McKinley Woods: Frederick's Grove
Brian O.
Reviewed Aug. 16, 2021

pretty and spacious, great for family gatherings

 First off, we didn't realize this was a walk-in campground, the details on the Will county site were vague, and the satellite photo showed a paved road.  The road is a path, so the sites are ADA accessible (two of the four sites are paved as well). 
We have a small, motorcycle trailer so we ended up rolling down hill 100 yds. then back again after our 2 night stay, a bit of a hassle, but not a problem. Just be aware of it. 
Secondly, the park closes early, 8PM in summer, and earlier still off season. Check the fine print on your reservation!  Water is available by an old fashioned pump, and is drinkable, but cloudy.  There's only one pit toilet.
Having said all that, the park is lovely, the sites are far apart,  #1 is the shadiest and most secluded but uneven. #2 is wide open and in the sun, #3 &4 are shady and paved. All sites have enormous banquet sized picnic tables with cut-out in the bench for  wheelchairs. Firepits are 3' across, the steel rim is a foot above the ground, but the pit is 8" below ground level. There is a non-adjustable grill. But each site, (and all the picnic areas/ shelters) have the ubiquitous freestanding Pilot Rock standard grill.
 There is easy access to the I&M canal and bike trail with a dock, access to the Des Plaines river is and unofficial path from the overlook. The canal is navigable, but swampy with algae and some downed trees. The Chanahan state park website says you can paddle from there to Morris IL, 15 miles, but be aware this is best down in spring or fall. While it LOOKs like you can just cross over the trail to switch from the canal to the river, there is in fact, a 10' drop (another failure of satellite photos)  We canoed 3 miles up to the state park before we could cross over to the DuPage (a lovely river) and then back on the Des Plaines. There are also very nice trails through the woods in the area. 
 At night, you can hear owls and distant trains, but motorboats and jet-skis begin around 6:AM.

Site#2
Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of McKinley Woods:  Frederick's Grove by Brian O., August 16, 2021
  • Review photo of McKinley Woods:  Frederick's Grove by Brian O., August 16, 2021
  • Review photo of McKinley Woods:  Frederick's Grove by Brian O., August 16, 2021
  • site #1
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  • site#3, from the path
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  • Review photo of McKinley Woods:  Frederick's Grove by Brian O., August 16, 2021
  • Review photo of McKinley Woods:  Frederick's Grove by Brian O., August 16, 2021
  • Review photo of McKinley Woods:  Frederick's Grove by Brian O., August 16, 2021