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Boats, not commuters, set the rhythm in McHenry. This city of roughly 27,000 sits on the Fox River in far northern Illinois, about 50 miles northwest of Chicago, and in summer the water fills with pontoons heading upriver toward the Chain O'Lakes. Downtown, a riverwalk along Boone Creek links restaurants, bars and small shops to the Fox.
McHenry grew from an 1830s river crossing and took its name from the county, itself named for Major William McHenry of the Black Hawk War. The old Green Street business district and river-facing parks keep a small-town feel, while each July the Fiesta Days festival brings a parade, concerts and fireworks.
Glacial landscapes surround the city. Moraine Hills State Park, just south of town, wraps trails around a kettle lake and a quaking bog, and the McHenry Dam is a favorite fishing spot. Within a short drive are the boardwalk at Volo Bog, the prairie hills of Glacial Park, the boating lakes of Chain O'Lakes State Park and the movie cars of the Volo Museum.
Over 2,000 acres of glacial ridges, wetlands and woods just south of McHenry. About ten miles of crushed-gravel trails circle Lake Defiance and Leatherleaf Bog, and the nature center explains how the last ice age shaped the land. Bikes are allowed on the trails, so bring one for the longest loop.
A small waterfront park where Boone Creek flows into the Fox River at the end of the Riverwalk. Benches face the river traffic, a stage hosts summer concerts, and kayakers launch nearby. It is a pleasant place to watch boats or the sunset with takeout from one of the riverwalk restaurants.
McHenry's largest park, set on McCullom Lake with a sandy swimming beach, ball fields, trails and picnic shelters. A historic farmstead on the grounds hosts community events. Bring a picnic and a towel, and expect the lakefront to be busiest on hot summer weekends.
A state park at the junction of the Fox River and the Chain O'Lakes, a string of connected lakes popular with boaters. On land there are campgrounds, horseback riding, fishing and wooded trails, and rentals put you on the water. It sits about 15 minutes north of McHenry and gets busy on summer weekends.
A low dam and lock on the Fox River inside the McHenry Dam section of Moraine Hills State Park. Anglers line the banks for walleye, catfish and white bass, and boats pass through the lock heading to and from the Chain O'Lakes. Picnic shelters sit nearby, and early mornings are the quietest time to visit.
A brick path along Boone Creek through the heart of downtown, connecting Green Street to the Fox River. Restaurants and bars open onto the water, small bridges cross the creek, and summer evenings bring live music and crowds. Street parking fills on weekends, so use the public lots near Green Street.
About ten minutes east, this is the only quaking bog in Illinois with an open pool still at its center. A floating boardwalk loop of about half a mile leads through tamarack and sphagnum moss to the open water, and the visitor center fills a restored dairy barn. Weekend guided walks explain bog plants.
A large McHenry County Conservation District preserve north of town with rolling kames, restored prairie, oak savanna and the winding Nippersink Creek. Trails climb Camp Hill for wide views, and paddlers float the creek in summer. Stop at the Lost Valley Visitor Center first for maps and trail conditions.
A sprawling auto museum in nearby Volo with hundreds of classic cars, famous film and TV vehicles, military displays and antique malls spread across several buildings. Many of the cars on display are also for sale. Allow at least two hours, and check for seasonal events and special exhibits before you go.
McHenry's biggest yearly celebration runs for about ten days in July with concerts, a carnival, a car show and family events at parks across the city, ending with a large parade through town. Check the city calendar for dates, and arrive early for the parade to claim a curbside spot.
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