Park Access & Gates
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Foot Traffic: Allowed 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM
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Park Vehicle Gates: Open 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM
(seasonal restrictions apply) -
Non-motorized Use (Trails): 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM
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Location: 2114 Lowell Park Rd, Dixon, IL 61021, Dixon, Illinois
⚠️ Winter Vehicle Closure Alert
GATES TO THE LOWER PARK ARE CLOSED FOR THE SEASON
Vehicle traffic to the lower sections is restricted. Access to all trails and features remains open to foot traffic from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM. Gates will reopen in the Spring, weather dependent.
Multi-Use Trails
3.5-mile paved trails for hiking and biking, plus over 200 acres of unpaved trails for all skill levels
water access
ADA-accessible boat docks and a canoe and kayak launch with kayak rentals available
Historic Shelters
Seven unique picnic areas with quarry rock designs, plus the historic log-cabin style Lowell Shelter.
Recreation
Nature center and three playground areas featuring a zipline and multiple swing sets.
Nature programs at the park
The Ruth Edwards Nature Center serves as the educational backbone of Lowell Park, offering high-quality, hands-on programming year-round, informed by the latest in environmental science and conservation stewardship.
Pioneering
Nature Education
Flagship Resources for Learning
We help educators and families discover nature with easy-to-use, hands-on learning tools. Our 35-specimen Bone Artifact Kit, Extensive Bison Kit, and Nature Sensory Bins bring science to life for everyone, making each lesson accessible and engaging. Alongside our kits, we provide clear lesson plans, carefully chosen books, and trusted environmental curricula, so quality nature education is always within reach.
history & design
NRHP Listed
Lowell Park, a 200-acre municipal park along the Rock River, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).
Its significance lies in its design as a masterwork of the Prairie Style Park Movement, a pioneering approach to landscape architecture in the United States.
The final, nationally significant design was crafted by Ossian Cole Simonds, a founding member of the American Society of Landscape Architects. Simonds' comprehensive plan emphasized natural scenery, native plantings, and respecting the existing topography, a design ethos that served as a forerunner to the Illinois State Park system.
The park was added to the NRHP on August 8, 2006, recognizing Simonds' design as a significant work of art.
The Lowell Park entrance features two great piers of limestone quarried on site. Simonds positioned the gateway well back from the highway and originally framed it with native shrub roses planted in masses.
Photo: Collection of Esta Barrett Manor and Gardens, Inc.