Rockford

 

 

in bloom

Klehm is Northern Illinois’ top outdoor destination for families.

Explore Events

Mark your calendar. There’s always something amazing happening at Klehm.

True Nature Tranquility Walk

True Nature Tranquility Walk

Tuesday, May 7th

Join us for our last Tranquility Walk of the 2023 – 2024 season. Experience the transition from day into night and listen to the wonderful, unintelligible voices of the evening forest and its inhabitants.

Magnolia Watercolor Workshop

Magnolia Watercolor Workshop

Saturday, April 27th

Here come the flowers! Spring is here and it is time for color to return to the garden. Join local watercolor artist, Cindy Bear, for this one day class and paint a beautiful watercolor magnolia.

Spring Twilight Tranquility Walk

Spring Twilight Tranquility Walk

Sunday, April 21st

Come out to Klehm for a guided walk through the woods that focuses on breathing, using your senses, meditation, and reflection.

#klehmarboretum

What Can I Experience at Klehm?

As one of Rockford, Illinois’ top outdoor family-friendly destinations, there’s something for everyone. Our 155 acres of woodlands and botanical gardens feature a children’s garden, 1.4 miles of paved paths, 3 miles of wooded trails and much more!

Nancy Olson
Children’s Garden

Explore Kid’s Creek for interactive stream play and frolic through our splash pad! Enjoy different kid-friendly gardens, an observation tower and oversize play structures that invite children to experience nature in a playful setting.

7

Specialty Gardens

provide a showcase for themed plantings of ornamental shrubs and trees as well as annual and perennial plants.

Garden
Pavillion

This spacious outdoor tented venue and landscaped patio is perfect for hosting wedding receptions as well as corporate and social functions.

Bradley & Georgann Gummow
Family Foundation

Entry Water Feature

This peaceful pond, rushing waterfall, and landscaped patio is the perfect spot for a moment of reflection during your visit.

★★★★★
Very beautiful grounds that are maintained very well. The main walking path is wide, paved, and easy to walk, so great for strollers or people with slight walking challenges. There are plenty of places to stop, sit, and reflect, which I really appreciate.
Connie Jo Holmes
★★★★★
Very beautiful grounds that are maintained very well. The main walking path is wide, paved, and easy to walk, so great for strollers or people with slight walking challenges. There are plenty of places to stop, sit, and reflect, which I really appreciate.
Connie Jo Holmes
Connie Jo Holmes
★★★★★
My family comes here at least twice a year to visit the children's garden and it never disappoints! It's always clean, the flowers and grounds are beautiful and the walks are always adventurous. Definitely recommend bringing a suit for the kiddos and maybe some cups if they play in the 'river' and splash ground. Nice covered gazebo w/picnic tables and lots of shaded areas.
Deanna Baily
★★★★★
My family comes here at least twice a year to visit the children's garden and it never disappoints! It's always clean, the flowers and grounds are beautiful and the walks are always adventurous. Definitely recommend bringing a suit for the kiddos and maybe some cups if they play in the 'river' and splash ground. Nice covered gazebo w/picnic tables and lots of shaded areas.
Deanna Bailey
Deanna Baily
★★★★★
Very nice place for a relaxing walk. A getaway for stress relief. Both easy paved walking paths and nature trails for those wanting to go adventuring. Well designed for both adults and children. There is a great wonderful entertainment and water park for kids. They also create themes for people to walk through. When we were there, the theme was Big Bugs. A great getaway. Enjoy!
Rick Noll
★★★★★
Very nice place for a relaxing walk. A getaway for stress relief. Both easy paved walking paths and nature trails for those wanting to go adventuring. Well designed for both adults and children. There is a great wonderful entertainment and water park for kids. They also create themes for people to walk through. When we were there, the theme was Big Bugs. A great getaway. Enjoy!
Rick Noll
Rick Noll
★★★★★
No matter your age Klehm has much to offer. The day we visited most recently areas were set for two late summer weddings and the weather was perfect. The display of sculptures was terrific this year. My grandsons love the children garden especially the water features. All of these things are great fun the peaceful beauty among such a huge variety of plants and trees. Well worth a visit.
Melody Welty
★★★★★
No matter your age Klehm has much to offer. The day we visited most recently areas were set for two late summer weddings and the weather was perfect. The display of sculptures was terrific this year. My grandsons love the children garden especially the water features. All of these things are great fun the peaceful beauty among such a huge variety of plants and trees. Well worth a visit.
Melody Welty
Melody Welty
★★★★★
I love this place. Sometimes on the trails I can forget that I'm in the middle of a 100k+ city. It is sufficiently forested to remove the bulk of the city noise and allow me to attune myself to sounds of nature. I can trek the trails for a couple of hours and not walk the entirety of the grounds. I would definitely recommend going in the fall and the spring. Nature's fireworks are on full display during these seasons. Consider buying a membership if you like places like these. Restrooms: Very clean and well maintained. Dog-friendliness: Very popular place to walk one's dog. Everyone seems to be very courteous with dogs on leashes and cleaning up after their pets.
Joshua Blackwell
★★★★★
I love this place. Sometimes on the trails I can forget that I'm in the middle of a 100k+ city. It is sufficiently forested to remove the bulk of the city noise and allow me to attune myself to sounds of nature. I can trek the trails for a couple of hours and not walk the entirety of the grounds. I would definitely recommend going in the fall and the spring. Nature's fireworks are on full display during these seasons. Consider buying a membership if you like places like these. Restrooms: Very clean and well maintained. Dog-friendliness: Very popular place to walk one's dog. Everyone seems to be very courteous with dogs on leashes and cleaning up after their pets.
Joshua Blackwell
Joshua Blackwell
★★★★☆
This is a wonderful place in Rockford, IL! The admission fee is very reasonable. You can bring young children for the splash park and creek. Our party had 2 4 year olds that played for more than an hour, took a break for lunch and rest room breaks and then went back to play some more. The only reason I didn't choose 5 stars is because there is so much more park to see, I want to reserve the 5th star for my next visit.
Barbara J. Arnold
★★★★☆
This is a wonderful place in Rockford, IL! The admission fee is very reasonable. You can bring young children for the splash park and creek. Our party had 2 4 year olds that played for more than an hour, took a break for lunch and rest room breaks and then went back to play some more. The only reason I didn't choose 5 stars is because there is so much more park to see, I want to reserve the 5th star for my next visit.
Barbara J. Arnold
Barbara J. Arnold
★★★★★
There are endless beautiful things to see. You can choose paved or natural paths.
Kristine Maynard
★★★★★
There are endless beautiful things to see. You can choose paved or natural paths.
Kristine Maynard
Kristine Maynard
★★★★★
Very beautiful. Nature at it's best. Tons of flowers, plants and trees. Many unique tree varieties and many are labeled. The main paths are wide and paved and there are more narrow paths that cut through the wooden areas. We brought our dog and had a great time.
Ken Witz
★★★★★
Very beautiful. Nature at it's best. Tons of flowers, plants and trees. Many unique tree varieties and many are labeled. The main paths are wide and paved and there are more narrow paths that cut through the wooden areas. We brought our dog and had a great time.
Ken Witz
Ken Witz
Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons

Happy St. Patty's Day!! ... See MoreSee Less

This class is coming up quickly! Come on out to Klehm to learn how to make your very own colorful Peace Pole to add creative flair to your garden with Karla Lombardo of ArtbyKarla! This class will be held on Saturday, March 23rd, from 10am-1pm. For more info and to register, please got to: klehm.org/create-your-own-mini-peace-pole/

#peace #springtime #gardenart #ArtbyKarla #klehmarboretum #gorockford #enjoyillinois
... See MoreSee Less

This class is coming up quickly! Come on out to Klehm to learn how to make your very own colorful Peace Pole to add creative flair to your garden with Karla Lombardo of ArtbyKarla! This class will be held on Saturday, March 23rd, from 10am-1pm. For more info and to register, please got to: https://klehm.org/create-your-own-mini-peace-pole/

#peace #springtime #gardenart #ArtbyKarla #klehmarboretum #gorockford #enjoyillinois

We're organizing a special clean-up event and we'd love for you to be a part of it! This is a chance for many hands to make light work!

Help us TOMORROW, March 16th from 9am to 12pm!
Where: Meet at Visitor Parking lot (far west end)

Our project will be working to clean up in and around the Nancy Olson Children's Garden to help get ready for spring!

Work will consist of raking small branches, sticks and woody debris, bending/stooping to pick them up, and loading into our dump truck. Work gloves, safety glasses and water bottles will be provided.

With warm weather in the forecast, please consider helping out to help make Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden a more beautiful resource and destination for all. There is no need to register for this project - we will be cleaning up all morning no matter what and are grateful for any help that is given!
... See MoreSee Less

Were organizing a special clean-up event and wed love for you to be a part of it! This is a chance for many hands to make light work! 

Help us TOMORROW, March 16th from 9am to 12pm!
Where: Meet at Visitor Parking lot (far west end)

Our project will be working to clean up in and around the Nancy Olson Childrens Garden to help get ready for spring!

Work will consist of raking small branches, sticks and woody debris, bending/stooping to pick them up, and loading into our dump truck. Work gloves, safety glasses and water bottles will be provided. 

With warm weather in the forecast, please consider helping out to help make Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden a more beautiful resource and destination for all. There is no need to register for this project - we will be cleaning up all morning no matter what and are grateful for any help that is given!

Come out to Klehm on March 22nd for a guided walk through the woods that focuses on breathing, using your senses, meditation, and reflection. 🌙 There are still a few spots left!

For more info and to register, visit: klehm.org/messages-from-nature-tranquility-walk/

#tranquility #nature #meditation #reflection #klehmarboretum #gorockford #enjoyillinois
... See MoreSee Less

Come out to Klehm on March 22nd for a guided walk through the woods that focuses on breathing, using your senses, meditation, and reflection. 🌙 There are still a few spots left!

For more info and to register, visit: https://klehm.org/messages-from-nature-tranquility-walk/

#Tranquility #nature #meditation #reflection #klehmarboretum #gorockford #enjoyillinois
Load More