Lincoln Trail Campground

The Great Outdoors

Select one of the RV rentals in Clark County and begin your vacation by heading for Rocky Branch Nature Preserve, near the city of Marshall, which was established in 1983 and is owned by the Eastern Illinois University. Its primary use is for nature education and scientific study, but access is granted to the public for outdoor recreation. Once you're here, you'll observe sandstone outcroppings, mesic upland, dry-mesic and floodplain forests; the floodplain forests consist of sycamore tree stands while the upland forest surrounding the outcroppings consists of oak and hickory stands with the occasional sugar maple tree. You can enjoy the varied scenery while hiking and practice your photography if you wish.Mill Creek Lake and Park is a multi-use park balancing nature preservation with public recreation. It has forested areas surrounding the lake where you can enjoy hiking, horseback riding, and ATV riding, while the lake itself has a boat launch, a fuel dock, and boats that you can rent, and is stocked with largemouth bass and other fish species. Waterfowl hunting and archery hunting are allowed, but you must register with the park before heading out and be familiar with the park regulations. You can swim in the lakes, but there are no beaches or other areas dedicated to swimming, so it is at your own risk (you can swim from boats that are properly marked; no swimming is allowed near the boat launch or dock areas).Crawford County Fish & Wildlife Area is a cultivated park with areas for picnicking that are available on a first-come, first-serve basis and areas where you can hunt for deer or small game such as squirrel or rabbit. There are numerous ponds where you can fish and one area that is a natural reserve; you can hunt in this area, hike, or observe the nature and wildlife, but the plant life should not be disturbed. The park is divided by the Huston Creek from east to west and has areas of bottomland adjacent to its banks; the park's geography is largely rolling hills which are steeper south of the creek than to the north.

Exploring The Area

Illinois is just as popular for its urban centers and culture as it is for its outdoor landscapes, and you may want to spend some time experiencing the nearby towns and cities while camping at Lincoln Trail Campground. Paris has both culture and history; your visit should start with the Edgar County Courthouse, which was built in 1891 and has stunning architecture and interior design. Its interior includes copies of some famous paintings, and the exterior has memorials to fallen soldiers, historical events, and former President Abraham Lincoln.If arts and crafts are your things, there's a pottery studio in Paris where you can create and paint your own pottery, paint an item that has already been spun, or take a class. Younger kids will enjoy a local arcade that offers laser tag and blacklight miniature golf. If you've worked up an appetite by now, Paris has several inexpensive and moderately priced restaurants that include pizzerias, barbecue joints, and Mexican and American cuisine; some of the venues are commercial chain restaurants, so there is something for everyone.Martinsville is also a small but friendly community with a public library, a few urban parks, and picturesque churches. The town's restaurant scene is small, but there are more venues just a short distance away. Most of the menus consist of American food while a few offer Mexican cuisine; prices are inexpensive to moderately priced, making the town a good place to refuel if you are with a larger group.RV vacations don't have to be elaborate; it's one of their unique features, a virtual hotel room on wheels with all the comforts of home. Settle into one of the campsites at Lincoln Trail Campground, and you'll have everything you need to complete the experience.