Kincaid Lake is located about 5 miles north of Murphysboro in southwestern Illinois. Built in 1968, it encompasses 2,750 acres and is easily one of the most beautiful of the Illinois lakes. The ownership of the surrounding land is divided up amongst the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, which oversees roughly 4,000 acres, the U.S. Forest Service, which manages 5,000 acres and the Kinkaid-Reed's Creek Conservancy District, which takes care of the remaining 300 acres.

The U.S. Forest Service permits camping, as does the Kinkaid-Reed's Creek Conservancy District at Johnson Creek Recreation Area and Kinkaid Village Marina. Only the DNR does not allow camping on its property. Kincaid Lake offers anglers a chance to go fishing for largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, catfish, walleye and muskie. A valid Illinois fishing license is required. Species available for hunting include deer, turkey, squirrel, quail, rabbit, dove and some waterfowl. An Illinois hunting license is required. There are 4 boat ramps are available to the public with at the full-service marina. There are no horsepower restrictions, but there are numerous no-wake areas on the lake.

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