Silver Springs State Fish and Wildlife Area

Camping

NOTICE: The Youth Group camping area at Silver Springs SFWA is currently closed.

Trails

If exercise or nature study is your goal, a scenic four-mile trail winds along the river and through wooded areas overlooking the lakes at Silver Springs SFWA - perfect for an exhilarating walk or a relaxing stroll. If horseback riding is more to your liking, a seven-mile equestrian trail is located in the wildlife management area and is available for use. The equestrian trail is closed during hunting seasons.

Boating

If you like to feel the spray of water on your face, bring your canoe and enjoy a trip down the Fox River. For lake anglers and those who like to just relax on the water, boating is permitted on Loon and Beaver lakes at Silver Springs SFWA. Gasoline motors are not allowed, however. For those who would like a motorized trip on water, the Fox River is an excellent choice. There's no restriction on motors there, but because of shallow waters in some areas, small motors are recommended. Local businesses offer canoe rental.

Fishing

If you like fishing, two small lakes at Silver Springs SFWA offer catches of channel catfish, large and smallmouth bass, bluegill and crappie. Rainbow trout are stocked twice annually in Loon Lake. All fishing is prohibited in Loon Lake from March 15 until the first Saturday in April, at which time the trout are stocked and fishing may begin. Loon Lake is also closed prior to the fall trout stocking, from October 1 until the third Saturday in October. For the river fisherman, the Fox River provides good bank and boat fishing. The river yields excellent catches of large and smallmouth bass, bluegill, crappie, channel catfish, bullhead, carp, northern pike or muskie.

More Information at IFish Illinois

​Accessibility at Silver Springs:

• Parking - The parking lot is asphalt, and there are two accessible parking spaces at the park office. There is a 50' distance from the information kiosk to the office. The sidewalks are concrete. There is a wheelchair ramp into the office.
• Fishing - There is an accessible fishing pier with a wood surface and an approximately 570' distance from the east parking lot. There are two accessible parking spaces available.
• Restrooms - There are four accessible restrooms at the park. Two vault toilets are located in the east entrance day-use area of Loon Lake. The third is located along the Fox View picnic area, and the fourth is in the Tall Oaks picnic area (west entrance). The park office does not have public restrooms.
• Picnicking - There is an accessible shelter at the Tall Oaks Picnic area with parking in an asphalt lot. There is approximately a 115' distance from the lot to the shelter.
• Service animals are welcome in the park. There are drinking fountains with spigots for water bowls available in the park.