Mazonia-Braidwood State Fish and Wildlife Area
- Status
- Open (per official listing)
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Not stated — check with park
- Camping
- None listed
- Official site
- dnr.illinois.gov(815) 237-0063
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 1
Partial closure Park noticeNotice: Bullhead Lake is open to paddle vessels but is closed to larger boats due to ramp issues.
Posted by the park. Official alert
Overview
Mazonia-Braidwood State Fish and Wildlife Area is a 2,816-acre recreation area in Grundy County, about 3 miles northeast of Gardner.
Fees and passes
Free: 'The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) does not charge an Entrance Fee to any state owned or operated land.' Camping, cabins and shelters are fee-based.
Statewide fee rule from Illinois's park system; this park’s page doesn’t list its own fees.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- ExploreMoreIL (IDNR camping, cabins, group camps and shelters)
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Things to do
Boating and paddling
Boating
Braidwood Lake can become very dangerous and special precautions should be utilized. A wind warning system is in place by a flagpole located at the Cemetery Boat Ramp and the Kankakee Boat Ramp. The flag system displays predicted weather conditions for that day. Different colored flags will be raised to depict the weather conditions. The lake will be closed with 30 MPH winds.
No horsepower limitations; maximum speed limit is 40 MPH except in designated 'no wake' and 'hazard' areas; working gasoline engine required as main propulsion unit; boats under 14' foot are not recommended.
Fishing
Hunting and Fishing
Fishing and hunting are permitted on a seasonal basis and are subject to site regulations. Fishing closes 10 days prior to the Central Zone waterfowl season and reopens at the conclusion of the central duck season.
Fishing Information:
- Braidwood
- Mazonia North Unit
A state fishing license is usually required.
Accessibility
Accessibility at Mazonia-Braidwood:
•
Parking - The parking lots are asphalt with accessible parking spaces at the park office, North Ramp, and South Ramp. There is approximately a 20' distance to the park office from the parking lot. Park has concrete sidewalks. The park office door has an ADA accessible handle.
•
Restrooms - There are vault toilets available throughout the park.
•
Fishing - Bufflehead Lake Blind #2 is an accessible, wooden fishing pier with a 20' distance from the parking area.
•
Hunting - There is an accessible waterfowl blind on Goose Lake (blind #8). To reserve the blind, please call the park office at 815-237-0063 at least 48 hours in advance of the day you would like to hunt.
•
Service animals are welcome in the park, but there are no outdoor water fountains.
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- IL Route 53 & Huston Rd.
Braceville, IL 60407 - Nearest town
- Gardner — about 3 mi northeast (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 41.2150, -88.2700
- Phone
- (815) 237-0063
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Illinois State Parks (IDNR state parks and recreation areas) — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- IDNR All Parks list (AEM content-fragment list JSON) + each unit's landing page for official title, coordinates, address, phone
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology