Lowden Memorial State Park

Another great place to hike... this one is relatively flat and easy to do.

We love Lowden! A beautiful park to explore nature and see fantastic views!

Lowden State Park was a gorgeous place. I've never been before and have only driven across the river a couple of times in my life. I was super excited to come here and see the area. Blackhawk statue was super easy to find, everything was very well marked, maintained fantastically, clean, and beautiful. We didn't encounter anyone that worked there while we visited so I can't speak to those interactions. The campground looked nice and clean too

Lowden has become my favorite camping destination the last 10 years as I have brought my now almost-10 year old here since she was a baby. We call it “the usual place” and have so many great memories at Lowden. It’s a modest park, but you’d be hard-pressed to find another campground that compares if you enjoy actually being in the woods when camping. I make the trek from Chicago so I can get some time nestled in the woods in the “class C” primitive walk-in sites several times a year. I haven’t encountered another state park with similar walk-in sites. They offer privacy and quiet that you just can’t get in a standard campground, especially for tent-campers, The walk-in sites are fairly easy to access, and we use a foldable wagon and backpacks to bring in our supplies. Though the walk-in sites can’t be reserved, I’ve never had an issue taking my pick of the sites, even on holiday weekends. Overnight you can hear owls, and then be awakened by a lovely bird symphony. It’s dog-friendly, and it’s not too hard to get to the water pump where the water tastes good! The pit toilets are well maintained and not too smelly. You can buy firewood on site that’s less expensive than at the gas station down the street. I’ve encountered many critters here, but visitors take good care of it, and I’ve never had issues with critters making a mess of our supplies. The hiking is modest but pleasant, with an easy loop on the White Oak side that connects to the other half of the park via a street crossing that is fairly easy to navigate. I’m always impressed by the biodiversity here, with so many native wildflowers, spring ephemerals, fungi, sedges, and grasses. On the main park side, there are some fun ways to get a longer hike up and down the hill that leads to the campground, and great views of the Rock River and the famous Blackhawk sculpture by Laredo Taft. They recently rehabbed that monument and haven’t replaced the placard that told more of the story of Indigenous history, and I hope that gets replaced soon. I always look forward to coming back!

Nice campground close to home. Small town for your independent coffee shop fix. Dairy Queen if it's hot. Campground quiet hours are 10-7. Restrooms evenly spaced. Hike around the campground for just over a mile. Dog friendly.