|
| White Pines Forest
State Park Mount Morris, Ill. Rating:
(three campfires out of five) Date: October 2002, April 2004 Description: The groves at White Pines Forest State Park are the most southerly naturally occurring white pines in the United States. The rolling prairie of Ogle County surrounds the ravines and woods of the park. There is one campground on a small hill, and another in a grassy dell. Sites are stacked close together. Recreation: There is a modest trail system that includes overlooks along the bluffs above Pine Creek. I did not have as much luck birding this area as I thought I would. Privacy: Not much. I would recommend going in the off-season. Sites are small and wide open. Alcohol: prohibited Reservations: I did not have reservations when I visited, but I believe they are available. Firewood: Available from a private residence just west of the park. Rants: When I was there in April, more than half of the sites were barricaded, and we were forced to crowd into a small car camping area. I asked a ranger why they did not open all of the sites and he said something about understaffing. This was a matter of removing a chain from across the road and a little bit of maintenance. This is heavy day use area, and there is a lodge, cabins and restaurant on the grounds. I do not think I could camp here in mid-summer. Still, this is a fun, little park to explore. And there is a frequently used train right-of-way very close to the park.
Camp Chicago
|
