A very interesting range of habitats not typical of the rest of Illinois. Very serene and great views.

Such a beautiful relaxing are. Very well kept, very clean & areas for hikers of all types. Birds & wildlife of all types for your viewing pleasure! Relics of times gone bye, don't know their history but it allows the mind to wander . Picnic areas abound & many areas with benches for resting. Beautiful tranquil water areas. As always watch where you walk, some areas are softer than others! You will not be disappointed....a weekend hike must !!

One of the best hikes I've done in the area. Really good trail system with variety and decent elevation in places. Will definitely be back!

The new photos show significant damage from a four wheeler crushing and digging out the fragile wetlands. As I have posted before, this is one of the worst managed parks I have ever visited.

Great place to do just about everything, you just have to be careful with kayakers when fishing. Wildlife everywhere, we saw snakes, frogs, fish, and birds. Does get a little crowded, but still fun for the family.

Not well marked but use All Trails App to find your way. Some parts of the trail you could hear trucks and smell diesel fuel, not the best.

Beautiful quiet hidden gem. Most definitely plenty of space to social distance. Lots of fishing going on in spots which made for a lovely quiet afternoon. We all know noise scares fish! Dogs are allowed leashed and ours had a blast. Trails are packed grass or some gravel/dirt. Easy walking with some shade. Plenty of parking in several spots. Lake Atwood area is great for SUP and kayaking. Water is clear and lots of fish to spot.

I've been to The Hollows several times now and every trip has been beautiful. This morning I took a walk with my husband who hadn't been here yet, and he was impressed as well with the beauty, the nice fishing spots and the walking paths. He's excited to come back with our son, to fish. 👍 We will all be returning soon.

The Hallows is a great place to go for a day of fishing, hiking, or just relaxing in the sun. The park has a large pond with a dock, as well as several hiking trails that wind through the woods. There is also a picnic area, making it a great place to bring the family. The pond is stocked with a variety of fish, including bass, trout, and catfish. There is a boat ramp available for those who want to bring their own boat or kayak but no gas motors allowed. The hiking trails at The Hallows are well-maintained and offer a variety of scenery. There are trails that wind through the woods, as well as trails that follow the shoreline of the pond. The trails are a great place to go for a walk, run, or bike ride. Overall, The Hallows is a great place to go for a day of fun in the sun. The park has something for everyone, whether you're looking to fish, hike, or just relax. Here are some tips for making the most of your visit to The Hallows: Bring your own fishing gear if you plan on fishing. Pack a lunch to enjoy at the picnic area. Wear sunscreen and insect repellent. Be prepared for the weather, as the weather can change quickly in Illinois. Be respectful of other park visitors.

Nice place to get some steps in and enjoy the outdoors. Trails can get muddy when it rains, so wear proper footwear. Good mix of trails. Fishing and kayaking allowed.

This is a 5-Star conservation area. It Is Well Kept and respected by the visitors. Fishing is great here, kayaking and beautiful trails. The conservation police are great and enforce regulations here daily. Hours are Sunrise To sunset and if you don't follow the hours, you will get ticketed when leaving. I learned this the hard way. (as you can see by the night time photo I added) PACK IT IN - PACK IT OUT!

Bigger than it looks! Great place to social distance and get outside! Only downside is all the weeds in the water, makes it difficult to fish. Oh and the turtles 🐢

Water,water all around. But you cant go swimming. Fun place.

Amazing fishing spot.

Visitors can trek on over six miles of looped nature trails. Favorite hikes include the one-mile trail around Lake Atwood or the 1.3-mile hiking trail that meanders through woodlands and along the picnic grove. During the winter when there is four inches of snow, two miles of trails are groomed for cross-country skiing. Picnicking Pack a lunch and enjoy a picnic at a picnic table or for a larger gathering, reserve a picnic grove or shelter. For Camping Pitch a tent, gather around a campfire, and enjoy the starry skies. The campgrounds can accommodate both single families or larger groups (from 1 to 100 people per night). Access to fishing and a variety of hiking trails make this a popular camping destination. The campground is open April 1 to December 1 and can be reserved daily for up to a three-night stay. Reservations and payment must be made online at least one week in advance.

Lake Atwood is really fun to fish. Lake can get crowded with other paddlers, but never too bad. Fishing can be tough, having a watercraft will definitely make it easier.

Very pretty in the fall, unpaved trails so beware after a rainfall.

Been doing here since I was a little girl. A gem amongst the other parks in Crystal Lake. We take our dogs here to swim in the summer and there's so many perfect spots for it. We walk around the lake all year round too. I love this place; it's my little hideaway for all seasons. Quiet, beautiful hiking trails and fantastic foliage in the summer. Great for fishing too!

Cool little forest for frolicking

Good place for a quick hike and the lake is nice although i have not fished it

Good fishing and recreational area

Nice acreage and some good trails, a lake, and picnic areas combine to make this a good conservation area. The only flaw is that it backs up to a residential area, which breaks the feeling of being in the wilderness.

Great spot to get outside and walk some trails. Manageable elevation changes for grandma. Not too icy. Saw dogs and cross country skiers.

Love going to the Hollows. Its so beautiful and peaceful. It makes for a great adventure with the family. We explore new paths all the time.

This is the best place to walk, ever!! I mile walk around the lake, no up and down hills, if that's the kind of walk you enjoy. Not muddy like at Veterans Acres.

Great place to count butterflies and odonates, they're everywhere. Trails long and short with lots of loops. Many shaded trail parts too.

My boyfriend and I took an evening walk through the Hollows Conservation Area. Despite the cold, wet weather, I enjoyed the nature trails and bird watching (red wing blackbirds and ducks).

Great short hike with the dogs. The fishing iis pretty good as well. Lots of great spots to cast from the shore or drop in your kayak

Very nice park with a variety of trails. The nature trail is my favorite. Good for picnics, fishing, kayaking, dog walking, running, etc.

Went here for a BSA scout camp trip and is AMAZING. It has a beautiful variety of many different environments, stunning views, and cool campsites.

Unexpected natural area and lake. Great for a picnic and a walk! Seems they have campsites available as well.

Great little lake with awesome fishing! If your looking for a place to take the family and enjoy the outdoors, pack a lunch, grab your poles and head to this nature preserve.

Very disappointed. It appears this has become an off leash park this year. A few years back my senior dog was attacked here by an off leash lab, and things haven’t changed at all. When did this become the off leash swimming hole for dogs? And what happened to all the brush around the trails? The main trail around the lake is a huge eyesore now. Bad job, MCC.

My sons and their father have been here often for fishing, and they always speak highly of the conservation so I finally decided to check it out on my own. While I'm not into fishing, I can say the trails are great for a moderate hike on lunch or even after work, now that we have more hours of daylight and it isn't unbearably cold. I'm excited to see the trails once the trees are full again and perhaps get out on the kayak.

Just off Northwest Highway; a relaxing escape from the Chicago area. Very well maintained. Areas for hikers of all types with just almost 5 miles of trails. Birds & wildlife of all types for your viewing pleasure! Relics of a stone building from over 120 years ago. Picnic areas throughout & areas with benches for resting. Water areas complete with a boat launch. Campground that is open in the summer; yet the hiking trail circling open throughout.

Beautiful wildlife.

I only gave it two stars, it becomes crowded during weekend, access to lake for fishing is very poor. No.luck catching fish from this lake.

Paths were easy to walk on and the view was beautiful

Awesome place, only downside are the deer flies in late June-July.

Beautiful t trails

Great hike! Really Beautiful.

Even though a lot of people were out & about on Labor Day it wasn't overcrowded. The grounds & facilities were clean. The water was so clear & clean for a smaller freshwater location. There are lots of trails to hike through. Our dog had fun while we fished!

Great space, beautiful. We had a wonderful time camping. Clean bathrooms.

Great place to hike and hunt. The campsites look pretty cool.

This is a great park with lots of walking trails, picnic tables and benches around the lake.

(Translated by Google) Excellent place I love it (Original) Exelente lugar me encanta

Good

Nice place to fish definitely kid friendly low key not over crowded

By far the best place in Cary-Crystal Lake. Not too many people and big enough that you dont really run into them. Too many po ds to count and they're ALL crystal clear! My puppies love to soak up and play around in them, and they're perfect for fishing, kayaking, or electric/motorless boats. I've been coming here since I was a small child and I'm 25 still finding secret trails, stone houses crumbling, rusty cars left to decay. It's a wonderland in this stupid concrete jungle.

Perfect little nature gem. Has large mowed, gravel or paved paths as well as small trails. Plenty to do and see. Our family loves it!

very good fishing spot and hiking spot

They need to walk the trails when they are flooded and build bridges

Trails and park are very nice. Fishing kinda sucks. Between the low amounts of fish biting, the kayakers that kayak over your line and the inconsiderate people that let their dogs run into the lake 5 to 10 feet from where you are fishing makes this place very undesirable to fish.

Beautiful park! Very clean

Gorgeous lake with crystal clear water and decent fishing. Also a great place to go walking. FYI: Some of their trails do not allow bicycles.

I don't like hiking but its ok

Always a nice and quiet place to go fishing or taking a hike.

Nice quite area.

My hidden gem in this boring area!

Beautiful area!! Enjoy all the noises of nature. Has few different lengthy trails perfect for any sort of jogger, biker or dog walker! Can also spot horses sharing the Trails from time to time. Trails are mostly not paved which is prefect for me running, no hard impact on the knees! Will get muddy after a good rain tho.. There's also a good amount of fishing spots along the Trails

From the road, you would never guess what beautiful trails await you in this well maintained park. It features a large lake for fishing and canoeing in the summer and trails for hiking and dog walking all year round. After a good snowfall, the trails are buzzing with cross-country skiers. Highly recommended for anyone who just wants to spend an hour or two outdoors.

This is one of the most beautiful peaceful places to visit in Illinois.