Park & beachNo live deal currentlyWHAT'S ON
Park & beach
Photo from the venue's own site
Ruth Edwards Nature Center anchors Lowell Park, a 200-acre preserve along the Rock River in Dixon. Visitors hike and bike the 3.5-mile paved trail system or explore over 200 acres of unpaved trails suited to all skill levels. The nature center offers hands-on educational programs informed by environmental science, including field trips, ecological lessons, and team-building events. The park features three playground areas with swings and a zipline, seven historic picnic shelters with quarry rock designs, and the log-cabin style Lowell Shelter. An ADA-accessible boat dock and canoe and kayak launch provide water access, with kayak rentals available. The center supplies learning tools such as a 35-specimen Bone Artifact Kit and Extensive Bison Kit alongside lesson plans and environmental curricula. Guided birding hikes and nature-focused art events connect visitors with the Rock River ecosystem. The park itself, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was designed by landscape architect Ossian Cole Simonds as a masterwork of the Prairie Style Park Movement.
Hours: Foot Traffic: 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM; Park Vehicle Gates: 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Details quoted from lowellpark.com. Prices can change — the link above goes to the page they came from.
Fancy going together?
4 reasons to go, each in the venue’s own words, with the date we checked it.
Oct 3 – 10Event
Families use paddleboards to enjoy stunning fall leaves and changing colors along the river at Lowell Park on two October Saturdays.
Check event details and ticket requirements with the venue.
“Dates: Saturdays, October 3 & 10, 2026”
Oct 23Event
A family-friendly evening hike paired with a local vendor market on Halloween, offering an outdoor adventure and shopping experience for all ages.
Check event details and ticket requirements with the venue.
“Date: Friday, October 23, 2026”
Oct 30Event
A cozy, community movie night with a special Halloween theme for children ages 4–10, held in pajamas at the Nature Center.
Check event details and ticket requirements with the venue.
“Date: Friday, October 30, 2026”
Nov 23 – 24Event
A seasonal holiday forest school during Thanksgiving break blending indoor and outdoor fall learning activities for families at the Nature Center.
Check event details and ticket requirements with the venue.
“Date: Monday & Tuesday, November 23 – 24, 2026”
Ruth Edwards Nature Center in Lowell Park publishes its own offers, and when lowellpark.com was last read, on , there was none.
The page stays here because the attraction is still worth knowing about, and because we keep checking. If a deal appears on their site, it appears here.
See lowellpark.com for yourself →
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April–October: Sun 1pm–5pm, Mon Closed, Tues 1pm–5pm, Wed–Sat 9am–5pm
3 miDixon
Mon–Sat: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM; Sun: Closed
Hours via Google Maps
2 miDixon
Mon–Tue: Closed; Wed: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM; Thu–Fri: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Sat: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM; Sun: Closed
Hours via Google Maps
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Dixon
Mon–Tue: Closed; Wed–Sat: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM; Sun: Closed
Hours via Google Maps
4 miDixon
Mon–Wed: Closed; Thu–Sat: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM; Sun: Closed
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