Rock Cut State Park

  •   
  • Midwest
  • Illinois
  • Rockford

Rock Cut State Park is located in the Winnebago Country. The park features over 3000 acres of beautiful wildflowers and a diverse wildlife population that attracts visitors of all ages. There are two lakes located in the park – Pierce Lake and Oslon Lake. Pierce Lake is a retreat for people who love fishing, ice fishing, and ice skating. 50 acres Oslon Lake is especially for swimmers. Both the lakes are incredible in their own way. The preserve at the park is quite large and incorporates 40 miles of trail.

 

Attractions

  1. Sightseeing

One of the most famous activities in the park is fishing in Pierce Lake. The Pierce Lake is home to fishes like bluegill, channel catfish, largemouth bass, bullhead, walleye, redear sunfish, and northern pike. The lake offers excellent fishing with just watercraft and electric motor permitted. There are many picnic areas here that are scattered throughout Rock Cut.

  1. Camping

Rock Cut also gives an opportunity for the people who want an overnight stay. The campsites give electricity, water hydrants, dump stations, latrines, and playground equipment for a better stay. There is a primitive cabin however it does not have water or plumbing amenities. Rock Cut is an alcoholic free park and all visitors must strongly obey this rule.

  1. Hiking

There are many fun activities that you can do in this park. Swimming, playing volleyball, renting a boat, paddleboards are to name a few. If you love to hike the amazing trails, this park offers 40 miles of hiking opportunities. Choose from either 23 miles mountain biking or 14 miles equestrian. You can also experience some winter sports like cross country ski and ice fishing.

Activities

There are plenty of activities you can do at the Rock Cut. You can enjoy mountain biking and hike on the 23 miles multi-use trails. Some trails allow horseback riding. All these posts are marked with yellow posts so you can easily identify them. Pierce Lake is the perfect lake for boating during the summer. Visitors can also boat on Oslon Lake but there are boating restrictions and you have to follow them.

Important Facts

  • The Rock Cut Park was established in 1957 and attracts about 1.4 million visitors a year.
  • Distance around the lake via road is 4.1 miles.
  • The Rock Cut State Park was named after Pierce, the representative from the city of Rockford.

 

What to Expect

The park is open with restricted guidelines due to COVID-19. You can still reserve the campsites, shelters, and cabins. Shelters and group camps are limited to 50 people only. The park is easy to find thanks to its location near I-90 that can be accessed from all directions. If you want to get any supplies on the way to the park, there are plenty of places including Loves Park, Roscoe, etc.

Plan your Visit

The best time to visit the state park is from April to October. The entry fee is $3 per person. All the visitors are required to leave the park before 10:00 PM.

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