Franklin Creek State Natural Area

Mami T Phillips!

2023-05

Beautiful creek and trails! And the spring is just magical looking! 😍👌🏽🏞💧🌳🌲🌿🍁🍂⚘️🌼🐞🕸 🦗🕷🐜🐝🦋🐿🐸Oh and the long path for the handicapped is a huge blessing for them!We brought our group home guys here a couples years ago and the walk on the path with the picnic tables to rest on at the end near the creek was just Perfect! 👌🏽🙏🏽😊Gracias state park system!Restrooms: Gross, average rural park outhouse type bathrooms. But they Do have them so amen! 👏🏽🙏🏽👌🏽 lol.

Kara Hoerner

2023-05

Definitely bring good supportive hiking boots! In hindsight long pants would be ideal. So many birds and the sound of the creek was so calming. Very good exercise! We did the Pioneer Pass- just under 4 miles round trip.

Mary Cash

2023-07

Handy cap accessible, bathrooms were clean, the park is small but very well taken care of. Nice shelter for birthday party's as well

Gina Rossi

2023-05

It’s a two hour drive from Chicago, but very worth the schlep. Having explored most of the hiking areas here, and also off-trail, I can attest to how diverse the areas are — its really a treat of a place to spend a whole day, exploring nature and maybe having a little picnic! The grist mill is also an interesting little museum and worth stopping into. Maybe you’ll get lucky and they’ll be demonstrating how the mill works. Highly recommended all around.

MartinMcFly55

2023-06

Loved this place, beautiful winding trails through the forest, along the creek. Really private picnic spots in the middle of the woods. Great bird watching area in the designated prairie.

Cody Kohal

2019-05

My absolute favorite place to be while I'm staying here in Northern Illinois. I hunt here, I run here, and I chill here when I get some free time. You have to visit the grist mill if you have time. There are trails for horse riding and walking alike, with several natural springs along the way. Must see!!

Tim McNinch

2023-10

The size and geography of this park always guarantees you will find something new to see. The wildlife is wonderful. Bird watchers should find plenty to keep them busy. If flora is your game, there are beautiful, mature documents of many trees and the understory is rugged, but generally walkable off the trails. Watch for poison ivy. The nature of the trails is a mix of level walking with modest hills following the creek. The creek itself is flowing the entire year, with slower current in the drier months. There are a few required creek crossings, not deep, but generally ankle to knee deep. Plan on water shoes and extra dry socks in the car. The most rugged of the trails are assisted with stairs or wooden bridges to assist the hiker. Usually not a problem for children if they are assisted. Don't pass on this beautiful property and respect the few private property markers off trail.

LionHeart

2021-05

Great spot! Please make sure to observe social distancing when on the trails, specifically when the trail is narrow.The trail begins as a cement walkway, turns into a trail, and then after some rocks to walk over, the trail winds up and down hills to the rear of the preserve and then loops back. The stairs section can be tough when slippery.Bring a pair of sturdy boots, bug spray is a requirement in the summer, and be sure to bring a bag to pick up trash off the trail.Great smaller alternative to Starved Rock/Mattheissen!

Warren Vowels

2021-05

Long sidewalk style trail excellent for stroller, wagons and wheel chairs, including a covered scenic pond over look. Many other trails. Sparsely equipped playground. Walking creek with ground spring feeder.

Lois Hultgren

2022-05

Beautiful, peaceful, worth going. Spring wild flowers blooming all over. Great time to go.

David Hahn

2021-05

My family visited here for the first time this weekend and found it to be really kid friendly. The trail along the creek is concrete for several hundred feet before switching to a regular old dirt trail. Easy to walk on with two four year olds.What’s neat about this place is the variety of plant species and the geology (they often go hand in hand). Along the concrete portion of the trail you will find tall bellflowers in bloom mid-summer in the drier soils and skunk cabbage growing in the wetlands. As you wind further along and venture onto the dirt path you’ll start finding ferns growing out the shaded sandy cliffs of St Peter Sandstone. The park also contains the oldest exposed geologic formation in Illinois - The Richmond Formation.

Justine Schultz

2024-02

Gave this park 5 stars 5 years ago, i grew up near here and always loved it. In 2023 I got engaged here at the spring and now i love it even more!

Adreanna Sommer

2019-05

This place was a great little walk with a small beautiful water fall at the end of the path. Check out my IG @annaforeverwandering to see all the photos!

Gary Ballard

2023-10

The equine trails are great. They have cleaned up some areas of the park for some great views while riding. Good standard amenities at the camp site. Very enjoyable.

Scott Fish

2021-05

I've been going here for about 13 years. It's always a beautiful place and brings back my inner peace.

Nicholaus Moore

2020-05

Love going fishing at the pond. Lots of bass and sun fish usually. The path next to the creek is nice to hike on. Great little nature area.

Nichi

2020-05

Nice place to go hiking, maybe take your dog on a walk or just sit by the river. Very relaxing.

Lydia McClure Duncan

2017-05

I love this park, I've been frequenting it as I've grown up and I always seem to explore a little more when I go. I love it and am so thankful that we have this little treasure so close.

D G

2022-05

Decided to drive out here and GPS led me to the wrong destination. After I got to the right location, I was kinda underwhelmed with the parks beauty. I walked the paths on both the sides and didn't see any real beauty. The park was empty so I enjoyed hearing all the animals. Best thing about this park is the merry-go-arounds at each shelter areas!!!

Lucas Pietrzak

2020-05

Nice trails for hiking. Fishing is OK, mostly suckers taking the bait.

Michelle

2022-05

We go every year and walk down to the creek and enjoy a cup of fresh water.

two cows

2023-05

Nice Park for a picnic .Go fishing in the pond

Jenny S

2022-05

This is such a nice and peaceful place. Love it here!

Len Stafford

2021-05

Great and quiet trails to hike with creek and rock outcropping.

Susan Felbinger

2020-05

Had a wonderful ride with my daughter and granddaughter today. Interesting trails. Wooded and open prairies. Enough up and down hills to keep it interesting. Beautiful area. Picnic area, paddocks, riding arena and outhouse facilities. Very clean and well kept. Will definitely be coming back!🐴🤗

aaron hall

2022-05

Nice park with a trail that follows the creek. Was there in mid June and the biting flies were pretty bad.

Amber Kotecki-Neill

2022-05

This place was so beautiful!! The trails were a little hard for me at times, but I walk with a cane. The saddest thing about being there was seeing the litter that people had so carelessly thrown into the trees or by the creek with no regard to what that does to nature. I have been to a place quite like it here in Illinois.. it is definitely worth a trip as well as being off the beaten path so, it's isolated in a sense from a lot of traffic in and out!!

Jessica G

2021-05

Love that we can take our son and catch little guys like this. Perfect size for him to learn how to fish on.

Phil H.

2020-05

This area is incredibly lucky to have this park. There's a paved/wooden covered path from the front main entrance to a natural spring with drinkable water. After this, however, its rough trail hiking with little signs of others going through before you. A true "wilderness" experience and a pleasure to witness. This truly is a place to get away from city and social life and commune with nature at its purest.

Kate Gustafson

2020-05

Great trails, there is a portion where waterproof footwear is useful. The creek that runs through is very nice. Not heavily traveled. Some portions of the trail in need of repairs. Steep incline with steps in the middle. Definitely a good workout. Beautiful throughout the year, but especially in the fall.