Moraine Hills State Park

Welcome to Moraine Hills State Park, a 2,200 acre wetland preserve in northeast Illinois near McHenry.

Park History: Archeologists have unearthed artifacts indicating that human settlement goes as far back as 1,000 years after the end of the Wisconsinan Ice Age. Some of the region's tribes included the Fox, Potawatomi, Sauk, Miami, and Winnebago tribes. The Sauk and Fox tribes claimed ownership to the land at the time of white settlement. A man named Horace Long was one of the first white settlers and a portion of his cabin still stands inside the park boundaries today.

In 1907 McHenry Dam was built and the facilities were donated to the State of Illinois in 1924. In 1939 and 1975 the State of Illinois purchased some of the main tracts that make up the present day park which opened in 1976. The park's name comes from the word moraine which refers to an ancient geologic accumulation of rocks deposited by receding glaciers.

Wildlife: Moraine Hills State Park provides wildlife habitat for foxes, coyotes, raccoons, and over 100 species of birds. Please treat their home with respect.

For the lover of the outdoors this park boasts over 10 miles of multipurpose trails, boat rentals, and several picnic areas. Come on out and explore!

To park's office number is 815-385-1624.