white pines forest state park

I've already reviewed the cabins separately, giving my praises. The entire park is so peaceful and well kept. I can't say enough good things about it. What impressed me most is how clean everything is and all of the staff we encountered - in the office/gift shop, in the restaurant, and the cleaning crews - are very friendly and helpful. They really made us feel welcomed, and as if we were seasoned guests even though this was our first visit. This is a place that I'd love to return to again and again.

What I liked Great rustic setting plenty to do even the winter,wagon rides, pick out your christmas tree, great dinner theater at the lodge. Great country cooking at the lodge restaurant. Quaint historic cabins to stay in (the cabins were originally built by the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps. during the Depression as part of F. D. R.'s New Deal for economic recovery from the Great Depression. Nothing I disliked!!

We have stayed here overnight in one of the cabins which are quite rustic and dated, but hey, it is in the woods. The beds were not overly comfortable and the plastic covering the mattress tended to rustle during the night, but it is a nice place if you don't expect too many amenities. The lodge has a great Sunday Brunch, my husband and I went for Thanksgiving before the kids come for the weekend. The food is good but strictly a comfort buffet with loads of calories and thanksgiving dinner like mom used to make. Drinks were reasonable a good Manhattan for my husband and a mimosa for me that was fair. Price was very reasonable$38 for the dinner and drinks! We did get a senior discount of 10% without even asking! do I look that old :( This is our second Thanksgiving at the restaurant and we would go back again. There were families, couples, it would be great place to take anyone. Staff is friendly and the gift shop we waited in was stocked with all sorts of great little gifts. A Christmas tree lot was on site too, so it would be a real tradition to come to dinner then bring back the perfect tree!

Oct in Ill is like Wisconsin weather in September. Tis a month like "gravy" or frosting on a cake. An added pleasure. The food at the restaurant is oh so good and yummy and very eye appealing. Just west of Chicago and 3 hrs from my house. All state parks in Ill are FREE! Starved Rock and Rock Cut state parks in area also. Preserves are cool too. Planes overhead from O'Hare but... 20 feet away may stand a deer. This is a very pretty part of the state. Prices in gift shop are quite affordable and one of a kind. I did pick up a few xmas presents while there. Since life is for the living, I implore you to leave home and enjoy yourself. God can call you when He wants. Why not get out today? You can thank me now. Or you can thank me later.Marilyn

A beautiful, peaceful park with great hiking trails. Stay overnight in a cabin. The cabins are heated and air conditioned. They have large stone fireplaces that have been converted to gas, a TV, DVD, and a bathroom with a shower. There is a trundle bed under the tall double bed which is perfect for kids. Near the cabins is a restaurant with a pretty good menu and generous portions. There are fire pits near the cabins to roast marshmallows, so treat yourself to s'mores.

Our family spent a day hiking the trails through these lovely woods. The grandchildren loved driving through the fords in the creek to get to the picnic/hiking area. These are short trails of easy & medium difficulty. The Sleepy Hollow trail crosses Pine Creek a few times with stepping stones helping you across. Such a fun hike with children of all ages. Best tip I can give you is stay in a cabin at White Pines Inn & eat at their restaurant. Saw lots of fishermen along the creek. Lovely bluffs, trees & hills. A special park in northwest Illinois!

Cool the way the park road crosses thru the river, like driving on water. Don't miss the Sunday brunch at the White Pines Inn.

We loved this park will be going again. We ate at the restaurant, very good Sunday buffet, and spent the afternoon hiking some of the many trails. The trails are well marked and well maintained, and just right in difficulty level for grandparents with school age children. We saw people of every age, even families with pretty young children out hiking. There are plenty of facilities. It was just beautiful and scenic. We saw a number of people fishing and they were catching good sized fish.

There is poison ivy everywhere! Not a good place to hike with young children. It's growing up along tree by the cabins at the inn. You have to constantly be watching out for it along every path.

We just had our wedding celebration here, and the ceremony across the road at the Wedding Canyon. We chose the site because it is mid-way between where our families live and because I spent summer vacations here with my family. The day, the weekend, could not have been more perfect. We rented nine cabins, gathered around bonfires each night and took early morning hikes each day. We had the rehearsal dinner and the reception lunch at the inn -- our wait staff was superb and the meals were tasty. We had the wedding in the canyon -- and can't say enough about the team that helped us plan and carry off the ceremony, including Beth and Bev the Rev.

This park is on the small side but has a lot to offer. The family tent campground was well-kept and nearly empty during our weekday stay. The hiking trails are well-marked and short enough for young hikers with little legs. We especially liked the Sleepy Hollow Trail which had multiple stream crossings by hopping across concrete barrels. The restaurant and nearby cabins were built by the CCC, an interesting historical tidbit. Though we didn't visit the cabins, I imagine they would be excellent for folks hesitant to go the tent camping route. The restaurant and gift shop exceeded our expectations. Service was friendly and quick, great for our hungry young campers. The gift shop had a very nice assortment of gifts and useful camping items. We also enjoyed the two playgrounds in the park. My only negative observations are outside of the park's control. 1. There is poison ivy EVERYWHERE. Be alert and stay on the trails while hiking, and stay out of the surrounding woods while camping. 2. The family campground is quite near a busy rail line and noisy trains come through all night long. Consider earplugs if you are a light sleeper (or even if you're not, those trains are LOUD).

Staying with family in Rochelle this always makes for a nice trip out. Food is also tasty and fresh. With the gift shop next door with lots of interesting items to purchase it's a great place to find gifts to take back to the UK. To stay in a cabin is now on my wish list. Always good to see the chatty macaw, shame to hear he's been poorly.

This park is very large and you will need two or three days at least if you want to hike majority of the trails. We stays at the Kable House Inn, located only 10 minutes from this location so it was easy to return for a quick dinner and head back out on the trails. Abundance of wildlife and depending of the season you will encounter many different species of native birds. Perfect for birdwatching and photography. Very nice setup, trails well marked and plenty of parking.

I have been at campgrounds that are much much worse, but I have also been to much better. Several of the camp sites are very hilly, and close together. The longest hiking trails were about 1.2 miles, so if your an avid hiker, you might be a little disappointed. View were good though. There are a few places where you must drive across the river. We liked it, but I could see how not everyone would. (They do close the crossings if water is too high). The restaurant and picnic shelters are very popular for events.

It has great hiking areas with beautiful sights. Great camping areas and they are very well kept. A great place to visit any time of the year.