bullard Lake Club Natural Heritage Landmark Private Historic or Cultural | Private owners | 105 | Closed |
| Bullard Lake Club State Recreation Area | Private owners | 42 | Closed |
| Roderick Prairie Nature Preserve State Conservation Area | Private owners | 6 | Closed |
| Denby Prairie State Natural Area State Conservation Area | State natural resources | 4 | Open |
Things to do
8 places to go in Polk Township
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Playgrounds in Polk Township
1 playground without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Boat launches in Polk Township
Beaver DamIn Beaver Dam State Park
DirectionsScenic views in Polk Township
1 scenic view without a name on the map.
Campgrounds in Polk Township
21In Beaver Dam State Park
DirectionsBeaver DamIn Beaver Dam State Park
DirectionsBeaver denIn Beaver Dam State Park
DirectionsQuail NestIn Beaver Dam State Park
DirectionsTent CampingIn Beaver Dam State Park
DirectionsTrails & water
2 lakes & rivers
Lakes & rivers tap for directions
Biking & sports
0.0 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
Courts & fields
1Basketball
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
When to get out
August is the best month for walking in Polk Township
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 | 14.7 | 13.7 | 12.4 | 11.1 | 10.0 | 9.4 |
| High (°F) | 37 | 42 | 53 | 65 | 75 | 84 | 87 | 86 | 79 | 68 | 53 | 42 |
| Rain (in) | 2.4 | 2.1 | 3.0 | 4.5 | 4.9 | 4.3 | 3.8 | 3.5 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 2.4 |
February is the driest month (2.1 in) and July the warmest (highs of 87 °F). 4.9 inches fall in May, the wettest month. Summer highs reach 87 °F, too hot for the outline. The climate in Polk Township →
Next door
Polk Township and its neighbors
Polk Township has the most mapped trails of the 3 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polk Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Brushy Mound Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Bird Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Polk Township
Where can I hike in Polk Township?
The longest trail networks: Beaver Dam State Park, 5.5 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
Are dogs allowed on Polk Township’s trails?
Beaver Dam State Park doesn’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Is there public land near Polk Township?
1,326 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Polk Township or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 699 of them inside the town line.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Polk Township 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 →