Summer Afternoon Enjoying Petrifying Springs Park in Kenosha, Wisconsin

Last week, we visited Kenosha for an afternoon and decided to explore Petrifying Springs Park for the first time. Immediately when we arrived, I thought "what has taken us so long?" A balance of tree covered areas and open expanses as well as the lovely Pike River intrigued us. Additionally, quite a few families were enjoying gatherings in various shelters demonstrating how beloved the park is. This is the place to be!

The gentle Pike River almost mesmerizes with its delicate flow.

Bridges

Upon parking, I could not wait to find the Pike River. There are quite a few trails that run along and traverse the river. Lovely and picturesque bridges cross at several points.

Beautiful Pike River ambles under a picturesque bridge,

We explored several of the bridges and trails once we crossed. Some of the bridges were more of overlooks rather than leading to a trail. Others led to webs of trails through the forest.

Bridges at Petrifying Springs give interesting perspectives of the river.

We crossed the river to explore a network of the rustic paths. The section we hiked benefited from a nice amount of tree covering shading us from the summer sun.

Rustic paths within the forest.

Playgrounds

There are several playgrounds. I love when there are playgrounds near hiking trails. When my daughter was younger, I found that she was more likely to hike if she knew she could play on the playground later. The playgrounds were sizable with plenty of space for fun.

Fun, fun, fun at a playground at Petrifying Springs

Why Petrifying Springs?

So, why is the park called Petrifying Springs? The spring is created by rainwater that flows down an impermeable rock. The water carries dissolved lime with it. The lime coats objects like acorns and sticks giving them a petrified look. This is not a true petrification where organic matter is replaced by stone through time. Now, I am determined to find one of these "petrified" objects on a future visit! You can tell the water is a bit milky which is probably the lime.

Petrifying Springs Park is a wonderful place for a little nature uplift. The spring itself will captivate you and inspire you. With all of the trees, I can tell that the preserve is a delight in fall. We will definitely visit again on a future trip to Kenosha.

To Know:

• Petrifying Springs Park is near University of Wisconsin-Parkside
• There are two outdoor chess boards which we did not know about at our visit. Bring your own pieces and you are ready to play.
• There is a Biergarten that is open seasonally.
• There is a whole range of events, so check the website.
• There is a fun dog park.
• The preserve also includes a golf course.
• Bikers also enjoy Petrifying Springs.

**Disclosure: No compensation was received for this post. All opinions are 100% my own.