Moraine Hills State Park & McHenry Dam State Park

Trails

More than 10 miles of trails make Moraine Hills popular for hikers, skiers, and cyclists and provide one of the park's main recreation features. Three trails, surfaced with crushed limestone, wind their way through the park and offer you exceptional scenic and wildlife viewing opportunities. Enjoy the 2-mile Fox River Trail, the 3.2-mile Leatherleaf Bog Trail, and the 3.7-mile Lake Defiance Trail. To keep you on track, trails are color-coded and one-way. A fourth trail, the 1.7-mile River Road trail, is paved.

Boating

While trailers are prohibited in the park, private boats may be brought in by car top for use on Lake Defiance and the Fox River. Watercraft must be registered with the state of Illinois. Electric trolling motors are allowed.

Fishing

Fishing is available on both Lake Defiance and on the Fox River. Regulations are posted at both sites. To help preserve the natural state of Lake Defiance, and because of the dangerous peat shoreline, bank fishing is prohibited except from designated piers along the boardwalk. The McHenry Dam area provides access to the Fox River, and a fishing pier accessible to disabled visitors is available.

​Accessibility at Moraine Hills:

• Parking - All parking lots are asphalt and have accessible parking spaces. All sidewalks are either asphalt or crushed limestone and level with the parking lots.
• Boardwalk - The boardwalk into Lake Defiance is wooden and level but is not wheelchair accessible. The boardwalk is 1000' long.
• Trails - The majority of the trails are wheelchair accessible. Lake Defiance Trail is 3.7-miles (hard difficulty); Leatherleaf Bog Trail is 3.2-miles (medium difficulty); River Road Trail is 2.5-miles (easy difficulty); and Fox River Trail is 2-miles (easy difficulty).
• Fishing - The riverfront fishing spaces are accessible at the McHenry Dam day-use area.
• Restrooms - There are accessible vault toilets in the park, as well as flush toilets in the Northern Wood and Visitor Center restrooms.
• Service animals are welcome.
• Guided Hikes - The park offers guided hikes lasting 1-3 hours. They vary in length from 1/2 to 4 miles. There are benches to sit on, and most do not have steps.