hikes – Rockford Fringe

June 15, 2024June 15, 2024

How now spirit? Whither wander you?

Daily writing prompt

What’s the oldest thing you own that you still use daily?

We don’t own it, but we use the land every day. Like the fairy from William Shakespeare’s A Fairy Song, we go “over hill, over dale” every day. We love the land and always treat it with respect and kindness.

How about you? Do you enjoy spending time outdoors? Do you like hiking?

Northern Illinois is home to numerous trails, forest preserves, state parks and paths that are free and open to the public. You might think that “free and open to the public” means the parks are crowded, but, sadly, most of the time we are the only people on the trails.

The Rockford Fringe understands that there is some fear associated with hiking. Maybe you don’t hike for one or more of the following reasons.

no public transportation / too far from home
the trails are poorly marked / don’t want to get lost
coyotes
criminals use parks for violence, drugs, sex
bugs / ticks / mosquitoes
too hot / too cold / too rainy / too snowy

We’d like to help! If you feel afraid but are also curious, consider joining us. All of our hikes are within 5-10 miles of downtown Rockford. We’re experienced hikers; we will keep you safe and won’t get you lost. We’ll show you that the woods are safe and fun for people of all ages.

Our hikes are regularly attended by three generations. We’ve hiked hundreds of miles together in all kinds of weather. While we don’t hike in thunder, lightning, ice or sleet, we tough it out in the rain and snow. We’ve hiked in cold weather and on hot, humid days. Sometimes we hike in our bare feet.

We love hiking and invite you to join us on a free Hike-n-Share. We’ll hike for two or three miles, then share something creative with each other. Click here for more information and to RSVP.

Thanks for reading. -Connie Kuntz (hike guide)

P.S. Subscribe to the Rockford Fringe blog! Just enter your email! Free!

P.P.S. Here’s the full Shakespeare poem.

A Fairy Song (from A Midsummer Night’s Dream)

By William Shakespeare

Over hill, over dale,
Thorough bush, thorough brier,
Over park, over pale,
Thorough flood, thorough fire!
I do wander everywhere,
Swifter than the moon’s sphere;
And I serve the Fairy Queen,
To dew her orbs upon the green;
The cowslips tall her pensioners be;
In their gold coats spots you see;
Those be rubies, fairy favours;
In those freckles live their savours;
I must go seek some dewdrops here,
And hang a pearl in every cowslip’s ear.

How now spirit? Whither wander you?
We don’t own it, but we use the land every day. Like the fairy from William Shakespeare’s A Fairy Song, we go “over hill, over dale” every day. We love the land and always treat it with respect and kindness. How about you? Do you enjoy spending time outdoors? Do you like hiking? Northern Illinois …
Continue reading “How now spirit? Whither wander you?”
Bells and whistles need not apply…
Most of what the Rockford Fringe does is “simple.” We generally avoid the following: We embrace “simple things” like fresh air, quiet trails, creativity….and that’s about it. If you like fresh air, quiet trails and creativity, consider joining us at a weekly hike-n-share! They’re pretty great! Here’s what to expect: We meet every Sunday at …
Continue reading “Bells and whistles need not apply…”
What don’t we do?
The Rockford Fringe hosts three-mile hikes through the forests and prairies of northern Illinois every Sunday. At the end of each hike, we circle up and share a poem or story or painting or sketch or song. These are our popular Hike-n-Shares and they are free and open to the community. Every December, we host …
Continue reading “What don’t we do?”
Don’t egg me on!
I’ve never been to Las Vegas because I’m not down with the whole “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas” vibe. I don’t like places designed for adults to get away with things. That said, what Rockford Fringe hikers discuss in the woods stays in the woods. If something is on a hiker’s mind (and …
Continue reading “Don’t egg me on!”
I’ll think about it tomorrow
I’m naturally lazy, so I’m basically always in a state of unwind. You’ll rarely hear me say things like, “I had a hard time falling asleep last night.” You’re more likely to hear me say, “Is it too early to put on pajamas?” I’m not just lazy. I’m also anxious, moderately paranoid and generally in …
Continue reading “I’ll think about it tomorrow”

June 1, 2024

Bells and whistles need not apply…

Daily writing prompt

Describe one simple thing you do that brings joy to your life.

View all responses

Most of what the Rockford Fringe does is “simple.” We generally avoid the following:

bells
whistles
whatnot
frou-frou
baloney
nonsense
bling, and
waste.

We embrace “simple things” like fresh air, quiet trails, creativity….and that’s about it.

If you like fresh air, quiet trails and creativity, consider joining us at a weekly hike-n-share! They’re pretty great!

Here’s what to expect:

We meet every Sunday at 11:00 at forest preserve and hike for approximately three miles.

We’ll lead you through woods, alongside prairies, over creeks, and up and down hills. Our hikes have lots of roots, rocks and twigs, not to mention mud, holes, and the occasional pile of wildlife poop. As such, the hikes are of moderate difficulty so wear good, sturdy boots or shoes.

Hiking poles are great for stability so if you’re new to hiking on are still getting used to walking on uneven terrain, consider investing in pair of poles.

Whether or not you use poles, you’ll have fun because there is so much wildlife, flora and fauna to see. At a recent hike, this little fawn (see picture above) came out of the meadow and started following me! Eventually its mother appeared and the prodigal fawn returned home. It was a simple and joyful wildlife moment for the Rockford Fringe.

But these hike-n-shares aren’t just about the wildlife! After we hike, we circle up and everyone shares something creative. It can be a poem, a short story, a monologue, a song, a drawing, an anecdote, an observation or whatever. It just has to be something that expresses your individual creativity. We’ve been hosting these hike-n-shares for more than a year. Getting to know our hikers this way been another simple but profound joy. I’m grateful every week!

Our weekly hike-n-shares usually last about 90 minutes. The hike itself takes up the lion’s share of the event. The sharing portion is usually 20 minutes, depending on how many hikers we have. Everyone takes about three-four minutes to share.

I encourage you to visit our Facebook or Instagram pages @rockfordfringe to see photos and reels of what we do. After you do that, RSVP for a hike-n-share!

Thanks for reading! If you’d like to subscribe to this free blog (no ads), simply enter your email and hit “subscribe.” -Connie

February 5, 2024February 5, 2024

It all starts with a good hike

Daily writing prompt

Describe your most ideal day from beginning to end.

View all responses

An ideal day for the Rockford Fringe involves hiking. Whether we’re hiking for a quick mile or spending all day in the woods, hiking makes us happy, especially in the winter.

Northern Illinois is beautiful every day of the year but winter is our favorite season. The bare trees, coursing creeks and snow-kissed woods give us the chance to stretch our legs and open our minds.

Here are some of the parks we enjoy. Join us!

Aldeen Park / Rockford University. If you want to get two quick and rugged miles in, Aldeen has a terrific trail system. You’ll cross a creek and climb some steep hills. You’ll see a dam, a meadow and bluffs. In the warm weather months, the park hosts an abundance of mushrooms and wildlife. Coyotes, deer and owls peacefully coexist in this city park that is less than a 10-minute drive from downtown Rockford. Leashed dogs are welcome but there are no public restrooms. Though there is a nature center with indoor bathrooms at Aldeen, it is rarely open. For this reason alone, we only do short hikes here.

Aldeen is a terrific city park that also connects with Rockford University. We enjoy hiking through the peaceful campus in all seasons, so if winter isn’t your jam, be sure to check out the wheelchair-friendly campus!

Blackhawk Springs Forest Preserve. The trails take you through prairies and woods and right down to the Kishwaukee River. There is an abundance of biodiversity and the “springs” are always a verdant delight, no matter what season it is. It’s easy to get a quick three miles at Blackhawk but you can track several more if you have the time. This forest preserve connects with other preserves and offers paved paths as well as rugged terrain. Blackhawk is a 20-minute drive from downtown Rockford. Best for hiking, trail running, cycling, rollerblading, wheelchairs. Leashed dogs are welcome, there is plenty of free parking and there are a a few public outhouses throughout the preserves.

Jesse and Richard hike at Blackhawk Springs Forest Preserve. We saw a barred owl on this hike!

Cedar Cliff Forest Preserve. Located near the Chicago-Rockford Airport, this preserve offers a lovely prairie, a mostly hardwood forest (there are a few white pine trees) and views of the Rock River. You’re likely to encounter deer, a barred owl or two, and bald eagles on this hike. In the spring, you’ll see snails, wildflowers and at least a dozen species of mushrooms! This woods portion is a loop and the prairie section is an out-and-back. All in all, it’s less than 2.5 miles long. Be very careful when approaching the cliffs. The drop-off is very steep!

You’ll cover about two-and-a-half miles at Cedar Cliff.

The Rockford Fringe likes to get at least three miles in so after we hike at Cedar Cliff, we drive a couple minutes down the road to Indian Hills Forest Preserve and hike for another mile or so. Cedar Cliff is a 15-minute drive from downtown Rockford. Great for hiking, running. No paved paths. Leashed dogs are welcome and there is one outhouse at the trailhead.

Jesse, Jocelyn and Sam enjoy a winter hike through Cedar Cliff.

Fuller Forest Preserve. Peaceful preserve that offers a unique loop around a bird sanctuary, sumac, lodgepole trees and prairie. Leashed dogs are allowed and there is one public restroom in the center of the park.

Sam, Fern and Angelo trek through the snow at Fuller Forest Preserve.

Funderburg Forest Preserve. This is our favorite preserve because there are several hiking options. No paved paths — just rugged trails. Leashed dogs are allowed and there is one public outhouse at the trailhead. You can cover a lot of miles here, but don’t go too fast because the trails have lots of roots and windfall from walnut, oak and hickory trees. If you’re not careful, you can twist your ankle and nobody wants that.

Funderburg is lovely in all seasons, but winter is our favorite time to slow down and have fun in the woods.

Angelo built a snowman in the woods at Funderburg. Did you hike past it?

Howard Colman Hall Creek. Lots of hills, a variety of creek crossings (some wet) and lovely, expansive views. You can get a quick mile in or hike for four or five more if you have the time because it has farm and prairie loops. This preserve also connects with Funderburg (allows dogs) and Severson (doesn’t allow dogs). Howard Colman’s dog policy isn’t clear so we recommend not bringing Fido, especially if you venture into Severson Dells. Howard Colman has one outhouse at the trail head.

Relax and take it all in at Howard Colman Hall Creek.

Indian Hills Forest Preserve. Its beautiful, fragrant trails inspire us to get another mile-plus in after we’ve hiked at Cedar Cliff (see above). Like Cedar Cliff, it’s only a 15-minute drive from downtown. Leashed dogs are welcome and there is a public restroom at the trailhead.

Take a scenic stroll on this soft path through the lodgepole trees at Indian Hills.

Rock Cut State Park. Located in Loves Park, Illinois. This park features a beautiful forest, lovely lakes, camping and delightful trails. In the summer, we like to rent a pedal boat or a kayak and hit the water in the early morning when it is quiet and misty. But in the spring, winter and fall, we love to hike all over the park.

Jesse says, “Come enjoy some peace and quiet at Rock Cut State Park!”

Whether you want a quick 30-minute hike, an all-day affair or something in between, we have it right here in the Land of Lincoln. If you would like to join us, find our schedule on the Events page of rockfordfringe.org.

Thank you for reading (and hiking!) -Connie

Stay in the know! We meet twice a week! Subscribe to our blog! And follow us @rockfordfringe on Instagram and Facebook.