5 best places to hike in Rockford — and 5 more that are worth the drive
When my four daughters were young, we used to take a yearly camping trip. We stopped camping long ago, but that’s OK. Camping for us was never about tents and marshmallows: It was always about the hiking. Now that my daughters are all in their 20s, our favorite vacations are hiking in the Arizona mountains.
But some of our best hiking experiences remain close to home.
Here are my choices for the best hiking experiences in and around Rockford, from ones just around the corner to some more deluxe places that are worth a day trip (or overnight camping experience):
In our backyard
Rock River Bike Path
Pay no attention to AllTrails, which somehow has this ranked only No. 7 in its Best Trails in Rockford, behind several uninspiring choices. Starting in downtown Rockford, this is an easy trail, but offers the best scenery in Rockford, from the Rockmen Guardians to Symbol to the Rock River to Nicholas Conservatory. And once you get north of Riverside, the trail has a short stretch of cliffs and switchbacks on its way to SportScore One.
Severson Dells
Hiking to me means climbing, but Severson Dells in southwest Rockford is a hot spot for bird watchers and for those who are just looking for a stroll through the woods close to home. Former RVC tennis coach Steve Vee calls it "the most scenic and serene place in the Rockford area."
Colored Sands
This forest preserve trail is another easy walking route near Rockton. It is known for bird watching and wildflowers and its views of the Sugar River. The Lupines are especially pretty in June.
Seward Bluffs
This 400-acre Winnebago County Forest Preserve offers views of woodlands, streams and dolomite cliffs and is most known for its fall foliage.
Rock Cut
Rock Cut is to Rockford what Starved Rock is to state-wide hiking fans: the place where everyone goes. At over 3,000 acres, it has something for everyone and is rated the No. 7 park in the state. In my view, Rock Cut is best for mountain biking.
Worth the drive
Matthiessen
Starved Rock in Oglesby is the hiking/camping place that people rave about in northern Illinois. It has the cool name and back story. But little-known Mathiessen, right next door in Utica and an hour south of Rockford, has all the scenery, canyons and waterfalls that Starved Rock has and more — including caves — and in a more concentrated area. Trip Advisor lists this as the No. 2 park in the state behind Starved Rock. Hikinggearlab.com agrees with me and names this the best hiking park in Illinois and also says it is a great spot to spot bald eagles.
Devils Lake, Baraboo, Wisconsin
Devils Lake has 29 miles of hiking trails, including stunningly scenic sections of the National Ice Age Trail. Steep climbs and descents are common, but made relatively easy by natural-looking stone steps built during the Great Depression by the Civilian Conservation Corps, who moved all the stones and boulders by hand. It is TripAdvisor's No. 2 park in Wisconsin.
Starved Rock
OK, Mathiessen is better, but Starved Rock is cool, too. The most popular state park in Illinois even has places where adventurers like to ice climb. But its famed history may or may not be true. After Chief Pontiac was killed in the 1700s, legend has it the Ottawa tribe sought revenge and cornered the Illini tribe atop a rock in the park and they eventually starved there.
Castle Rock
Three miles south of Oregon on the Rock River, this 3.5 mile trail is known for its plants, including 27 different kinds of fern. Dogs are welcome, too.
Mississippi Palisades
This 2,500-acre National Natural Landmark near Savanna offers great views of the Mississippi River. It has 10 trails, divided into north and south systems. Stick to the south. All the best hikes are at the south entrance, including the Sentinel, Sunset and Pine Trail, which features an elevation change of 1,089 feet and takes you past steep cliffs and giant boulders.
Contact: mtrowbridge@rrstar.com, @matttrowbridge or 815-987-1383. Matt Trowbridge has covered sports for the Rockford Register Star for over 30 years, after previous stints in North Dakota, Delaware, Vermont and Iowa City.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: An insider's guide to the best places to hike in and around Rockford
