A beautiful 200 acre park located on the north side of Clinton on the bluffs overlooking the…read moreMississippi River. You can picnic,hike or cross country ski in this treasured asset of Clinton. There is a historic lodge which we did not visit and a castle turret open for stair climbs and fantastic views of the Mississippi . Lots of play areas, restrooms, pavilions and trails makes this park a fun way to spend a day.

Nice park, love climbing the old tower and the great views. A lot of play areas, restrooms,…read morepavilions, and trails. Needs a little better maintenance and some tree trimming to improve the views.

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 was a really nice park. We camped here for 2 nights the first weekend in May. Weather ranged…read morefrom lows in the 40s to highs in the sixties. The campgrounds all have a table, grill, and electricity. There are pit toilets w/potable water w/in an easy walk of every camp-site. They were clean and did not smell. There is one shower facility w/flush toilets and showers for the entire campground. Also clean and well maintained. Privacy at each campsite varied widely from some which were well wooded and could only see a couple of neighbors to those near the playground which were very open. We could hear a train going by nearby at night but it wasn't too loud. There is a lake, a restaurant where you can purchase firewood or rent paddleboats, and a few decent hiking trails. This was a nice park and we would happily camp here again.

A group of us went camping here this past weekend and I thought it was a nice place! It is a pretty…read morequick drive from Chicago, about 2 and a half hours with the usual 290 nightmarish traffic situation. We left at like 9AM on a Saturday and it was like rush hour, wtf. The campsites are spread out fairly well so you aren't too close to your neighbors. We stayed in the 1-25 ring. We had 4 couples and we each rented a campsite, but I almost think you could share a campsite with 4 people total too and it wouldn't be too tight. The lake (Carlton) is gorgeous and they have a little restaurant right on it that was cute and a great location. You can rent canoes, sailboats, paddleboats, etc on the lake. There are a lot of hiking trails as well. The gnats were a little out of control and I don't know if there is anything better at keeping them away, but bugspray didn't really work. They are just kinda irritating. I'd recommend bringing grill grates if you have them to put over the grill because some of them are kinda dirty. Also, they do allow alcohol, which is one of the reasons we picked it, I mean, camping without beer? No way! The bathrooms aren't too bad for camping and they also have a place to shower, we didn't go as we were only there for one night, but they do have showers. It seemed to be well maintained and patrolled. The forest ranger guy came by a few times and he was nice. If you are looking for a quick weekend getaway, this is a great spot to get out of the city for some fresh, pollution free air!

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!

What a beautiful park!…read more During a quick trip to Iowa we kept our activities limited to outdoor activities and carry out eats. I pulled up the Yelp app to find a park to explore and voila, there was Vander Veer Botanical Park. It was a toasty 93 degree day so we were quickly drawn to the plentiful shaded spaces found throughout this large park. In addition to a botanical garden (which we didn't visit specifically), they also have a rose garden, small pond with a fountain, long shaded promenade, and plentiful paved paths for walking. We strolled through the rose garden and then were naturally drawn to the long shaded walkway that leads up to a large and entertaining fountain at the end. This park has so many lovely uses for varying audiences and interests. Highly recommend giving it a visit if you find yourself in the Quad Cities!

It the most fun me and my kid add I love how handicap accessible it was in the summerread more

This is a park directly across the river from central Galena. You can get there via bridge over the…read moreriver - or there's parking on the east side of the river. There's a hill from the main entrance on the east side of the river to get to the top - with great views of central Galena. This is such a nice park. There are paved walkways that take you through the park There are a number of benches with various views. There's a gazebo, a statue of Grant, historic cannons/howitzers, a water fountain, a playground for small kids, and a basketball court. Can be a good place to just relax or to stroll. To stroll the whole thing - while reading the signs - took 45 minutes.

This is a good-sized park that wears many hats. It has a gazebo, where I'm sure many a ceremonial…read moreevent has been held. There are basketball courts, so people of all ages can play. There's a playlot for little ones and their carers. A fountain is part of the landscaping and probably provides some meditative white noise for people just here to relax and be. There are also several historical monuments; after all, named after favorite son Ulysses Grant, you'd expect as much. I was a bit surprised that there are two cannons here... not what I was expecting! Probably not loaded, though. There is access to Main Street on the east side of the river by using the pedestrian bridge. The lettering on the side of the park with its name was destroyed a few years back, and a Boy Scout troop repaired it. That's really cool that the local troop worked with the community in this way.

This is a beautiful park with super interesting geological formations (especially striking at the…read morelower level picnic area and the Punchbowl Trail). For a quick visit the Punchbowl Trail is a good short hike (a couple of miles to and back?) but there are some steep stairs if you end up on certain paths. To avoid the stairs park at the lower level and hike on the (mostly) level path to and back... The Boundary Trail is also awesome and usually very peaceful, but it takes quite a bit longer and there will be a few steep hills... The Pine Creek Grist Mill is a picturesque historic site in the park, with its own spacious parking lot, a cool bridge across the creek, and an old schoolhouse and cabin...the mill is open limited hours during part of the year...it was interesting to see the mill machinery and learn about the historic flour-making processes (but it's very hot in the building during the summer months)... Nice shelters and campsites, too, some with fireplaces and fire pits...there's probably not a spot in the park that is not scenic!

Visited for the first hike of the spring. It is my first time here. We drove from Iowa City and it…read morewas about 50mins of views of empty corn field (well it is just Iowa). The park is not very big. We went on an hiking trail near the parking lot. It would have been nice to have some sort of map or marking/signs in the park but we failed to find any. As an result I think we made a wrong turn and had too short of a hike as the result. No running water available in the bathroom so be prepared to bring hand sanitizer. But otherwise the visit was enjoyable, my friends' bunny enjoyed hopping around on the grass near the picnic area (pretty clean).

Great find and well maintained by the state. Great views! Kayaked on the Mississippi River which…read morewas great but came with some current struggles. The boat launch is right across the road from MP. The hosts were nice. They are only checking in people from 12-4. Find your site and your tag is on the post. There are about 10 walk up sites you can get on FCFS basis. Some electric and some primitive sites. Make sure to select the correct one. Beautiful views are with the hike up the cliffs.

We had a family get together here today and rented the pavilion. For $50, you get a really nice…read morebuilding facility that has a fireplace and several large picnic tables. The public restrooms are in this building however, and you will have people coming and going during your event. It wasn't too busy today so not a problem. There is plenty of open grassy area to play, didn't get enough wind to be able to fly the kites, but we were close! But we definitely had a lot of room to kick the soccer ball, throw the football and run around. The grill worked great, it's 4 feet long and we were able to cook plenty of burgers and hotdog and such for the family. There's also a couple of electrical outlets so we were able to plug-in a couple crockpots for beans and such. There are quite a few mice living in this facility, so just be aware of that, but you are out in the country! There are many hikes and such that leave from this location so you could use this as homebase with other family members being able to go out and take a great hike as well. We had a great day and I have a feeling this is going to become a tradition PS. Bring the bug spray :)

I meannnn... the waterfall was dry when we went so that was a bummer. Not much of a trail to walk…read morearound either. It's nice to visit but definitely probably better to go in the spring or summer when the water fall is actively running. There are a few posts that provide information about why Thunder Bay falls is important to the area. Still pretty cool to check out and get some fresh air.

Thunder Bay Falls is a must see on your way into or out of Galena! It's only about a 10 min drive…read moreout of the way for a majestic view of the waterfall. Depending on how much rain there's been will determine how full the waterfall is- the 1st time I came here, there was a trickle of water. This time (a full year later) was a full fledged roaring waterfall! This is a quick stop- it's just the waterfall! There's a gravel parking lot (usually the other cars are a dead giveaway). There are several viewing areas with selfie stations for you to prop up your phone! The wildflowers are beauty here too. If you brought a fishing pole, go for it! There are signs (and reviews) that clearly state you have to be a member or a guest of something in order to be here... we've never seen anyone enforcing the rules here. It's too much of a treasure to keep people away.

At Crow Creek Park for my oldest daughter's cross country meet. This park has every sport you can…read morethink of! It is pretty big and parking is plentiful but it gets crowded based on the current events. Easy on/off from 53rd and you can grab Portillos down the street after as an added bonus! (Perfect for this Iowa implant from Chicago:) ) Go West CC!

Great place near central Bettendorf (along Devils Glen Road) to take a leisurely scenic walk. Very…read morespacious, great for kite flying. Nice wide, paved trails as well that surround a former rock quarry. Diverse activities include a cool skate park, several baseball diamonds, very popular floor hockey, swings & slides for the youngsters, and a couple fenced dog parks to run both large and small dogs. Nice picnic area as well! Bettendorf parks are monitored by volunteer Park Ambassadors who help maintain a secure and enjoyable experience.