A visit to Lake Storey is always a treat for our family. I was born and raised in Galesburg, IL and spent 47 of my 50 years living and working in the community. All of our kids were born there and my folks, siblings and their kids still call Galesburg home. Therefore, a visit to the campground, park and pool is typically a mini family reunion and a good time is had by all.

Rating: 5.0 Marshmallows (scale 1-5 Marshmallows with 5 being tops, rating is average of six family member votes)

Location: Lake Storey near Galesburg, IL (Knox County)
Camping: Allison Lake Storey Campground with 149 sites (21 full hookup, 88 electric and 40 primitive)
Attractions: Lakeside Pool (passes included with camping fee), Lake Storey Beach and Pavilion, park and athletic fields, paved lakeside trail, nearby Bunker Links Golf Course
Fishing: Lake Storey (133 acres) featuring largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, bullhead, muskie and some trophy carp. Trolling motor only restriction with watercraft rental available (johnboat, canoe and paddle boat).
Hiking/Trails: Just over 2.5 mile paved path on north side of lake and numerous unmarked trails through the surrounding timber

Our late July three day-two night camping trip was a winner once again. Plenty of family members stopped by to hang out and/or swim, a welcome bonus to the overall outdoor fun. A daybreak fishing trip with my brother, Brent, was also a success although our destination was some Knox County strip mines as opposed to Lake Storey as one drawback to the lake is the abundant weed growth in the summer. Give it a few more weeks when the annual fall drawdown drops the water level and I’ll likely be headed back for a traditional fall visit or two.

Many stories and adventures at this area over the years and a few more every time we return. This time around it included one of the kids getting sick behind the tent and another actually “watering” a tent during a bathroom break. Never a dull moment with kids in the outdoors. I’m sure my Mom and Dad can attest as well.

Family Poll: What did you like most about Lake Storey?

Helena: “I like Galesburg even though there’s nothing there anymore, Bath and Body even left the mall.”
Carly: “I like that you can walk to the pool and that we had enough room for two tents.”
Jayce: “Swimming.”
Zac: “Swimming.”
Mom: “Love the pool, amenities are close and the rebuilding of the campground playground equipment.”
Dad: “A lot boils down to nostalgia having camped or fished at Lake Storey as far back as I can remember. Some locals run the area down but I think it truly is a gem for all ages.”

Our family is sold on this location both for the fun and the homecoming aspect of the visits. Been on the return list since moving to the Quad Cities area (IL side) and no doubt will remain a favorite destination. Talk to you later. Troy

Now, when you talk Hennepin Canal, it can mean a whole lot of locations as the waterway consists of a main canal and feeder canal that traverse five northern Illinois counties and cover just over 100 miles.  The canal terminates at the Rock River near Colona, IL just a few miles from our home and several of us paid a visit earlier this year to that section for some fishing (click here).  However, this time our stop on the canal was just northeast of Sheffield, IL for a relatively brief walk around.

Unfortunately, the Visitor Center was closed at the time of our visit.  It’s been quite a few years since I took in the displays it offers but recall that it was certainly worth a look as it features a neat mix of the area’s history, both the natural and the man-made kinds.  We did take a hike across the bridge at the site, found some “secret” steps leading to the towpath and, of course, threw some sticks and walnuts into the water from high up on the bridge and low down at the lock.

Rating: 3.1 Marshmallows
(Scale of 1-5 Marshmallows, 5 is tops, rating is average of six family member votes)

Location: Hennepin Canal State Parkway near Sheffield, IL
Attractions: Visitor Center and Bridge #15
Camping: none at our stop but several along the length including a campground north of Geneseo, IL where our family camped back in 2007 (only two girls way back then).
Hiking/Trails:  The entire length of the canal is bordered by a towpath providing 155 miles of level hiking path.  Bikes and horses are also welcome although there are some stipulations.

Family Poll: What did you like most about the Hennepin Canal State Parkway?

Helena: “The bridge because of how old it was and liked throwing walnuts off of it.”
Carly: “I liked the big bridge because you could ride bikes on it and I liked looking down at the water and watching the sticks float by that we threw in.”
Jayce: “The view from the bridge and the face someone made on a tree.”
Zac: “The caterpillar hanging over the water and finding a knife.” (see pic below, kind of a weapon theme on our outings along with earlier Wildcat Den review)
Mom: “I liked throwing stuff from the bridge.”
Dad: “Fun to look at structures that were built between 1892 and 1907 and think of the human effort and ingenuity involved in the feat.  While it never panned out as a feasible commercial waterway it sure provides an extensive outdoor corridor over a hundred years later.”

Similar to Wildcat Den (click here), a weapon found by Zac, luckily, also not real

Tough for the kids to get an overall feel for this spot as it was a brief stop at the end of a full afternoon and they were just antsy to get home.  I would like to give it a return trip at some point when we can take in the Visitor Center and perhaps give camping a go somewhere along the line.  I’ve also been interested in giving fishing a try but never got around to it and not really sure where best to invest my time.  Got a few ideas but always open for any tips that anybody out there wants to send me via the email link on the page.

Top 5 Update tomorrow and another park review later in the week.  Talk to you later.  Troy