White Pines Forest State Park
Nature preserve
390 acres7.3 mi of trail
Sleepy Hollow TrailSunset TrailLookout TrailRazorback Trail+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Photo: Ben Jacobson (Kranar Drogin) · CC BY 2.5–Not graded
Outdoors in Pine Creek Township
Few parks or trails are on the map in Pine Creek Township
The biggest trail networks: White Pines Forest State Park (7.3 mi), Castle Rock State Park (1 mi). 3% of Pine Creek Township’s land is conserved, about 751 acres. 573 acres are parks and preserves, 691 per 1,000 residents.
Conserved land
3%
751 acres · of 39.7 sq mi of land
Trails
9.2 mi
0.2 per sq mi of land
Park land
573 ac
691 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
20%
of residents within ½ mile
Lakes & rivers
1
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is White Pines Forest State Park, with 7.3 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Castle Rock State Park
Managed by Illinois Department of Natural Resources
238 acres1 mi of trail
Pond Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
George B. Fell Nature Preserve
Managed by Illinois Department of Natural Resources
10 acres
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
Who protects it
751 conserved acres
3% of Pine Creek Township’s land. Who manages Pine Creek Township’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
State natural resources622 ac
State conservation180 ac
Land trusts & nonprofits127 ac
State Conservation Area · 388 acState Park · 234 acConservation Easement · 180 acPrivate Conservation · 127 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 2 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. Public access isn’t recorded for 1 of 6 parcels. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| White Pines Forest State Park State Conservation Area | State natural resources | 388 | Open |
| Castle Rock State Park State Park | State natural resources | 234 | Open |
| Middle Rock River Fee Private Conservation | Land trusts & nonprofits | 127 | Unknown |
Things to do
11 places to go in Pine Creek Township
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Playgrounds in Pine Creek Township
1 playground without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Scenic views in Pine Creek Township
LookoutIn White Pines Forest State Park
DirectionsPlus 1 scenic view without a name on the map.
Peaks in Pine Creek Township
2 peaks without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Picnic areas in Pine Creek Township
2 picnic areas without a name on the map.
Campgrounds in Pine Creek Township
Cedar Ridge Family Reservation CampgroundIn White Pines Forest State Park
DirectionsFox Canyon Youth CampgroundIn White Pines Forest State Park
DirectionsSpring Creek Youth CampgroundIn White Pines Forest State Park
DirectionsSunny Crest Family CampgroundIn White Pines Forest State Park
DirectionsTrails & water
10 named trails and 1 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Unpaved · 6.4 mi
Sleepy Hollow Trail1.1 mi
Pond Trail1.1 mi
Sunset Trail0.9 mi
Lookout Trail0.5 mi
Razorback Trail0.5 mi
Grey Squirrel Trail0.5 mi
Whispering Pine Trail0.5 mi
Red Squirrel Trail0.4 mi
Red and Grey Squirrel Trail0.2 mi
Accessible Trail0.1 mi
Lakes & rivers tap for directions
Biking & sports
0.0 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
Courts & fields
1Volleyball
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
History along the way
History →1 place on the National Register
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service).
White Pines State Park Lodge and CabinsBuilding · listed 1985
About itWhen to get out
September is the best month for walking in Pine Creek Township
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.4 | 10.5 | 11.8 | 13.3 | 14.5 | 15.2 | 14.9 | 13.9 | 12.4 | 11.0 | 9.7 | 9.1 |
| High (°F) | 29 | 34 | 47 | 60 | 72 | 81 | 84 | 82 | 76 | 63 | 47 | 35 |
| Rain (in) | 1.7 | 1.8 | 2.5 | 3.8 | 4.6 | 5.2 | 4.2 | 4.0 | 3.6 | 3.0 | 2.5 | 2.1 |
January is the driest month (1.7 in) and July the warmest (highs of 84 °F). 5.2 inches fall in June, the wettest month. The climate in Pine Creek Township →
Next door
Pine Creek Township and its neighbors
Pine Creek Township has the second most mapped trails of the 3 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pine Creek Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Mount Morris Township | under 1% | under 0.1 | 7 | 79% | C− |
| Oregon-Nashua Township | 19% | 1.0 | 752 | 84% | A+ |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Pine Creek Township
Where can I hike in Pine Creek Township?
The longest trail networks: White Pines Forest State Park, 7.3 miles; Castle Rock State Park, 1 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
Are dogs allowed on Pine Creek Township’s trails?
White Pines Forest State Park and Castle Rock State Park don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Is there public land near Pine Creek Township?
6,745 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Pine Creek Township or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 573 of them inside the town line.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Pine Creek Township neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →