Located about 2.5 hrs from Chicago, Lake Carroll has it all. I don't think there's a better place…read moreto own lakefront property. The amenities are endless. The gorgeous private lake, golf course, indoor pool, snow tubing hill with a tow rope to drag you and your tube up the hill, the lodge, and equestrian center. It's year around fun no matter what your interests are. It's very small town for Chicagoans, but the friendliness and sense of community almost feels movie-like. I really love this place.

Lake Carroll recently added weed killer to the lake due to excessive weeds. For well over a week…read morenow I have been asking for a status as members of the family were planning on swimming at the beach this weekend. I have emailed them multiple times and received no response. Multiple members of the board are on the emails and all do not feel it necessary to extend the common courtesy of an answer... STAY AWAY!!! NEGATIVE STARS FOR LAKE CARROLL MANAGEMENT IF POSSIBLE!!!

Me and my wife recently stopped here to go on a little walk in the area. This place is perfect for…read moreall sorts of outdoor activities since there's a beach nearby and plenty of trails though I recommend and not walk through them when it's wet outside because they are very muddy and nothing is paved. Plenty of dogs are running off leash as well which isn't an issue. Please check to make sure you know what time the park closes because they will close on you as well. Highly recommend stopping here

Decided to take a drive from Evanston on a beautiful Spring day (70 degrees in Evanston, but 80…read moredegrees in Rockford - it was balmy!) I had found this place searching online for nearby state parks that weren't TOO far of a drive and still had ample hiking trails. The park was easy to find, had plenty of parking and lots of paved and dirt trails for both hiking and biking. Picnic areas scattered throughout and a nice large lake for fishing/boating/canoeing (there were prices posted in the concessions area for renting a boat with motor for the day as well if you don't have your own to bring with you!) Small selection of snacks and beverages (non-alcoholic) were available for purchase, however they did not have any paper maps (there were boards posted by trail entrances and we did take photos of those). It looks like there is a restaurant next to the concessions area that opens after Memorial Day weekend for the season. We saw and heard many different birds while hiking and it was very peaceful (and not very crowded, as we were here on a Tuesday). My husband particularly enjoyed seeing the turkeys roaming around

Hidden gem in LITH!! Peaceful, lovely scenic trails. It's a beautiful walk. The pavilion is great…read morefor a packed lunch or hanging out with a good book.

This place is a true hidden gem. You would never know it existed if not for stopping in and taking…read morea walk down a trail. The kids and I love to take in a trail and go amateur bird watching. My son loves fishing and he's participated in a few fishing derbies here as well as caught a few on a couple of quick trips out. The little ponds have all sorts of fish, but we've only really seen the bluegill and the sunfish. The trails on the west side entrance are grassy paths with various states of brush and shrub. There are even some stone formations for sitting or for the kids to play on. I've seen people jog and walk their dogs at safe distances, though now and again some inconsiderate patrons leave animal waste on the trails. I haven't been on the east side trails in a while, but from what I remember, they are more hilly. If you are in the area, you have to stop by... it's a natural wonder!

Going against the grain here a bit…read more Pros: -Place is clean. Very clean. Even the water looks clean. -Decent life guard coverage provides adequate safety -Plenty of picnic tables, space, and even some spots to get out of the sun if you need it Cons: -Yeah definitely not cheap. May not be practical for the family outings. Definitely more geared towards grown ups Bottom Line: -If you're going to worry about the nickle and dimes, then yes I'd recommend other options. I think people that come here pay their own way and just want to chill. I'm by no means wealthy, but I could really care less about the price when I can just as easily waste more money on God knows what... (drinking, video games, gambling, televangelists....)

On Thursday August 21, 2025, I made a road trip from Chicago to Pearl Lake Beach. It was good…read moretiming because there were only about two dozen visitors there, due to the local schools being open for the first day of the school year. This was the first time that I have been here since 1992 when I was scuba diving, and this lake is definitely known for scuba divers. The manager Ginger and her staff (Sophia, Parker, Kameron) were just magnificent. I told them that I was hearing-impaired, so they assisted with filling out the computer waiver. They showed me where I can go to lay out on the beach and where the handicapped parking was located at (only three spots). When I arrived, the water was slightly chilly, due to the weather being 75 degrees and an overcast day, I laid out a blanket, fell asleep. It was a magnificent siesta but the sun came out around noon while I was sleeping and caused sun burn on my legs and neck. Lesson learned- bring sun screen next time. Pearl Beach Lake is only open from Memorial Day to Labor Day and currently there is a $25 per person fee. Be warned- I was told that on hot summer weekends there could be as many as 2,000 people a day visiting this beach. Week day visits are probably less crowded...Five stars!

I have been going to Paradise Park campground every summer for the last 7 years. I organize a…read morelarge group and we all stay and camp for a few days. The facility is great with a beach, park and 2 fishing ponds. The convenient store is small but has the most important thing when camping ICE! They have convenient bathrooms and showers. The staff is very nice and have always been very accomidating to our large group. I have already booked our trip for this year and as long as nothing changes we are already planning to return for many years to come.

Was a seasonal camper for 6 years. Camp on the higher ground if possible as heavy rains easily…read moreflood the lower campgrounds. There is a HUGE Yellow Jacket Wasp population necessitating yearly wasp and hornet killer treatments of your camper if you plan on being seasonal. Many activities for families with younger children; my teenagers were bored out of their minds. Tubing on the river is a better option than the man made lake and beach that is taken over by the wasps in late summer through closing season. Convenience store is a huge plus and serves food. Park is well kept up overall though public restrooms need a good facelift. Seasonal pricing is a bit on the high side IMHO. Staff is nice.

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

We had a family reunion here on one of the hottest, stickiest days of the summer. It was one of…read morethose days when an afternoon picnic outside doesn't sound the most appealing and you ask yourself what your family would think of you if you show up in a swimming suit, carrying a bucket of ice water. The shelter we reserved is on the northeast side of the lake (though I question how this qualifies as a lake - more like a pond in my mind) and with a hillside just to the east of it, the shelter was as good as air-conditioned! Hallelujah! There was a cool breeze thanks to the lake and since the shelter was shaded for half of the day, it wasn't until 3pm when the space finally started feeling too warm. The proximity of the shelter was also great as the Monticello Public Pool is right across the road and the kids were able to go enjoy a pool day once they were finished chasing toads around the pond (sorry Freddie the Toady Toad. Also, sorry the kids couldn't decide on a better name).

Vince was really easy to work with. We had to reschedule our day on the lake due to some…read morescheduling conflicts, and Vince was very accommodating. We finally made it to the lake, and he even upgraded the boat for free. The boat was amazing, and our entire family loved our first tubing experience. An amazing experience all around. We will be back for sure!

Excellent service, we were able to rent a boat last minute, reasonably priced. Highly recommended!read more