I'd heard great tales of the park with the big statue and we finally went to check it out. The…read morestatue is impressively large! Definitely worth a visit. You then have 3 options to walk down to the river. One that is stairs straight down and two others that call themselves steep/ rough. Honestly all seem pretty steep! we took one of the side rough trails which was a gradual decline down to the river. Although you had to pay attention to where you were going it wasn't too tough to navigate. The river was a nice reward at the end. We used the other trail to go back up and it seemed more steep and tricky. But fun! I'd say it took about 20 minutes each way. It was a fun little outing!

This park was a gorgeous weekend getaway from Chicago. It's easy to find right along the Rock…read moreRiver. We camped in a tent but the weekend we were here, there were mostly RVs around us. If you camp here in dry weather, the site B38 is the most perfect one because there are no neighbors to your sides - yet it's somewhat close to the toilets/showers, and a comfortable distance from the trash bins. (The site is on lower ground, so in wet weather, it looks like a rivulet goes right through the site.) I've been camping all my life and I've never been in a quieter campground! People were so respectful. It's also super clean and well maintained, though the shower building was small and older. The camp hosts were super laid-back but did their patrols. Be sure to go say hi to the friendly guy at Quirky's camp store and hot dog stand. Then take off into the quiet, well-marked trails, don't miss the Blackhawk statue and breathtaking view, and meander along the river. So peaceful!

Our family has been camping at White Pines for well over a decade. We enjoy it because it is clean,…read morequiet, and the camping sites are a good size and the hiking trails are fun. The only thing preventing me from giving five stars is that, during my last visit last weekend, it was obvious the pit toilets were not being cleaned/maintained well. I've used worse, but this was not up to par from my past experiences. I hope this was the exception and not how they are being kept now. Hoping to be back in 2024!

Friends had their nearby destination wedding here, it was lovely. Plenty of space, gorgeous…read moreoutdoors experiences, and the lodge was really beautiful. Camping experience was decent. Many guests camped in a reserved area, and some had cabins. I heard the bathrooms were not that great, but the space itself was nice. The wedding was held a bit down the road from the campgrounds in a lovely canyon. VERY beautiful! The reception was held at the lodge and served buffet style. The prime rib was the spotlight. It's a very quaint spot for weddings. The staff was very friendly and accommodating 6 stars to the staff! The day after the wedding, the lodge has a brunch buffet. The food is decent, but it's pretty pricey. I probably would not personally revisit it just based on the price for what you get, but it's understandable since it's the only dining option nearby as far as I could tell. I would love to visit this spot again for hiking and biking. A nice little getaway in the middle of nowhere Illinois.

This place is great for a hike. Winding trails that cut through lush woods and alongside the river…read more Highly recommend to take a relaxing hike.

Absolutely beautiful great hiking, great camping, we went for years and the people were kind and…read morefriendly.

So beautiful! Feel like it's been AI, it's paradise. Great experience, what a sanctuary.read more

A wonderful and peaceful place to be if you want to get away from the bustle but not drive too far…read moreout of town. A must if you love great scenery and wide open spaces. Has about 5 miles of trails and recently they have added on off leash area for dogs, with plenty of room to run and play. The park itself is not as big as other forest preserves, but still big enough to be secluded and peaceful. The winding trails take you through heavily wooded areas and prarie areas... I come hear a lot to explore with my dog and go on walks with my fiance. Its nice!

I attended the annual Autumn OnThe Prairie festival at Nachusa Grasslands which is owned by the…read moreNature Conservancy. Everything was well organized and run by friendly and enthusiastic volunteers. My favorite was the bison tour where you sit in a tractor pulled wagon with a guide who answers questions about the bison herd and more. We got so close to them. Northern IL Raptor Rehab & Education was also there with their ambassador birds and displays. This year's souvenir long sleeve T-shirt had a turtle design. Admission is free but you do pay $5 per car for parking. A great way to spend quality family time in a beautiful setting. It was fun to hear all the intelligent questions the kids asked. Future naturalists or future conservation minded generations to come!

We went to the Autumn on the Prairie Fest held in September at the Nachusa Grasslands which is…read more owned by the Nature Conservatory. This annual event is open to the public and is free to attend except for a $5 per car parking fee. They offer Riding Prairie Tours to look for bison,guided hiking tours,a discovery tent ,food,drinks and music. Shuttle service is provided from the parking area if needed. Donations and tshirts for purchase are available. This grasslands preserve is over 4000 acres and consists of remnant prairies,woodlands and wetlands being reconnected through restoration by volunteers to create one of the largest grasslands in Illinois. Definitely worth a visit!

Have been here for my wife's family reunion the last 3 years. Great little park by the Rock River,…read morenice covered picnic area reserved for the family. We also got to play the 9 hole disc golf course. Short but still a fun challenge.

Before we left Dixon, my mon and I wanted to check out this place and it was definitely worth it…read more Once we got to the waterfront, it was beautiful. Clear water and a lot of parks. They also had metal bench swings overlooking the water and it was very pretty. I wish we spent more time there but the time we spent was very nice. Would be back soon. P.S. they have an frisbee golf so i definitely want to do that when I come back

Decent park with fun trails. Trails are a little slippery and rocky so recommend hiking shoes. Many…read moreof the trails are for mountain biking as well.

This is a mountain biker's fantasyland!!…read more I am from Southern California, where all the mountain biking is up, up, up and then down, down, down. Here there are perfectly prepared trails that are cut into the woods with gentle ups and downs, and banked turns like on those videos from Instagram.!!!!!! I have been riding forever and would never dream to take my wife with me because she would become frustrated and exhausted... but here I actually purchased a bike for her. She joins me on these rides..... I set her up on a loop, which is challenging for her, and then I race around it to get a great workout. I lap her several times before she does one lap. This place is absolutely gorgeous!! I have been here eight times in the last month (end of June through July 2025) and ZERO MOSQUITO BITES!! They also have all sorts of tools to use as well as a bike washing station!!!! Last week they had a mountain bike race here and I participated in it!! My first ever!! I can't believe it is free to ride here!!

Wow what a beautiful Park here in Dekalb you can. Enjoy a…read moregorgeous river as you walk and giant trees and a walk way that will Lead you to NIU university going to the left Path way and if you go to the right you can play frisbee at the court to play with your friends or you can ride your bike, run have a pic nick.I like the park because is just in my back yard

A formers paradise for rail fans. The park has streets all around it so the horns tell you where…read moreit's coming from so you can't miss a shot. If you are into pictures or video this is a great place for you. Free wifi was an extra great feature of the park. There is a speaker that has some radio from rail operations but my scanner picked up much more so don't forget to bring yours. There is a built in grill if you want to have a cook out. The open air building had padded deck chairs and picnic tables and some built ins. There is a burn pit but I don't know if you can use it. Rail related items are on the property like trains. There is what looked like a gift shop by I didn't check it out. You can make a great family outing with the youngsters if you want. This is a great place for rail fans.

This is a great little treasure. Located about 75 miles west of Chicago (a straight shot out I-88),…read moreThe Rochelle Railroad Park has been built next to a railroad diamond crossing. It is a great spot to bring a lunch and hang out on a nice day if you happen to be train fans like we are. The warning bells ring, and the excitement builds, as the train whistle blows in the distance. As they pass, the ground shakes. It is impressive, even to a crusty old fart like me. The train engineers are really good about waving to kids (and adults) as the trains pass the viewing platform You can also hear radio communications between the trains and the dispatch center. All so cool!!!! On our first trip out to Rochelle, we went to meet up with one of our hobo friends. Since then we have returned just for the pure pleasure of train watching and sharing the experience with the folks who gather. There are usually some regulars who can fill you in on what is happening and then there are families. It is fun to see the thrill the kids experience as the trains roll by. Pack a picnic lunch and head out to the country for a really fun and unique experience!!!!

While the trips may be awesome, because how could nature not be- the owner/ founder of this company…read moreis anything BUT awesome. My experience with Tony leaves me wondering how someone with no understanding of people could be in a business that deals with people. I asked for help packing my pack and was told that the guides " would be too busy to help" at every question I was met with an attitude of annoyance. Apparently questions are not allowed when preparing for something you've never done. I was also met with anger and harsh words when at the very last minute I was told that I would be in his group( which would be moving at a pace that I was no where near comfortable with) instead of having a conversation with me- I was yelled at, and told very sarcastically "sorry it didn't work out- you're welcome to leave". For 3 1/2 days- I was ignored. I cannot really imagine a more childish way to handle people. Stomp your feet and pout. There was never an attempt at any sort of conversation- certainly no apology for the outburst. I would recommend some sort of people skills training or at the very least - sticking to the organizing- and let someone with a heart and people skills deal with the people. Tony has no business dealing with people. If you can get on a trip without him- do it. But if you are a newbie and have questions- this company is not for you. You will be treated poorly. I came home from my trip feeling like a scapegoat and now question how this could have happened. How did I actually PAY someone to make me feel less than and like asking questions is wrong. I was paying for a service- and what I got was abuse.

From the owner: We are a Midwest-based outdoor guide company specializing in backpacking, kayaking and…read moreyoga/wellness. We offer guided backpacking tours in and around the Midwest, also offering transportation, rental gear and meals or meal packages.