Emiquon Preserve
Managed by The Nature Conservancy
3,602 acres
Dogs usually not allowed
No trailhead mapped yetWebsite ↗
Photo: Nyttend · Public domain–Not graded
Outdoors in Waterford Township
More than half of Waterford Township’s land is conserved: 54%
54% of Waterford Township’s land is conserved, about 7,274 acres. 235 acres are parks and preserves, 1,468 per 1,000 residents. 1.1 miles of mapped trail cross Waterford Township, 0.1 per square mile of land.
Conserved land
54%
7,274 acres · of 21.0 sq mi of land
Trails
1.1 mi
0.1 per sq mi of land
Park land
235 ac
1,468 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
27%
of residents within ½ mile
Lakes & rivers
1
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.
Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge
Managed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Serive
2,148 acres0.1 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Who protects it
7,274 conserved acres
54% of Waterford Township’s land. Who manages Waterford Township’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service4,775 ac
Land trusts & nonprofits4,286 ac
USDA easements (NRCS)4,120 ac
Regional Water Districts255 ac
State natural resources235 ac
National Wildlife Refuge · 4,775 acConservation Easement · 4,375 acPrivate Conservation · 4,286 acState Historic or Cultural Area · 235 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 373 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. Public access isn’t recorded for 2 of 9 parcels. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge National Wildlife Refuge | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | 4,775 | Restricted |
| Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge Fee Private Conservation | Land trusts & nonprofits | 4,259 | Unknown |
| Dickson Mounds Museum State Historic or Cultural Area | State natural resources | 235 | Open |
| Illinois River Floodplain Complex Fee Private Conservation | Land trusts & nonprofits | 26 | Unknown |
Trails & water
1 lakes & rivers
Lakes & rivers tap for directions
History along the way
History →3 places on the National Register
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.
When to get out
August is the best month for walking in Waterford 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) | 9.6 | 10.6 | 11.8 | 13.2 | 14.4 | 15.0 | 14.8 | 13.8 | 12.4 | 11.0 | 9.9 | 9.3 |
| High (°F) | 34 | 40 | 52 | 65 | 75 | 84 | 87 | 85 | 79 | 66 | 52 | 39 |
| Rain (in) | 1.9 | 1.9 | 2.5 | 4.1 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.1 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 3.2 | 2.7 | 2.0 |
February is the driest month (1.9 in) and July the warmest (highs of 87 °F). 4.8 inches fall in May, the wettest month. Summer highs reach 87 °F, too hot for the outline. The climate in Waterford Township →
Next door
Waterford Township and its neighbors
Tap a town to see its outdoors.
Quiver Township41 miIsabel Township5.4 miHavana Township3.9 miHavana1.8 miWaterford Township1.1 miLewistown Township0.3 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterford Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Isabel Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Quiver Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Lewistown Township | 1% | under 0.1 | 87 | 78% | C+ |
| Havana Township | 1% | 0.1 | 17 | 65% | C+ |
| Havana | 4% | 0.6 | 24 | 95% | A− |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Waterford Township
Where can I hike in Waterford Township?
The longest trail networks: Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge, 0.1 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
Are dogs allowed on Waterford Township’s trails?
Emiquon Preserve and Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Is there public land near Waterford Township?
22,274 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Waterford Township or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 235 of them inside the town line.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Waterford 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 →