Apple River Canyon (ARC) is my favorite campground in Illinois. No question. I'll start with a…read moreexcerpt from the Illinois DNR website: "Apple River Canyon State Park is in the hilly northwest corner of Illinois in Jo Daviess County near the Wisconsin border. Limestone bluffs, deep ravines, springs, streams and wildlife characterize this area. Once a part of a vast sea bottom that stretched from the Alleghenies to the Rockies, the scenic canyon area was formed by the action of the winding waters of the Apple River." My husband and I have been coming here since the late 90's. We love it here. Pros: + Only 2 1/2 hours from Chicago. + Did you read that paragraph above that I took from the website? It's BEAUTIFUL here. + 5 awesome hiking trails; some of them easier than others. + Hike (or drive) down to the river from your campsite. There's some good fishing. And our dogs love to swim in it. (Swimming for you is prohibited, however.) + 2 big loops in the campground. Most of them are nicely sized and thoughtfully spaced apart. + Only 15 minutes to Stockton (the closest town) for groceries and firewood. + Eight bucks per night for a non-electrical site. Cons: - I am not there right now. I am at my desk, rotting under flourescent lighting. This is the kind of place that, as soon as we arrive, I'm already saying, "I don't want to go home!" But I want to be completely honest - there are no showers here, and only pit toilets. There are, of course, 2 or 3 water stations in each loop (pump). So, if maintaining hygiene is the number one most important thing for you during a camping weekend, you may not find ARC as perfect as I do. Me? I try my best to make do. You're camping for God's sake! Shower when you go home! See you at Apple River Canyon!

My review may be a bit different than other people but during my time here I absolutely enjoy the…read moreviews but what I did not enjoy here were the amenities featured. The bathrooms here were absolutely in shambles and the maintenance at the park is pretty bad. Please be cautious that your GPS will not work in this area either. Poorly labeled trails as well where you can get lost.

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 :)

The Forest Preserve Headquarters of Winnebago County is by far my favorite underrated park in the…read moreRockford area! Lots to explore and so many different, unique areas within the park. I love the view over the quarry in all seasons but it's especially beautiful in fall/winter. The walk through the woods and around the ponds and river on the other side of the forest preserve are gorgeous in spring with frogs and other small animals to find and lots of mossy pathways. It feels like a fairytale! (Photos by Figment Photography)

Great place to hangout and have a few beers and go on nature walks…read more I've never camped here, but I heard that its cool. There are a lot of nice shelters and a respectable playground. You can pick morel mushrooms here during the early-mid spring. There's a fair amount of wildlife (deer, turkey, woodpeckers, toads, etc.) as well. The conservation sheriff cruises through every once in a while to make sure no one's doing anything retarded. Its a popular hangout for delinquent kids during the day, so check your grills before you cook. There was piss on one of them once.

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.

This is one of the best things I've done in Wisconsin EVER. I'm so mad I didn't take this walk…read moresooner. We started near the library and walked a little over 2 miles, and then back (4.4 miles total). The homes, lake, landscaping, scenery is just amazing. I am going to come back and hope to do other areas of the path. The 2 miles we did do not have any bathrooms, so plan ahead! There was plenty of road parking, but you DO have to pay parking meter.

Lake Geneva Shore Path runs along the entire lake. On the 26 mile path you'll pass historic estates…read morewith beautifully sculptured gardens and landscapes. History serves that 2500 BC to 1836 AD Chief Big Foot and his Potawatomi tribe walked this path between their villages. The path has been preserved nicely by all the estate owners that live on the lake. The path is rugged in places made up of brick, wood, stones, boulders and slate. It's an enjoyable walk with plenty of breathtaking views and colorful inlets that change in the seasons!

I Have been coming to this forest preserve for EVER. It is so beautiful, well kept, and has awesome…read moretrails. Some trails are through the forest and some are paved which is good when you have a baby in a stroller. Fall is my favorite time to come here because the colors and smell are outstanding. This place also has fun activities for the little ones and they have playgrounds too. If you get the chance, visit this place.

Beautiful place! We will definitely be back this summer for a visit with the grandkids.read more

This is a fun section of the ice age trail just outside of Belleville. It has some nice elevation…read morechanges and the beautiful outcroppings are very cool. I like the different topography included on the trail. There is a really nice flat space on top of the ridge to enjoy the view. Dogs are allowed if they are on leash.