Tip: Use our interactive map 
to locate specific picnic areas!
McHenry County Conservation District has several shelters and picnic areas available for reservation on a first come, first serve basis.
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. 
Make a reservation online or call the Main Office at 815-338-6223. Reservations must be made at least 2 weeks in advance. Reservations made online must be paid when making the reservation. Reservations made by phone must be paid in full within 10 working days of making the reservation.
***Fel-Pro RRR cannot be reserved online. To reserve this site, call the Main Office at 815-338-6223. You may check availability online but you are not able to reserve it.
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.
Sites Picnic Shelter are Available
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Holiday Surcharge: Applies to Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day
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 Administrative 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 open daily at sunrise and close at sunset. Times may also vary depending upon season or activity and will be posted. Use authorized parking areas only.
• 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 the District's Administrative Office 10 working days in advance of your desired date.
• 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.
For a printable copy in English and Spanish, click here.
Beck's Woods
printable map
5940 N. Pagles Road, Chemung
Shelter/Picnic: 80 people, parking for 40 cars
Cost: $75 McHenry County / $150 Out of County
Holiday Surcharge: $20 McHenry County / $40 Out of County
Activities: Camping, Hiking, Fishing, Picnicking
Brookdaleprintable map
18410 US Highway 14, Woodstock
Shelter: 80 people, parking for 23 cars
Cost: $75 McHenry County / $150 Out of County
Holiday Surcharge: $20 McHenry County / $40 Out of County
Activities: Fishing, Hiking, Picnicking
Coral Woodsprintable map
7400 Somerset Dr., Marengo
Picnic: 40 people, parking for 60 cars
Cost: $50 McHenry County / $100 Out of County
Holiday Surcharge:$10 McHenry County / $20 Out of County
Shelter (electricity): 80 people, parking for 60 cars
Cost: $75 McHenry County / $150 Out of County
Holiday Surcharge: $20 McHenry County / $40 Out of County
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
Cost: $75 McHenry County / $150 Out of County
Holiday Surcharge: $20 McHenry County / $40 Out of County
Activities: Cross-Country Skiing, Hiking, Picnicking
Fel-Pro RRRprintable map
1520 Crystal Lake Rd., Cary
Note: Available only on Saturday & Sunday
during June/July/August
Reservations: Reservations are only available by calling the Main Office at 815-338-6223. You can check the availability on the online reservation system but reservations cannot be made online.
Main Shelter Picnic: 150 people
Parking for 150 cars (.25 mile walk from parking lot.)
3 grills, flush toilets, drinking fountain, electricity
Cost: $180 McHenry County / $240 Out of County
Holiday Surcharge: $30 McHenry County / $60 Out of County
Lake Shelter: 150 people, parking for 150
(not fully ADA accessible, 0.4 mile walk from parking lot)
4 grills, screen enclosed, electricity, flush toilets downstairs, drinking fountain
Cost: $180 McHenry County / $240 Out of County
Holiday Surcharge: $30 McHenry County / $60 Out of County
West Entrance Shelter: 9 people, parking for 13 cars
Cost: $50 McHenry County / $100 Out of County
Holiday Surcharge: $10 McHenry County / $20 Out of County
Activities: Hiking, Fishing, Baseball diamond, Basketball court, Volleyball court, Horseshoe pits, 9 hole Disc golf course, Cross-Country Skiing.
Fox Bluffprintable map
Cary-Algonquin Rd. & Cold Springs Rd., Cary
Shelter/Picnic: 80 people, parking for 23 cars
Cost: $75 McHenry County / $150 Out of County
Holiday Surcharge: $20 McHenry County / $40 Out of County
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)
Cost: $75 McHenry County / $150 Out of County
Holiday Surcharge: $20 McHenry County / $40 Out of County
Harts Rd. Shelter: 50 people, parking for 25 cars
Cost: $50 McHenry County / $100 Out of County
Holiday Surcharge: $10 McHenry County / $20 Out of County
Activities: Camping, Canoeing, Cross-Country Skiing, Hiking, Horse Trails, Picnicking
Harrison Benwellprintable map
7055 McCullom Lake Road, Wonder Lake
Parking for 20 cars total
Picnic Grove: 50 people
Cost: $50 McHenry County / $100 Out of County
Holiday Surcharge: $10 McHenry County / $20 Out of County
Shelter: 50 people
Cost: $50 McHenry County / $100 Out of County
Holiday Surcharge: $10 McHenry County / $20 Out of County
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
Cost: $75 McHenry County / $150 Out of County
Holiday Surcharge: $20 McHenry County / $40 Out of County
Shelter Grove #2: 80 People, parking for 30 cars
Cost: $75 McHenry County / $150 Out of County
Holiday Surcharge: $20 McHenry County / $40 Out of County
Activities: Fishing, Hiking, Horse Trails, Picnicking
Hickory Grove Riverfrontprintable map
500 Hickory Nut Grove Lane, Cary
Shelter/Picnic: 50 people, parking for 20 cars
Cost: $50 McHenry County / $100 Out of County
Holiday Surcharge: $10 McHenry County / $20 Out of County
Activities: Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Horse trails, Picnicking
The Hollowsprintable map
3804 Route 14, Cary
Shelter Grove #1: 50 people, parking for 15 cars
Cost: $50 McHenry County / $100 Out of County
Holiday Surcharge: $10 McHenry County / $20 Out of County
Picnic Grove #2: 50 people, parking for 10 cars
Cost: $50 McHenry County / $100 Out of County
Holiday Surcharge: $10 McHenry County / $20 Out of County
Picnic Grove #3: 50 people, parking for 12 cars
Cost: $50 McHenry County / $100 Out of County
Holiday Surcharge: $10 McHenry County / $20 Out of County
Lake Atwood Shelter: 80 people, parking for 30 cars
Cost: $75 McHenry County / $150 Out of County
Holiday Surcharge: $20 McHenry County / $40 Out of County
Activities: Camping, Cross-Country Skiing, Fishing, Hiking, Picnicking
Kishwaukee Headwatersprintable map
1606 Dean Street, Woodstock
Shelter: 50 people, parking for 24 cars
Cost: $50 McHenry County / $100 Out of County
Holiday Surcharge: $10 McHenry County / $20 Out of County
Activities: Hiking, Picnicking
Lake in the Hills Fenprintable map
1500 Jefferson Street, Lake in the Hills
Shelter: 17 people, parking for 9
Cost: $50 McHenry County / $100 Out of County
Holiday Surcharge: $10 McHenry County / $20 Out of County
Activities: Hiking, Picnicking
Lyle C. Thomas Landingprintable map
7700 Block Route 12, Spring Grove
Picnic: 80 people, parking for 20 cars
Cost: $75 McHenry County / $150 Out of County
Holiday Surcharge: $20 McHenry County / $40 Out of County
Activities: Canoeing, Fishing, Picnicking
Marengo Ridgeprintable map
3100 N. Route 23, Marengo
Shelter #1 (electricity): 80 people, parking for 40 cars
Cost: $75 McHenry County / $150 Out of County
Holiday Surcharge: $20 McHenry County / $40 Out of County
Shelter #2: 50 people, parking for 21 cars
Cost: $50 McHenry County / $100 Out of County
Holiday Surcharge: $10 McHenry County / $20 Out of County
Picnic: 50 people, parking for 20 cars
Cost: $50 McHenry County / $100 Out of County
Holiday Surcharge: $10 McHenry County / $20 Out of County
Activities: Camping, Cross-Country Skiing, Hiking, Picnicking
Pleasant Valleyprintable map
13315 Pleasant Valley Rd., Woodstock
Parking for 50 cars in Main Lot; parking for an additional 49 cars in second lot
Shelter #1: 80 people
Cost: $75 McHenry County / $150 Out of County
Holiday Surcharge: $20 McHenry County / $40 Out of County
Shelter #2 with amphitheater: 80 people
Cost: $75 McHenry County / $150 Out of County
Holiday Surcharge: $20 McHenry County / $40 Out of County
Wedding Costs: $200 McHenry County / $300 Out of County
Includes use of Shelter #2 with amphitheater and no other reservations will be made for Shelter #1.
Rush Creekprintable map
20501 McGuire Road, Harvard
Shelter: 80 people, parking for 25 cars
Cost: $75 McHenry County / $150 Out of County
Holiday Surcharge: $20 McHenry County / $40 Out of County
Picnic: 50 people, parking for 25 cars
Cost: $50 McHenry County / $100 Out of County
Holiday Surcharge: $10 McHenry County / $20 Out of County
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
Cost: $75 McHenry County / $150 Out of County
Holiday Surcharge: $20 McHenry County / $40 Out of County
Activities: Horse Trail, Hiking, Fishing, Picnicking
Winding Creekprintable map
8415 Johnson Road, Hebron
Shelter: 50 people, parking for 9 cars
Cost: $50 McHenry County / $100 Out of County
Holiday Surcharge: $10 McHenry County / $20 Out of County
Activities: Hiking, Fishing, Picnicking