With the potential for hitting 50 degrees on a sunny Sunday in Northern Illinois in March, I knew it was time to hit the trails again. Toby and I debated which park to hit up, since the mud and residual snow pack would make for treacherous hiking conditions with the kids. We were looking for a wide trail without a significant grade, yet we wanted to explore a new park or series of trails we hadn't hit before. We settled on Castle Rock State Park. Several summers ago we hiked the Forest Ridge (NORTH) Trail, but we hadn't ever been near the south trails. With a plan to tackle the south trails, we loaded up the car and headed North East.
Gear Packed:
* 3 walking sticks
* Backpack with 2 water bottles, snacks, baby wipes, and a grocery sack (since there are no facilities at this park)
* Extra coats, gloves, and hats in case it was chilly when we arrived
* Extra grocery sacks and sandals for the ride home, knowing it would be muddy
When we arrived (shortly before 1pm CST), there was only one car in the parking lot. The fam trekked to the information station to determine which trail we were going to start on. We thought the 1-mile Oak Ridge Trail would be a sufficient start, so I snapped a quick picture of the trail map with my phone before heading off on what would certainly be a quick initial hike that would give us plenty of time to do the Fox Trail after. We headed North to end the trail as it meets up with the Pond Trail.
As anyone with children knows, all plans truly hinge on their abilities and moods. The start to this 1-mile trail was wide and circled around Illinois prairie. It was exactly what we were looking for. There were piles of snowpack that remained shaded and therefore melting slower, but for the most part, Toby and Augie in their tennis shoes were going to be fine, or so I thought. Augie was running ahead and yelling back any issues he foresaw, and we were going along at a good clip.
Pictured: Johnsons on the path. March 2021.
This peaceful, wide, prairie path quick lead into the main forested area of the park that bumps up against the George B. Fell Nature Preserve. The path remained wide, but it wasn't long before we found ourselves hiking up a significant hill, but it remained snow free and just a challenge for our leg muscles!
Pictured: Johnsons on the path. March 2021.
It wasn't long before Augie had to go to the bathroom and Toby's shoes were soaked through to his socks. The snowpack that started out as sporadic soon became the only way to walk. While I consider my kids hearty travelers and hikers, this trip was an exception...
Pictured: Johnson in the snow pack. March 2021.
This picture doesn't capture just how deep the snow was, and with the 50 degree weather, the melt and slip-slidiness (that's a word, trust me) made for all the glute burning. Harper wasn't feeling it.
Pictured: Johnson taking a break. March 2021.
I'm pretty certain she's carving an SOS message here.
At this point in the trail (about .6 miles in), we were deep in a gully that was covered in snow. I had to guide the family out of the creek bed and back onto the trail and then refer to the picture I snapped on my phone twice. We clearly hadn't planned appropriately for this particular trip because of the significant amount of snow remaining in these hills. It was a strenuous workout that we will laugh about when we revisit this path this summer (if the kids let me take them back), but with the snow on the ground, it was challenging.
Toby and I were big fans and will bring the kids back this summer to check out the other trails for sure. Harper's mood quickly perked up as we wrapped up our excursion by visiting McDonalds for shamrock shakes!
Pictured: Very happy Johnsons. March 2021.
We love exploring our neck of the woods and hope that the lessons we learn can help others learn from our mistakes! Have you hiked all the trails at Castle Rock? Which one is your favorite? We'd love to connect and share our love for all things Northern Illinois. In the meantime, we are daydreaming about future travels and look forward to memorializing them here.
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