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Jul 18, 2022 · Starved Rock State Park, Illinois. Around a 1hr 30minute drive from Chicago, you will find Starved Rock State Park, one of the top-rated state parks in Illinois and home to beautiful scenery, forests, and waterfalls. Starved Rock is great to visit year-round with a range of things to experience depending on the season.
- Starved Rock State Park
- Volo Bog State Natural Area
- Chain O’ Lakes State Park
- Illinois Beach State Park
- Buffalo Rock State Park
- Matthiessen State Park
Location: 2678 E 875th Rd, Oglesby, IL 61348 Carved by eons of glacial runoff, Starved Rock State Park is a geological wonder with steep sandstone canyons, several of which have seasonal waterfalls. The park is an hour and a half drive southwest of Chicago and worlds away from the hubbub. Besides hiking, there is an excellent view from Lover’s Leap...
Location: 28478 Brandenburg Rd, Ingleside, IL 60041 If you have never seen a quaking bog, here’s your chance—Volo Bog State Natural Area is about an hour northwest of downtown Chicago. Initially, the bog was a deep 50-acre lake formed long ago when a gigantic residual chunk of glacier ice became embedded in the landscape. The lake, with poor draina...
Location: James Rd, Spring Grove, IL 60081 Head about 60 miles northwest of Chicago, and you are in the area of Illinois that is home to the highest concentration of lakes. The Chain O’ Lakes State Park is in the middle and is a series of 15 connected kettle lakes formed by calving ice blocks when glaciers retreated eons earlier. With 6,500 acres o...
Location: 1 Lake Front Dr, Zion, IL 60099 Head an hour north along the Michigan shoreline, and you’ll run right into Illinois Beach State Park, the only remaining beach ridge shoreline in the state. For those of you who don’t know what a beach ridge is, it’s a wave-swept deposit of sand that makes a ridge that runs parallel to the shore. The park’s...
Location: 1300 N 27th Rd, Ottawa, IL 61350 An hour and a half southwest of Chicago, you’ll find the compact Buffalo Rock State Park—it may be small, but it packs a mighty punch. The park is a bluff with a sheer and jagged sandstone dropoff with a magnificent panoramic view of the Illinois River. It’s named Buffalo Rock because it’s thought that the...
Location: 2500 IL-178, Oglesby, IL 61348 Matthiessen State Park is in the same part of the state as Starved Rock State Park; it is about 15 minutes further south as the crow flies, making it an hour and 45 minutes southwest from the Windy City. Picking between two parks is difficult, each as visually beautiful as the other—it might be best to plan ...
- Illinois Beach State Park. If you love sparsely populated beaches, bird watching, and tromping around valleys of bursting wildflowers, Zion’s Illinois Beach State Park is one of the closest to Chicago and only a short Metra ride away.
- Indiana Dunes State Park. Midwesterners are proud that part of our beloved shoreline Indiana Dunes was named a National Park in 2019, and Hoosiers still claim Indiana Dunes State Park, the 2,000 acre park situated alongside its federally managed neighbor.
- Kettle Moraine State Forest. Covering over 50,000 acres of southwestern Wisconsin, Kettle Moraine State Forest is just over two hours by car from Chicago and offers some of the hilliest hiking and trail running routes in the region.
- Warren Dunes State Park. Though Warren Dunes State Park offers an easily accessible beach with food trucks, kayaking, hang gliding and more, there is more to this nearly 2,000-acre Michigan state park than just the water.
- Indiana Dunes State Park. Situated along Lake Michigan, Indiana Dunes State Park is one of the most stunning recreational areas you can visit in the area.
- Starved Rock State Park. One of the best natural spots for a day trip from Chicago is Starved Rock State Park. Mostly known for its interesting sandstone formations and steep canyons, the park is a real paradise for hiking enthusiasts.
- Matthiessen State Park. Deep forests, interesting canyons, peaceful streams and beautiful waterfalls will greet you at Matthiessen State Park. Covering close to 1,700 acres, this green paradise is situated less than 100 miles away from Chicago.
- Pere Marquette State Park. Spreading on a territory of more than 8000 acres, Pere Marquette State Park is the largest within Illinois. The distance of 300 miles from Chicago, however, means that you cannot visit the park on just a day trip.
Warren Dunes State Park is a perfect destination for those seeking adventure and natural beauty. Address: 12032 Red Arrow Highway, Sawyer, MI 49124 Driving Distance From Chicago: Approximately 1.5 hours Opening Hours: 8:00AM – 10:00PM Entrance Fee: $10 daily fee for non-residents, $36 annual pass fee for non-residents.
With its magnificent canyons, enchanting waterfalls, and abundant wildlife, Starved Rock State Park is a must-visit destination for anyone seeking a memorable outdoor experience near Chicago. Discover Scenic Beauty at Rock Cut State Park. Located near Rockford, Illinois, Rock Cut State Park offers a picturesque setting for outdoor adventures ...
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Feb 2, 2022 · Chain O'Lakes State Park is located 60 miles northwest of Chicago near the Wisconsin border. It spans Lake and McHenry counties totaling 2,793 acres, plus an additional 3,200 acres of conservation area. Facebook/Chain O Lakes State Park. This Illinois State Park is located at the inlet of the Fox River, 20 miles west of Lake Michigan.
