Prophetstown State Park
- Status
- Status not posted
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Not stated — check with park
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- dnr.illinois.gov(815) 537-2926
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
In Whiteside County, in Prophetstown, Prophetstown State Park covers about 57 acres.
Fees and passes
Free: 'The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) does not charge an Entrance Fee to any state owned or operated land.' Camping, cabins and shelters are fee-based.
Statewide fee rule from Illinois's park system; this park’s page doesn’t list its own fees.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- ExploreMoreIL (IDNR camping, cabins, group camps and shelters)
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
See the park’s wording
Pets must be kept on leashes at all times.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Camping
Reserve Your Campsite
The campground at Prophetstown is open from May 1st through October 31st annually. It is an open, well-shaded area available for both tent and trailer camping. There are electrical outlets and a dump station available for trailers, 43 of which are available for reservation through ExploreMoreIL™. Water hydrants and privy toilets are located throughout the area. There also is a shower building with flush toilets. The campground is closed November 1st through April 30th annually.
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
Trails
Hiking Trail
Wa-bo-kie-shiek nature trail follows the edge of Coon Creek for approximately 1/3 of a mile. It offers access for anglers while also providing a scenic walk for hikers.
Swimming
Swimming
While swimming is not allowed in the park, many park visitors enjoy swimming in the Prophetstown Park District indoor pool, located about four blocks away.
Fishing
Fishing
Anglers will find largemouth and smallmouth bass, bluegill, crappie, channel and flathead catfish, bullhead, carp, sauger, and walleye in the Rock River. You also can throw a line in Coon Creek. A concrete boat ramp is available for easy boat launching. There is no horsepower limit on boat motors.
Big Bend State Fish & Wildlife Area Information.
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Picnic areas
Water
- Swimming beach: not available (stated by the park)
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
Accessibility at Prophetstown:
•
Parking - The main parking area is asphalt with designated accessible parking spaces. There is a concrete sidewalk that leads from the parking area to the playground, picnic shelter, and vault toilets. There is a small step leading into the park office.
•
Restrooms - There are accessible vault toilets in the park and flush toilets in the shower building in the campground.
•
Fishing - There are no fishing docks/piers at the park. The main parking area is shared with the boat launch parking area; there is approximately 100' of riverbank that can be used for fishing. This area is along the parking lot and would be roughly 10-20 yards over grass to get to from the parking area.
•
Service animals are welcome in the park, and there are water hydrants in the day use and campground areas. All waste produced by the animal would need to be cleaned up if possible.
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- Riverside Drive P.O. Box 181
Prophetstown, IL 61277 - Nearest town
- Prophetstown
- Coordinates
- 41.6720, -89.9270
- Phone
- (815) 537-2926
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Illinois State Parks (IDNR state parks and recreation areas) — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- IDNR All Parks list (AEM content-fragment list JSON) + each unit's landing page for official title, coordinates, address, phone
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology