Hiking with Blackhawk: Lowden State Park
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Lowden State Park in Northern Illinois is most famous for its’ historic 50 foot tall, 100 ton Blackhawk statue. The impressive Blackhawk statue, which is dedicated to all Native Americans, stands as the world’s second largest concrete monolithic statue. We were able to get up close and take some amazing pictures of the statue, although the most incredible views can be seen while driving along Rte. 2.
Mike & I have passed this statue dozens of times while traveling from Dixon to Rockford. However, we never thought of planning a hiking adventure. On this Dixon trip, we finally decided to squeeze in a hike. Mike, being from the Northern Illinois, has visited the park countless times. Being a Chicago native, this was my first visit to this park. I love hiking and spending any time in nature, so I figured why not?
Take a look at some of the beautiful photos we took at the overlook. I love all the beautiful greenery. Obviously, the best views will be during the lush summer and colorful fall season.
From the statue, you can take the 100 step staircase down to the Rock River. We were able to take some fantastic photos of the river. The climb back up is strenuous and an awesome workout at the same time!
As you can see in this pic, the staircase is pretty steep. I am a regular gym buff, so it was not too difficult for me. Fortunately, once you climb down you can enjoy some nice scenery before heading back up.
I love the quaint river scenery!
Hiking trails
There are a few short hikes, but this park seems to be more popular for the statue viewing and camping. You will find 4 miles of well marked trails. I recommend hiking just to get a little more out of your drive here. We hiked about 3.5 miles.
The trails are wide, shaded, and scenic. There are a few small hills, which makes for an invigorating workout. Even though this wasn’t our longest, nor most scenic hike, we still enjoyed our quiet afternoon out exploring the forest. I would say this park is more suited for the casual hiker. If you are an avid fitness buff, you may be disappointed in the variety of terrain. For anyone seeking a casual nature walk and maybe some bird watching, I would say it is a decent place.
Other activities at this state park include: picnicking, camping, boating, and fishing. This park is a great family-friendly daytrip for residents of Northern Illinois. It is a quick daytrip from nearby cities like Dixon, Sterling, DeKalb, Freeport, Rockford, and Rochelle.
Address: 1411 N. River Rd. Oregon, IL 61061. Free admission and parking.
Pet friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are allowed.
Accessibility options: Parking spots, most restrooms, boats ramp have wheelchair access and one is an ADA dock. Service animals allowed. No accessible campsites. For more info, visit the website.
What else to do in the area?
Another fun thing to do in the area is tour the boyhood home of President Ronald Reagan. The Reagan family lived in the house for several years and the home is now open for public tours. Dixon is a cute old-fashioned small town with a beautiful riverfront, a Main Street with local businesses, and many small parks.
Also, I recommend adding on a trip to Castle Rock State Park since it is located in the same area. This beautiful park features about 8 miles of hiking trails including a 100 step staircase climb to a beautiful overlook of the Rock River. This park is a little better for hikers as there is more variety in terms of trails. Both parks are equally gorgeous, and thus, I recommend a trip to both if you have the time.
