Parks & Recreation

When you need a place to get away from it all, beautiful parks and tucked-away treasures await your recreational pursuits. Biking, fishing, camping, hiking, canoeing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and disc golf are just a few of the activities available just outside your door.

If your idea of recharging includes sweat on your brow, fresh air in your lungs and sunshine on your face, Stephenson County has a great selection of outdoor activities to offer the serenity you crave.

With over 50 miles of hiking and biking trails across the county, pick your path and enjoy the views! The Jane Addams Trail, Lake Le0Aqua-Na State Park, Oakdale Nature Preserve, Krape Park, Hideaway Park, Taylor Park, Evangeline Forest Walk and Tutty’s Crossing are remarkable space to walk, bike and unwind.

Bring your kayak or canoe and put in for a day of beautiful paddling. Pick the shaded scenery of Yellow Creek from Krape Park or the long, winding waters of “Illinois’ Friendliest Paddle” on the Pecatonica River from Winslow to Tutty’s Crossing for up to 30 miles of water trail.

OUTDOOR ATTRACTIONS

Jane Addams Trail

17-mile recreational trail with beautiful scenery passing through prairie, wetlands and geologic formations. Bike all the way to Wisconsin!

Oakdale Nature Preserve

133 acres of forests, restored prairies and more than four miles of trails.

Little Cubs Field

A miniature replica of Wrigley Field for baseball fans of all ages.

Championship Golf

Five 18-hole golf courses featuring challenging terrain and remarkable features.

Krape Park

Located on the west edge of Freeport, Krape Park includes a wonderfully restored antique carousel, 18-hole mini golf course, paddle boat rental as well as miles of hiking trails.

Read Park

A quad-plex baseball complex is the center of Read Park along with a skate park, swimming pool, basketball and tennis courts.

Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Park

Highlighted by a 40-acre lake and all the recreational opportunities there, the park also offers multi-use trails, picnic areas, and RV, tent, equestrian and youth group campgrounds.

Key Industries

Healthcare

Construction, Plumbing, Heating, & Service

Private Label Food Manufacturing

Stephenson County Major Employers

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Downtown Freeport Celebrates Successful Launch of “The Great Pretzel Bite” During Pretzel Fest May 13, 2026 FREEPORT — Downtown Freeport made history on April 25 as community members gathered for the inaugural Great Pretzel Bite, a new signature event held during the Greater Freeport Partnership’s annual Pretzel Fest celebration. A total of 216 participants joined together in downtown Freeport to simultaneously take a bite of their pretzels, officially establishing the benchmark for future Great Pretzel Bite […]

New tourism brand “Simply Stephenson County” invites visitors to discover more May 4, 2026 The Greater Freeport Partnership is proud to announce the official launch of Simply Stephenson County, a new tourism brand designed to showcase the communities, attractions, and locally owned businesses of Freeport and Stephenson County as a Midwest outdoor getaway destination. Unveiled this week to coincide with National Travel and Tourism Week, the brand reflects a growing demand among travelers for meaningful, affordable, […]

BASE Camp Pitch Competition awards local entrepreneurs May 4, 2026 The Greater Freeport Partnership is proud to announce the winners of its 2026 BASE Camp Pitch Competition, the culminating event of its Business Academy for Small Businesses & Entrepreneurs (BASE) Camp program. After weeks of intensive coursework and business development training, three local entrepreneurs were selected as top finalists and awarded cash prizes to support the growth of their businesses: First […]

Freeport Selected to Participate in National Program for Downtown Revitalization and Economic Resilience February 19, 2026 freeport il, Stephenson County Freeport – Freeport is one of four cities to have been selected to participate in the 2026 national cohort to advance downtown revitalization and economic resilience. The program, Recast Leaders, is an initiative of Recast City that has successfully energized downtown revitalization and economic resilience in more than 200 cities in 44 states over 11 years. The other three cities […]