Moraine Hills State Park — Attraction in McHenry

Tonight i had the most disappointing time here, we come to this park almost every other week with our children so they can play and my husband can do a run, well today they changed their hours mind you in the middle of week, so i invited a friend and her child who's been to this park to play, well we were their a little past 8, 8:10 to be exact my friend left first as i saw still waiting for my husband to come back, this guy came blasting down to the end park brights on blocked my friend on the road got out of his car and started threatening her, screaming at her in front of her child stating she was trespassing and she is going to get arrested, all while she's calling me to warn me this truck had no park ranger signage nothing, he tells her to drive up front she locked in, he came blaring down to me and my 3 children as we were looking for my husband, zooms in front of my car yelling again we are trespassing and i can have you arrested your locked in get moving. I explained that i was just waiting for my husband he tells me to have him run to the entrance mind you we are all the way at the end he is almost to the car. This guy didn't say he worked for the park or anything just that we can't read or we didn't read the 1 sign that they just changed to closing at 8pm instead of 9, stating it was past 8 and he didn't want to stay after 8!. Needless to say the way he reacted hes lucky no one had a conceal and carry or...

UPDATE September 23, 2025. After a long very hot & humid summer I've been hitting the trails again. I have to say the trails have been nearly immaculate of dog duty. If I do run across some, it's gone by the next hike. Sorry someone's been appointed stool removal, but also thank you so much for tending to the issue. The trails are so beautiful. Wish the pet owners would have consideration for others. Thanks again

Don't get me wrong with the 1 star, I love Moraine Hills State Park and would give it 5 stars as the 3.2 mile blue trail is my favorite. The park is beautiful, well kept and the trails are well groomed "except" over the past month it's become impossible to have a brisk walk and also be able to enjoy the scenery without staring at the ground CONSTANTLY to make sure to avoid dog duty!! Well today was the day! Guess I looked up for a second and it happened...stepped in duty!!! Also ran into 2 loose dogs too! It's a shame people can't manage to follow the rules and clean up a after their dogs. It's not like the park doesn't have signs posted and even supply bags for them! Way to ruin it for the rest of us who enjoy nature and...

We've gone to the dam portion of Moraine Hills for a long time. Fishing is popular when the dam is closed, raising the water levels up. We've seen many people pull up large catfish. Bald Eagles will hunt here too, which is always so cool to see. We like walking the trail here. It's a good sized loop around the park. There is a lookout over the marshy area too so you can see the cranes and herons who nest in the wetlands. Their cries are prehistoric sounding. In the late spring/summer, you can see turtles sunning in the bogs. Lots of people walk dogs and don't pick up after them, so watch your step. I have had to throw shoes away (in the parking lot) after stepping in a pile and not able to get it off my shoes. In the on season, they have a concession stand where you can get drinks, ice cream, snacks, and bait. You can also rent rowboats to take out on the lower portion and fish off of. This area does flood a lot when we get a lot of rain. The lower Fox river usually floods. They have picnic tables, grills, and pit toilets available too, as well as swings for the kids. It's a nice place to spend and...