Pretty trails. I highly recommend downloading the all trails app when hiking here. The trails were…read morenot marked that well. Plenty of parking and various picnic tables around as well.

Growing up not far from the Starved Rock State Park I'm a bit spoiled when it comes to gorgeous…read moreparks but Castle Rock is nice if you are in the area. The lookout portion is on the side closer to the river and there are some paths & picnic areas there. Across the road is the rest of the park with several prairie and some wooded walking/hiking paths and several picnic areas both with and without shelters. There is a restroom in each of the picnic areas. There was a sand volleyball court and small baseball diamond there as well when we visited. The paths aren't too rugged in my opinion but the stairs up to the lookout point on the river could be challenging for some.

Peaceful, contemplative spot to visit. Sinnissippi Site, Sinnissippi Park, Sterling, Illinois. U.S…read more National Register of Historic Places. The site contains several Hopewellian Indian Mounds built between 500 BC and 500 AD. There are several nice trails, playground, shelters with grills, and open spaces as well.

This 50-acre park is the best in Rock Falls. Featuring playgrounds, baseball diamonds, grills,…read moreshelters with picnic tables, tennis courts, fishing, paddle-boats, canoe rental, and access to the Hennepin Canal there is always something to do. Centennial also has a lot of open space, a restored railroad caboose, and even a fenced in area with a playground and picnic tables for those with younger children. Watch out for the speed bumps and check out the Little Red Schoolhouse!

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!

I had roughly 45 minutes before a conference call and it was a beautiful spring day, so I set out…read moreto walk towards the Rock Falls Sinnissippi Dam Walkway. It was a mere fifteen minute walk from the local Holiday Inn, but across the street from the walkway was the Hennepin Feeder Canal. The beginning/end of a 100+ mile canal leading all the way to the Mississippi or Illinois River (depending on which way you turn). Today the canal is a National Register of Historic Places and has 32 of the original 33 locks in place. I was blown away and took several pictures excited to celebrate the history of a project that was proposed in 1834, built between 1892 to 1907, and began operation in 1908. Due to transportation options that expanded rapidly after it's opening, the canal was only in operation until 1951. The official welcome center appears to be in Sheffield, IL, but the Rock Falls park site also notes the annual Hennepin Hundred, ultra marathon race: http://www.hennepinhundred.com "Parking for the Hennepin Canal Trail can be found at the Jim Arduini Boat Launch on East 2nd Street or at the state provided roadside pull-offs along Illinois Route 40 on the south end of Rock Falls."--from the Rock Falls visitors website.

My daughter had had her wedding here. It was wonderful as were the people who were there to help…read more Great place to visit. Big part of ILLINOIS history!!

I highly recommend stopping in for a tour of this magnificent structure. The cost is $5 per person…read more They often hold a "Free Day" so, you might not have to pay anything. The curator Erin is very kind, and knowledgeable. Most reviews on the place are contributed to TripAdvisor, but I felt the Yelp audience would like to know of a place they could visit on a rainy day. Or anytime! I believe the tours are Thursday - Saturday at designated time slots from around Noon to 3pm for a duration of an hour. Call ahead for more info and planning.