Castle Rock State Park, Illinois, United States

5Susan M 5:00 PM May 10, 2015

"Don't Overlook Castle Rock"
I get the feeling that Castle Rock State Park is often overlooked in favor of the more well-known nearby White Pines Forest State Park. While Castle Rock doesn't offer the amenities White Pines does such as cabins, dining and modern campsites, the location along the Rock River makes it worth the visit, Three picnic areas offer shelters, grills, toilets & drinking water along with playground equipment and of course picnic tables. Picnic tables are also scattered along the river. Primitive camping is accessible only by boat or canoe. There are six miles of trails divided into two areas and a climb atop Castle Rock via the staircase is worth it for the view you'll get.

4Dr_Xaos 5:00 PM Jun 30, 2022

Stunningly Picturesque State Park
Took my two daughters to Castle Rock State Park while we were staying a few days in the local area. We visited on a weekday afternoon, so the park was fairly quiet and without many other visitors at that time. The Park has plenty of parking spot available as well as various locations to visit. There are various trails that you can walk, which were moderately easy to walk. There were also restrooms available and even a few play areas for kids. The main reason for our stop, however, was to enjoy the scenic overlook of the nearby Rock River. Important to note that this overlook is not at the main park but rather a mile or so southwest of the park’s main entrance. Plenty of parking available there as well. There are multiple stairs to climb to each of the platforms, but the stairways are well built and easy to traverse. Well worth the time and effort to see the views of the river and the forested shores around it.