Tip: Use our interactive map 
to locate specific picnic areas!
McHenry County Conservation Distri
ct has several shelters and picnic areas available for reservation on a first come, first serve basis.
To reserve a site, a completed permit and any necessary fee is due in the District's Brookdale Administrative Office at 815-338-6223 (Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) at least 10 working days in advance of desired date.
At this time, reservations can only be taken in English; no se habla espanol. Please note, the use of amplified music and pinatas are prohibited on District sites.
Permits are required for Shelters or Picnic Areas when the group is 16 or more people, or by any group that wants to guarantee use of that area.
Refunds are issued on cancellations received 10 working days in advance. The District will not issue refunds or carry over reservations that are cancelled due to weather-related conditions.
# of people |
Resident Fee |
Holiday Surcharge |
Non-Resident |
Holiday Surcharge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1-25 |
25 |
10 |
50 |
20 |
26-50 |
50 |
15 |
100 |
30 |
51-100 |
75 |
20 |
150 |
40 |
101-150 |
100 |
25 |
200 |
50 |
151+ |
150 |
30 |
300 |
60 |
Sites Picnic Shelter are Available
|
|
|
The A*B*C's of Conservation District Site Use
• ALCOHOL may not be consumed within 100 feet of a parking area. The sale of alcoholic beverages is prohibited.
• AMPLIFIED MUSIC is prohibited at all District sites.
• BICYCLES allowed only upon roadways, parking areas and designated bicycle trails.
• CAMPING is allowed by permit only and is confined to those areas designated as such. Completed permits and necessary fees must be received in the District’s Main Office 10 working days in advance of your desired date.
• FIRES permitted in designated areas only.
• FISHING allowed at designated sites. All regulations of the Illinois Department of Conservation shall apply unless posted otherwise.
• GEOCACHES: Advanced permission from the District is required prior to the placement of geocaches on Conservation District sites (any unpermitted geocaches are subject to removal). Please email smichael@mccdistrict.org or call 815-338-6223 for information.
• HORSES confined to those areas designated for such use.
• HOURS: Conservation sites are open daily sunrise to sunset; Use only designated areas for parking--do not park in front of gates. Times may vary depending upon the season or special events use.
• LITTERING and the burning of litter is prohibited.
• PETS must be leashed at all times.
• PICNICS and SHELTER USE authorized in designated areas. Permits are required for groups of 16 people or more, and for groups of 15 people or less wishing to guarantee use of those areas. Completed permits and necessary fees must be received in tBrookdale Administrative Office 10 working days in advance of your desired date.
• PINATAS are prohibited at all District sites.
• PLANTS shall not be removed, disturbed, harmed or destroyed in any way within conservation sites.
• SPECIAL USE requests for activities or uses of the site must be approved in advance.
• SWIMMING is prohibited.
• TRAILS are maintained to preserve the natural qualities of the sites. Off-trail use is not allowed without prior approval.
• VEHICLES allowed only on designated roads.
Printable copy of Site Rules & Regulations in English and Spanish.
Beck's Woods
printable map
5940 N. Pagles Road, Chemung
Shelter/Picnic: 100 people, parking for 40 cars
Activities: Camping, Hiking, Fishing, Picnicking
Brookdaleprintable map
18410 US Highway 14, Woodstock
Shelter/Picnic (Paulsen Rd.): 75 people; parking for 23 cars
Activities: Fishing, Hiking, Picnicking
Coral Woodsprintable map
7400 Somerset Dr., Marengo
Picnic: 40 people
Shelter (electricity): 50 people
Parking for 60 cars
Activities: Cross-Country Skiing, Hiking, Picnicking
Exner Marshprintable map
Lakewood and Miller Roads, Lake in the Hills
Shelter/Picnic: 80 people, parking for 20 cars
Activities: Cross-Country Skiing, Hiking, Picnicking
Fox Bluffprintable map
Cary-Algonquin Rd. & Cold Springs Rd., Cary
Shelter/Picnic: 75 people, parking for 55 cars
Activities: Fishing, Hiking, Picnicking
Glacial Parkprintable map
6316 Harts Road, Ringwood
Picnic: 80 people, parking for 20 cars
(Additional parking at Wiedrich Education Center for 50 cars)
Harts Rd. Shelter: 50 people, parking for 25 cars
Activities: Camping, Canoeing, Cross-Country Skiing, Hiking, Horse Trails, Picnicking
Harrison Benwellprintable map
7055 McCullom Lake Road, Wonder Lake
Picnic: 100 people
Shelter: 50 people
Parking for 20 cars total
Activities: Camping, Cross-Country Skiing, Hiking, Picnicking
Hickory Grove Highlandsprintable map
700 Hickory Nut Grove Lane, Cary
Shelter Grove #1: 80 people, parking for 30 cars
Shelter Grove #2: 80 People, parking for 30 cars
Activities: Fishing, Hiking, Horse Trails, Picnicking
Hickory Grove Riverfrontprintable map
500 Hickory Nut Grove Lane, Cary
Shelter/Picnic: 80 people, parking for 20 cars
Activities: Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Horse Trails, Picnicking
The Hollowsprintable map
3804 Route 14, Cary
Shelter Grove #1: 75 people, parking for 15 cars
Picnic Grove #2: 50 people, parking for 10 cars
Picnic Grove #3: 50 people, parking for 12 cars
Lake Atwood Shelter: 75 people, parking for 30 cars
Activities: Camping, Cross-Country Skiing, Fishing, Hiking, Horse Trails, Picnicking
Kishwaukee Headwatersprintable map
1606 Dean Street, Woodstock
Shelter: 80 people, parking for 24 cars
Activities: Hiking, Picnicking
Lake in the Hills Fenprintable map
1500 Jefferson Street, Lake in the Hills
Shelter: 17 people, parking for 10
Activities: Hiking, Picnicking
Lyle C. Thomas Landingprintable map
7700 Block Route 12, Spring Grove
Picnic: 150 people, parking for 20 cars
Activities: Canoeing, Fishing, Picnicking
Marengo Ridgeprintable map
3100 N. Route 23, Marengo
Shelter #1 (electricity): 70 people, parking for 40 cars
Shelter #2: 75 people, parking for 21 cars
Picnic: 50 people, parking for 20 cars
Activities: Camping, Cross-Country Skiing, Hiking, Picnicking
Pleasant Valleyprintable map
13315 Pleasant Valley Rd., Woodstock
Amphitheater Shelter: 50 people
Shelter with Grill: 50 people
Parking for 50 cars in Main Lot; parking for an additional 49 cars in second lot
Rush Creekprintable map
20501 McGuire Road, Harvard
Shelter: 100 people, parking for 25 cars
Picnic: 50 people, parking for 25 cars
Activities: Hiking, Picnicking, Horse Trails, Fishing, Cross-Country Skiing, Camping
Stickney Runprintable map
3716 State Park Road, McHenry
Shelter/Picnic: 80 people, parking for 20 cars
Activities: Horse Trail, Hiking, Fishing, Picnicking
Winding Creekprintable map
8415 Johnson Road, Hebron
Shelter: 65 people, parking for 10 cars
Activities: Hiking, Fishing, Picnicking
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