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!

Nice lil' walk along the Fox River and also a few small lakes, kewl. Lots of winding trails to get…read morelost in lol, Google Maps will get you through!

Great park located around Yorkville with a few big lakes. It has lots of hiking trails. Silver…read moreSprings State Park gets its name from the pool of bubbling water. Of course, there's tons of other things to see around it. The popular activities include boating, fishing, and picnicking. Bigger park with a lot of history. It's an area that was purchased by the state in 1969 and turned into a park. The park was originally 1,250 acres, and added a prairie restoration project in 1980 among expansions since. Kind of what the land was like before settlers took it. There's a path that goes through it where visitors can check out animals, grass, and wildflowers. A few man made lakes are highlights. Loon Lake is the biggest one, popular for fishing or getting photos. A refreshment stand is located by it. The spring is the biggest attraction of the park though. Amazingly the water in it never freezes. There's amazing plantlife around it including watercress. Also fun when it's colder. There's a toboggan hill that's fairly steep. Among the kinds of trails are equestrian. There's also plenty for basic hiking. Has lots to look at here for hours and you can even stay overnight by camping. It's got an area that's available for youth groups. This area is only reachable through backpacking so it's far away from loud noises or vehicles.

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

Shabona Lake is a relaxing place to enjoy nature. It's nice to walk by the lake on the paved side…read morewalks & stop at the different picnic tables & benches for just a little rest or bring a picnic to enjoy ... sunny or shadey options. Also WheelChair friendly!

Would be a wonderful place for bird watching in the fall EXCEPT they don't have the waterfowl…read moreresting area marked well on the water. The letters on the only sign in the water are washed off and canoeists are always back in there. Well marked along the trails but not in the water! Very disappointing to come here to see migrating birds only to have canoeists chase them off. And most of the canoeists are oblivious to their surroundings - chatting away.

This park is especially good for young children from 1-5 years old. There are not many parks that…read morehave this many things to do for this age range (especially the 1-3 year olds) so I was very excited about it. There were many toys that made noises, rocking horses, a large green dome with holes, and a smaller playground with slides. They are still fundraising to build a playground for children 5-12 years old. Once that playground is built I'm sure it will be even more of a hit for families. That said there are features that the 5-12 year olds will like! Two large slides, an obstacle to climb on, and a glider swing. There are also several walking trails. My son loved this park! We will definitely be back.

Finally a park designed for kids with Autism or special needs. Great for all kids but this one is…read moredesigned for there safety. There so much to do that you can spend hours here. There is plenty of shade as well. The park is very hidden but if you see the horses head your in the right spot. There is a bit of a walk to get there but you'll be amazed once you reach the park. Plenty of spots for strollers and they have larger porta potti's. There are two playgrounds that are for older kids that I wouldn't recommend for kids 3 and under but everything else the younger kids can do.

We had a little extra time on a chilly fall day and decided to check out Lippold Park because the…read moreplayground looked interesting. There is a climbing teepee (at least that's what it looks like), a seesaw, and several play areas not necessarily suitable for toddlers. There's a great little boardwalk area where you can see beavers, ducks, and other wildlife. There's also a bike path running in front i f the park with tons of parking. There's also a nice raised deck area with several picnic tables where you could enjoy a snack or meal and the nice view.

Such a cool park, I didn't even know this park was here. My sister and I decided to take our 6 kids…read morehere (ages 2-12). We hit up the obstacle course first, which all the kids enjoyed. Next we walked over to the pond area where we saw an otter, deer, frogs, turtles, and lots of tadpoles. Just about a 10 minute walk up the trail is red oak nature center, so we did that next. Lippold park has really nice bathroom and facilities. We will be back!

Kids Castle is one of the best parks and playgrounds around. The playground has so many different…read moreareas to explore that kids can easily spend hours playing without getting bored. Everything is well maintained, and there's plenty of space for families to spread out and enjoy the day. One of my favorite things about this park is its location. It's close to great walking trails, so it's easy to go for a relaxing walk before or after visiting the playground. There are also fishing ponds nearby, which make it an even better place to spend the afternoon outdoors. Whether you're bringing young kids to play, going for a walk, or just enjoying the peaceful surroundings, Kids Castle is a fantastic destination. It's one of those parks that keeps you coming back because there's so much to do, and it's always a fun place to visit.

Entertaining for all ages! Took my step daughter (5/6 year old) and husband here one summer…read moreafternoon. Clean, updated and a blast for all 3!

We love this State Park that is located on the bank of the Rock River…read more This park offers good hiking trails and is very popular with kayaker's. One of the highlights is climbing the staircase to the top of the sandstone bluff for great views of the Rock River There is a small parking lot on site .

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.

Matthiessen State Park is such a gem. The trails take you through gorgeous canyons, lush greenery,…read moreand peaceful streams that make you forget how close you are to the city. The waterfall views are the highlight and absolutely worth the hike in, especially when the sun hits the rocks and everything feels like a hidden escape. The trails are well marked and offer a good mix of easy walks and more adventurous climbs, so there is something for everyone. Even on a busier day you can still find quiet corners to enjoy the sound of the water and the view of the sandstone cliffs. If you enjoy hiking, photography, or just want a beautiful spot to reset in nature, this park is a must visit. Bring good shoes, some water, and be ready to take a ton of photos.

Matthiessen has a lot of really wonderful attributes. I'll get to those in a second…read more But first, we have some real nasty issues. 1. I have visited twice and the actual bathrooms are always locked, forcing everyone to use the disgusting porta-potties. The only running water is a strange foot-washing station near top of the stairs. What the hell is going on here? I get that the park is free, but can we charge everyone $1 so we have functional bathrooms and water refill stations? 2. A lot of the park infrastructure looks rough/dated. There are places where the only way across a body of water is to walk on some manmade cement platforms. Some of them have been toppled by the water (years ago?), making for a fairly treacherous journey if you choose to attempt it. I hate the disgusting metal gate between the upper and lower dells. It totally wrecks the natural beauty. Both times I've visted, there are so many areas of outright mud. Nothing wrong with that, but it seems there's been almost no attempt to improve the infrastructure of bridges and walkways where this is a recurring problem. My most recent visit was in mid-October, when the rain had turned a lot of Matthiessen into a waterlogged mess. You'll see some beautiful scenery and then be forced to navigate a giant mudfield to get to the next thing. Another issue is the generally terrible behavior of your fellow hikers. I saw so many people taking their shoes off and trying to scale slick sandstone canyon walls. I kept waiting for someone to fall off and die. If you go to Matthiessen - and I do think it's worth the trip even with the drawbacks, here are my key tips: 1. Waterproof boots are a must. Tennis shoes will suck. Crocs are insufficient. My kids' tennis shoes were basically murdered by their hike. 2. Bring good trekking poles (at least one per person). You will probably need something sturdy to lean on or probe the depths of water or mud. Each of us had one and I witnessed people without them struggling mightily. 3. Come with your own water and hand sanitizer. Even that will be insufficient to clean off the grime you encounter, but you should never count on those dumb restrooms being operational. 4. Expect that the canyon areas are *much cooler* than the trails above. That's great on a hot day, but could be an issue if you're hiking when it's cooler on the surface. 5. Leave your dumb dogs at home unless you want them drinking some of the foulest water in Illinois. 6. Be prepared to strip off your clothes for a head-to-toe refresh when you get back to the car. They will get gross. 7. If you go on a holiday weekend (I was there on Columbus Day), you may be stuck in the too-far overflow parking lot and have a ton of extra knuckleheads to deal with. 8. There are a lot of stairs. A lot. Take Advil beforehand if your knees are over 35 years old. I don't think it would be too hard to upgrade Matthiessen to become a crown jewel of the state park system. The natural beauty is there. But the human contribution really alls short.

The best part is the sad box! It's kept mainly clean and the endless water fountain keeps the kids…read moreentertained for a long time :)

What a Huntley treasure! My seven and three-year-old spent two hours at this park without ever…read moreasking, "When are we leaving?" I take that as a win. We loved the basketball court with a variety of backboards, sand and water area, swings and rocking school bus. As another Yelper mentioned, the loud train whistle leaves something to be desired. Peace and quiet, if we're going to get specific. Tip: Do not perch yourself on the bench right next to the whistle. Big mistake. This park is worth a visit. The nearby pool looked great too. Maybe next time.