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!

Had a great weekend with friends. It was the perfect setting for a winter weekend away. The lodge…read morewas ideal with lots of space as well as cozy gathering rooms for hanging out. Keith and Lisa were fantastic hosts. Easy drive from the burbs. The warm country setting was the right break from the winter grind. I would absolutly recommend for a gathering of friends or a wedding in any season. We roamed the property and were impressed by all the venue options that they had to offer.

Unexpected beautiful setting near Dixon, Illinois. Five star lodge in terms of comfort, amenities…read more Lodge was transported from out West and it is incredible to think that happened. Owners/workers were incredibly accommodating, seeing to every need in a timely manner. Was amazing setting for our granddaughter's wedding. I kept thinking this place is designed to build relationships, experiences and memories, maybe perfect for a corporate retreat!

My daughter has attended White Pines for the past four years, and that alone says a lot. After her…read morevery first week at camp, I picked her up and the first thing she asked was, "Can I come back later this summer for another week?" Since then, she has returned every year and now attends for two separate weeks each summer because she enjoys it so much. What makes this especially meaningful is that she has attended other overnight camps, including Keystone Science School in Colorado and a ski camp in Wisconsin. White Pines is the only camp she has consistently asked to return to year after year. I think White Pines does an exceptional job of helping kids build independence, confidence, friendships, and lifelong memories. The staff creates an environment where children can unplug, try new things, and truly immerse themselves in the camp experience. That said, no camp is going to be the perfect fit for every child. If a camper is expecting all the comforts and conveniences of home, they may need some adjustment time. But for kids who are open to adventure, friendship, and a traditional camp experience, White Pines is something special. Food has never been an issue for my daughter--she's an adventurous eater and has always been happy with the meals. As for the cabins, things like the fans have simply served as comfortable white noise for her. As a parent, there is no stronger endorsement I can give than this: after four years, my daughter still counts down the days until she can return. White Pines has given her experiences, friendships, and memories that will stay with her for a lifetime.

I just went in 6th grade in 2022 and it was fun we went hiking and more the showers have curtains…read morefor privacy it the bathroom and that's soooooooo good.

The RV park is really nice. Lots of trees for shade; but the trees interfere with Internet. They do…read moreoffer wi-fi, which worked great for TV. But anything computer or cellular related was extremely SLOW!!! They do offer a huge playground area, miniature Golf, volleyball, pickleball, and basketball courts, as well as Frisbee Golf. Many sites are gravel, but are pretty level. They are close together though. If you like your neighbors close, you won't mind this. But we felt they were just a bit too close. There are some Seasonal sites; but a lot of empty sites too. So plenty of room for those looking for short stays. We enjoyed our stay here & met quite a few friendly people. We will most likely stay here again.

Nice campground. Very well maintained. Spaces are super close together and the best spots are for…read morethe monthly/seasonal campers. Oh and did I mention that there is a rule not to wash clothes in your camper. Reasonable rates. Internet with Verizon and AT&T non existent. Park WIFi intermittent.

Great for family's. Lots to do. Halloween was best... Camp…read moresite are two small. Shower needs some help too

People were so rude and charged more than $11 for two ice cream sandwiches! They also did not have…read morea variety of floats to go on.

We had a very nice trip to Blackhawk campground. The pool was outstanding! Very clean and had the…read moreperfect temperature. Our cabin was very clean, spacious, cool, and well stocked. The campground was quiet at night and the seasonal campers were super friendly. The bathroom/shower house was very clean and had plenty of hot water. The staff worked very hard In spite of being so short staffed. The manager Lori was kind and helpful. We rented a golf cart and it was fun and ran well. The park was clean and well maintained. The only thing not perfect was the bed inside our cabin #4. It had a large dip in the middle making sleeping kind of difficult. However floating in that awesome not overly populated pool made it all ok. I highly recommend bringing your family camping there. Whether you have a tent, camper, or choose to rent a cabin. You will have a blast!

I have been going to Blackhawk since I was a little girl. No - I take that back I have probably…read morebeen going to Blackhawk since I was in the womb! Needless to say, for many, many, many years my family made Blackhawk our home-away-from home 3 times a summer. My memories of Blackhawk are all good. There's stories, memories, thoughts and experiences that I would never, ever be able to duplicate anywhere else that I had here. We're talking my first time skinny dipping, hiding in the dryer so my parents wouldn't find me after dark, and seeking cover in the pavilion from tornadoes as we watched the wind and rain rip away and blow around the tents and bits around us. Ahhh, Blackhawk. But this isn't a memoir, so I will stick to the things I know now. "Back in my day" the general store was off the beach, but floods and old age weathered the store and they tore it down. Now the beach looks messy, overused and completely neglected. Campers rarely swim in the lake anymore. This might be because there is now two in-ground pools near the entrance of Indian Village, but I still think the dirty lake is the bee's knees. "Back in my day" the majority of the camp sites were all for transient campers. Now the majority of the campground is permanent sites. There's pros and cons to this. One is that I knew a few people with permanent sites and if you're lucky enough to be in the "in" crowd, you know that having a permanent site and friends all around is like one big family that parties together every single (weekend) night (and the occasional weekday, depending). There is something very special about knowing the right people who have permanent sites here. We're talking late night karting in the woods, drunken bon fires, crazy stories to retell when you're sober in the morning... (Back in my day, they even had a live bear in a cage!) But if you're an unlucky one to not have a permanent site, I can see that Blackhawk would be a pretty boring place if you're in for just the night or two. There's cabins all around now to rent, in Indian Village and near the beach. I've never been inside one and haven't had the pleasure of staying overnight in one, but they look well cared for and large enough for a small family or a group of friends. I love that they put on fun events in the summer, from music to bingo to prom, etc.. It's a fun place if you know where to look, how to get around, and who to hang with. Blackhawk is not nearly as special, clean, or "cool" as it once was when I was younger, but I give it 5-stars because it holds a very special place in my heart. It used to be family run and it was clear they all cared for the grounds well; the point is, they cared. You can tell it's changed hands a few times and even the restaurant is owned by someone separate from the person who owns the grounds. Things seem much more disjointed now then they ever were. My suggestion: stay in Indian Village, on a water site, bring flip-flops for the showers by the beach, bring a comfy chair to people watch, bring a cooler full of beer, ignore the dirty water and dive in to the lake. This place is it!

Stayed here over Memorial Day weekend for a local wedding, very nice, clean and quiet. Owner Jeff…read morewas very accommodating and actually helped me unload and load my car from my trailer as well as getting in to my camp site! He checks on you periodically to make sure your stay is going well! Top Notch!!

Jeff wrote us a lovely welcome note! Great place tucked away. Very peaceful. Will be back!!read more

We had a great time staying at this yogi bear campground! We stayed in a 2 room rustic cabin that…read moresleeps 8. The cabin is small but serves it's purpose! The front room has a space heater, fridge, and microwave along with a twin over queen bunk. There is a solid door separating the front room from the back room. The back room has the window air conditioner and a wifi box along with another twin over queen bunk on one side and a twin over twin bunk on the other side. Keep the door open to get cold air into the front room in hot months. The cabins ( both two and one room rustic cabins) are located close to the comfort station, recreation center, playground, store and main office. We stayed in cabin 26, which is the 2 room cabin closest to the comfort station. This cabin is handicap accessible with a deck and longer picnic table to accommodate wheelchairs, there is also an aboveground fire pit on a cement pad. Be aware that there is a ton of poison ivy near the fire pit and around a log that would otherwise be enticing to sit on. Cabins do not come with linens or bedding so remember to bring a sheet along with your sleeping bag/ blankets and pillow so you aren't sleeping on plastic! We also recommend bringing a power strip as the outlets are all in use. So if you want to plug in your device you'll need to unplug something else. The curtains are sheer, hang up a towel if you need it darker. Water pump outside. The comfort station was always clean, toilets working, showers hot! The store on site sells some eggs and packaged food, fire wood, merchandise, toys, some emergency supplies for RVers, and staff scooped ice cream. Prices are reasonable. Pool was clean and cold. Refreshing on a hot day. Play equipment looked pretty new! There's a jumping pad, play ground equipment for both the littles and the bigs. There are built in ping pong tables outside the office and by the rec center. There are two sets of permanent bags/ Cornhole games by the playground and Gaga ball court. Volleyball net was set up in the play field. Basketball court is small but functional. Balls and paddles were all available in the rec center. Having stayed previously at a tent camp site, I can say that those sites are equally nice. Water is clear, electric works. If you'd like a good look at the seasonal sites available, take a hayride. If you'd like to get a look at the more rustic tent sites, take a walk or a drive down the road at the entrance to the campground. Maps are available in the office. There are also deluxe cabins on site which offer more amenities, check out the website for more details on these. Overall, we had a great stay. Watch out for poison ivy, as there was quite a bit by our cabin. Otherwise, go have a great time!

Very disappointed. This RV park is overpriced and lack the amenities at advertises on its website…read more The pool was down for maintenance issues in June. You'd think that I've been more prepared. The Camp store is completely abandoned and closed. The manager flat out lied to us when you ask about being compensated for the lack of amenities as advertised.. He said he would get back to us. Never did. My best advice Drive right past this place find somewhere else.

I stay at a lot of Campgrounds & this is one of my favorites. It feels homey with the owner happy…read moreto help and give you local hiking advice. No frills but full hook up & level with a beautiful grassy lawn & lovely trees. Location is excellent next to the state parks. We'll be back!!

I recently stayed at Cozy Corners Campground and felt it was in need of a review as it doesn't seem…read moreto have one at all on the internet. Cosy Corners is a small, family owned campground, quite literally in the couples backyard! Barbara and Dave, the owners were fantastic and absolutely went above and beyond to ensure we had a great experience with them. For example, I needed ice from the store and was given a ride in their golf cart. At one point it rained pretty heavily and as soon as it stopped, they came out to offer us all towels. the couple have a vast knowledge of the area and spent a good while talking with us about the things we could do 'off the beaten path'. Did I mention that this campground is at the entrance to Matthiessen State Park and only a mile south of Starved Rock!! Perfect placement. Also, you don't have to worry about the alcohol bans in the state parks if you stay here. The campsite was dog friendly provided the pups stay on leash. The only thing I could say that may put you off would be that there is no shower facility! This didn't bother us, we are experienced campers and had no issue showering under a hose. there are a couple of hoses around so you can access running water. Oh, anther thing! The cleanest camping porta johns I have ever used. They smelled clean and were also lit at night! OK, I could go on all day. I had a fantastic experience and every one of the 10 people in my group on the Saturday night swore they would return. The service provided by Barbara and Dave is second to none! I can't wait to go back!