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.

Beautiful park and very similar to Starved Rock as they are just down the road from each other. We…read moreliked our time here and our son did have fun on the little playground, but it was unfortunately looking very neglected.

This isn't a hiking place for people who aren't outdoorsy. The trails are not maintained, and it's…read moreabout a mile's walk to even enter the park. If these things don't bother you, then this is an amazing park. From the parking lot, which can hold perhaps half a dozen cars, visitors can trek down a footpath that follows Mitchell's Creek. Once the treeline starts, the trail continues down the creek until it merges with the Tommohawk Creek. Technically, this is the end of the trail. However the woods of the park extend for miles past the end of the trail. There are huge sandstone bluffs, rapids, and several endangered trees in the area. You will not see other people here. One star off for the sound of I80 which can be heard on quiet mornings. Really wouldn't be to hard to build a noise barrier on the bridge if Illinois were so inclined.

One of my favorite things about Woodhaven is the quality musicians they hire both for the Friday…read morenight live acoustic shows which are adult evening entertainment and the bands at the pavilion on Saturday and sometimes Sunday nights. This weekend we listed to Burn N Bush Friday and even though I wouldn't consider myself a country music fan, these two guys were very entertaining. Saturday night Strung Out put on quite the 70's decade show. Great job Woodhaven!

Good playgrounds but not great for anyone with special needs bathrooms aren't accessibleread more

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.

Visited Starved Rock State Park in Illinois and it was absolutely beautiful! The trail was…read moremoderate ‍ -- just the right mix of adventure and relaxation. Perfect for soaking in nature's beauty , hearing the birds sing , and breathing in that fresh forest air . The scenery was stunning with towering trees , rocky cliffs , and peaceful river views . Whether you're a casual walker or a nature lover, it's a great spot to slow down, explore, and recharge . Highly recommend bringing your camera because every corner is a photo-worthy moment!

I've been coming to Starved Rock for years, and it truly is a spectacular park in a state that is…read morefamously so flat in most parts. I know the crowds are infamous here, and I've had good luck with coming on weekday afternoons. Hiking-wise, you can spend an entire day here or even tack on an extra day if you want to take your time. I typically have a few hours when I come, and I can easily get hike 4-5 miles of trails. There are stunning canyons I still need to check out, and I'll keep returning until I've seen them all!

great scenery and ambience with the stream running and different levels of view places to hike…read moreand views are spectacular highly recommend coming here

Nice little state park for an extended weekend. Please note that there are no shower facilities or…read moreflush toilets. Vault style only. The park features two camping areas. We stayed in Canyon Ridge, which is non electric. All 50 sites were spacious and clean. The camp host and a few area residents sold firewood, which was a nice surprise The park has a number of hiking trails that are short, but challenging. Many lead to, or start at the Apple River, so there is plenty to keep kids occupied.

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

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!

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.

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!