This Illinois Campground Is One Of The Best Places To View Summer Wildflowers
By Linze Rice|Published July 04, 2023
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Linze Rice
Author
Ope! From the rural cornfields of DeKalb County, Linze is an Illinois native and true Midwestern gal who can make a mean bonfire and whip up a perfect marshmallow salad. Since 2014, her bylines and photography have appeared in the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Magazine, Chicago Sun-Times, and Block Club Chicago/DNAinfo Chicago, Only in Your State, and more. She has interviewed Dolly Parton, written about beloved diners along historic Route 66, visited the last Rainforest Cafe in the Illinois, and reviewed luxurious English manor-inspired hotels. Whether it's writing about a local gem or world-renowned establishment, Linze brings a heartwarming and historical perspective to each story, using facts, wit, and personal experience to impress upon readers the importance of culture, food, travel, and all things local. Her favorite destinations in Illinois include Starved Rock State Park, Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood, the charming small town of Sycamore, and historic Rosehill Cemetery. When she's not writing or photographing, Linze enjoys gardening, spending time with her husband and pets, cooking, baking, and grilling, and relaxing with trashy TV.
Nothing is better than getting to spend time in nature. There is something about the outdoors in Illinois that makes it the perfect place for fishing, hiking, swimming, or just sitting under a shady tree to read or nap (aka, what I do). Being the Prairie State, it’s also an idyllic environment for wildflower viewing, and this Illinois campground with wildflowers is one of the best spots to admire fields full of colorful petals.
The Harry L. Swartz Campground is located within the 1,702-acre Middle Fork River Forest Preserve, at 3485 County Road 2700 E., in the small town of Penfield in East-Central Illinois.
Campsites are surrounded by hickory, hackberry, and large, shady oak trees, making it a great spot for nature lovers who like the feel of being fully enveloped in the outdoors.
Camping season runs from April to October, and leashed dogs are allowed (except at the beach and picnic areas). Rates range from $18 to $30 per night, and start at $75 per night for groups and double sites.
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Cool off, go for a swim, or do some fishing from the campground's ponds and beach, which offer clear waters and plenty of shore space.
Middle Fork River Forest Preserve is famous for its International Dark Sky Park, which is a protected dark sky area that makes for absolutely breathtaking views of the night sky — a stargazer's dream.
The campground is conveniently located within the park so access to its over 7 miles of trails is super simple. The 2.4-mile Oak Burl Trail is rich with wildflower fields, and the 0.8-mile Prairieview trail offers a tranquil path through tall grasses and even more flowers.
While you can find many of the usual Illinois native flowers here, you can also find some that are rare to the area like the Illinois Carrion flower, which attracts flies for pollination by emitting a "rotten meat" smell.
