Starved Rock State Park
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When its comes to beautiful scenery, very few parks in the Midwest can compare to Starved Rock State Park. Whether you enjoy hiking along the nature trails or viewing the many spectacular overlooks along the Illinois River, recreational opportunities abound. The best times to see waterfalls are in the spring when the snow and ice melt or after a heavy rainfall. This beautiful park attracts over 2 million visitors a year and is consistently listed as the number 1 attraction in Illinois. At Starved Rock, winter hikes offer amazing views of frozen waterfalls, and the ice covered trees, resemble a winter wonderland. Starved Rock State Park is a world apart from anything else in Illinois! Starved Rock State Park is situated along the south bank of the Illinois River, less than 100 miles from Chicago, at 2668 E 875th Rd., Oglesby, IL 61348. For more information, click here.
Matthiessen State Park
Matthisen State park
Matthiessen is a paradise for those interested in geology, as well as recreation. Visitors can expect to see beautiful rock formations in addition to unusual and abundant vegetation and wildlife. Canyons, streams, waterfalls, prairie and forest combine to delight visitors at Matthiessen State Park. One of the main attractions is, Lake Falls, this is a man made dam with a 65-foot-tall waterfall! The trails navigate you through the limestone canyon, and feature stunning sites, including a cave, towering bluffs, and several waterfalls. Matthiessen State Park is an Illinois state park located a few miles south of the more famous Starved Rock State Park. The main entrances to both parks are located on Illinois State Route 178, the entrance is located at 2500 IL-178, Oglesby, IL 61348. For more information, click here.
Rock Cut State Park
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You don’t have to leave the Rockford metro area to escape to nature, as this 3,000 acre state park is on Machesney Park’s doorstep. Largely made up of hardwood forest that is nothing short of spectacular in fall, Rock Cut State Park has 40 miles of hiking trails, around 25 miles of mountain biking trails and 25 miles of equestrian trails. Out in the park you may catch sight of some of the many animal species here, including foxes, deer, raccoons, beavers, fox squirrels, gray squirrels and a wealth of waterfowl on the two lakes. If you want to stay overnight there are 60 non-electric sites, more than 200 electric sites, a youth group campground and a rustic cabin. For more information, click here.
Castle Rock State Park
Castle Rock State Park is located three miles south of Oregon, Illinois on Highway 2 located along the west bank of the Rock River in Ogle County. The park is spread out across 2,000 acres of rolling topography, and includes six miles of marked hiking trails, and a public boat ramp/parking facility is located across from the park’s main entrance. Castle Rock is named after a sandstone bluff, adjacent to the river, that offers a breathtaking view of the surrounding river valley. This area is a hot bed for state parks, Just a few miles away is Lowden State Park and White Pines State Park is located nearby as well. Making this a great destination for nature lovers. The park is located at 1365 W. Castle Rd. Oregon Illinois
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White Pines Forest State Park
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Located in the heart of the Rock River valley, the 385-acre White Pines Forest State Park is the south boundary of the historic Chicago-Iowa Trail. Today, the park is perfect for family getaways to enjoy hiking, fishing, camping and picnicking. With serene, picturesque beauty, and modern lodge facilities amidst a beautiful forest, there is no better place to retreat from the everyday routine than the open spaces at White Pines. Along the meandering banks of Spring and Pine creeks, this scenic haven has magnificent trees that share moss-covered cliffs, strung with trailing vines. In season, colorful beds of blossoming trout lily, solomons seal, bloodroot, blue-eyed grass, spring beauty and hepatica are everywhere. Among the park’s most interesting features are the concrete fords that span the creeks, allowing visitors to drive through the flowing streams, with an accessible path leading to the stream bank for wildlife watching and fishing. Camping and picnicking are popular at White Pines, with shaded picnic areas along Pine Creek and more than 100 campsites and youth group campgrounds available, with advance reservations through ExploreMoreIL. For more information, click here.