Parks

9:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Monday

9:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Tuesday

9:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Wednesday

9:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Thursday

9:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Friday

9:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Saturday

9:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Sunday

9:00 AM - 4:30 PM

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What people are saying

By CaptainNonno

“Nice facilities. Very scenic.”

Jul 2021

We wanted to pick a place to picnic at half way between us and our in-laws. Found this park in TripAdvisor. Glad we went. Very scenic. Nice facilities. The mosquitos were a bit of a nuisance, but that's not the park's fault. We will go back.

By meezer3

“Great place for the family”

Sept 2019

Since moving to our home, and now only being a short distance away from this great park, we go there all the time. It has a wonderful green house (Bird Haven) with a Koi pond inside. The is also a Nature Center that has programs for all ages, and even some snakes, turtles and a Hawk (outside). And this is all free.

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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

4.0

35 reviews

Excellent

13

Very good

15

Average

3

Poor

2

Terrible

2

245robertk

Joliet, IL38 contributions

I live here!

Apr 2015 • Couples

Pilcher Park is wonderful. So much that my house sits amongst the last that touches the park with a 5 acre horse farm. Everyone that suggests that this site is unsafe should lock themselves in a shoebox!

Written 25 April 2015

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

richtalaga

Joliet, IL43 contributions

Not like it use to be ☹️

Mar 2017 • Family

The park 25 years ago was magical boat rides,flowing well,train rides and lots of animals 😀 2017 no boats or trains or flowing well and very little animals left very said most play areas littered with trash and the water ways are gross the only bright spot is the greenhouse next to the park it's still as beautiful after 60 plus years

Written 15 March 2017

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

jolietjeff

Joliet, IL2 contributions

Park renovated 2017 great trails and roads

May 2018 • Solo

Some of reviews are before trails and roads were renovated the park now has security cameras and is wonderful safe place. Great area just east of dam for picnics and wonderful nature center and greenhouse. Just try a drive though and you'll be back for more

Written 25 May 2018

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

allison c

Joliet, IL3 contributions

Not safe

Feb 2015 • Family

A lot of gang members in the park. . Sitting around smoking weed... No police patrolling... The kid's area with toy's nice but not a comfortable environment to take my kids to.

Written 21 April 2015

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

southbound1969

Las Vegas22 contributions

The criminal element...

Jul 2017 • Family

I used to come to this park when I was a kid in the 70's. It was great. The pond with the paddle boats. The frogs and turtles in the creek. We used to bring jugs to fill with water from the artesian well.
Well, times have changed. The east side of Joliet is infested with "teens" of the criminal ilk. If you really want to visit do it early morning before the gangs wake up.

Written 18 August 2017

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jeanne M

New Lenox, IL379 contributions

Needs Help

Apr 2016 • Friends

I used to love Pilcher Park and still think the nature center is worth a visit. Now, I don't feel safe. If you visit, bring friends and go in the morning.
The trails I used to bike or hike are poorly maintainted with many potholes. I see they've closed the more remote loop. There used to be a bridge across the creek which thrilled my kids, but all that's left are the cement piers.

On the other hand the green house on Gouger Road is still terrific, though the gardens are not what they used to be. Go there and enjoy the ponds, gardens, and many types of plants.

Written 26 May 2016

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Rmangun

New Lenox, IL314 contributions

Just Driving the Creek Road

Oct 2014 • Solo

This is the time of year that Pilcher really shines. The fall colors are beautiful. I enter the park on Gougar Road near Lincoln Highway...then proceed west to the west entrance to the park. The road then follows the creek and goes east (past the dam). Colors are just starting this first week of October. I get some great pictures, and it is very relaxing with the geese, deer etc.

Written 6 October 2014

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

William U

Joliet, IL196 contributions

Picnicking with God’s glory.

May 2014 • Couples

My girlfriend and I picnicked last Saturday by Hickory Creek in Pilcher Park about a ½ mile off route 52. As we laid on the blanket looking around we were awe struck by God’s glory manifested in mother nature. The budding foliage, the geese and other foul were magnificent to observer. What a spiritual experience.

Written 5 June 2014

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

cooley25

Joliet, IL348 contributions

A Gem of a Woods Experience - Right in a small city!

May 2016 • Friends

Pilcher Park is part of Joliet, IL, and popular with naturalists, bird enthusiasts, families, kids, seniors and just everyone. It has changed over the 35 years I have known it. The proximity to a fair sized city can bring some "city-concerns." However, community members are lately working hard at improving this. Hickory Creek runs through the park. I am part of the county Audubon group here, and we track species seen. Migrants are here in April and May, and northern residents are here all year around. Wildflower abound as well as deer. The Nature Center is a great visit, and the center hosts an outdoors-oriented preschool throughout the week. There is a spring pancake breakfast, a fairy fest, an Underground Railroad Event held each year. The Horticultural Center is also here. Roads are in bad shape, but plans are underway to repair/resurface them soon. Today 2 of us led a bird hike for high school homeschool teens.

Written 4 May 2016

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Melissa W

Baltimore, MD18 contributions

Needs better signage/maps

Aug 2014 • Family

I visited Pilcher Park with my husband, friend, and three children. They have a nice little Nature Center with turtles, snakes, and fish. They also have a few picnic areas, and trails ranging in length and type. Unfortunately, the park maps don't seem to match up with the actual trails themselves (at least the two we tried), and many of the trail markers seemed to be missing or misleading. It is a lovely area, but keep in mind that you might get lost (we got lost on both trails we tried, and I overheard another couple at the Nature Center complaining that the trail markers were wrong).

Written 5 August 2014

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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