Rockford

 

 

in fall

Klehm is Northern Illinois’ top outdoor destination for families.

Explore Events

Mark your calendar. There’s always something amazing happening at Klehm – especially this fall!

Gratitude Tranquility Walk

Gratitude Tranquility Walk

Saturday, November 30th, 2024

Stroll through the night forest using your heightened senses to find the gifts that await, and make them your own on this guided walk.

Donuts, Coffee, and a Year-In-Review

Donuts, Coffee, and a Year-In-Review

Saturday, December 21st, 2024

With a new calendar ready to be hung on the wall and a full year ahead, join Executive Director Alex Mills for donuts, coffee, and an informal year-in-review presentation and Q&A session!

Solstice Tranquility Walk

Solstice Tranquility Walk

Saturday, December 21st, 2024

Contemplate on the longest evening of the year during this slow, silent, guided walk through the forest.

#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
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If we live in a circle of gratitude, where sometimes we receive, and other times we give, then Thanksgiving is not a day, but rather, is a lifestyle. Join us Saturday, November 30th, to give special focus to the many gifts that nature offers. Gifts that are given freely. But gifts require care and nurturing if they are to be enjoyed for years to come. Stroll through the night forest using your heightened senses to find the gifts that await, and make them your own.

For more information and to register, please visit: klehm.org/gratitude-tranquility-walk-2/

#tranquility #forest #gratitude #walking #breathing #Thanksgiving #November #klehmarboretum #gorockford #enjoyillinois
... See MoreSee Less

If we live in a circle of gratitude, where sometimes we receive, and other times we give, then Thanksgiving is not a day, but rather, is a lifestyle. Join us Saturday, November 30th, to give special focus to the many gifts that nature offers. Gifts that are given freely. But gifts require care and nurturing if they are to be enjoyed for years to come. Stroll through the night forest using your heightened senses to find the gifts that await, and make them your own. 

For more information and to register, please visit: https://klehm.org/gratitude-tranquility-walk-2/

#tranquility #forest #Gratitude #walking #breathing #Thanksgiving #November #klehmarboretum #gorockford #enjoyillinois

Morning! We are open today from 9AM - 4PM if you'd like to take a Sunday stroll 😊

#seeyouonthepath #sundaystroll #klehmarboretum #gorockford #enjoyillinois
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Morning! We are open today from 9AM - 4PM if youd like to take a Sunday stroll 😊

#seeyouonthepath #sundaystroll #klehmarboretum #gorockford #enjoyillinois

Have a fantastic weekend! 🍁🍂🍁🍂

#fall #jokes #leaves #trees #arboretumjokes #klehmarboretum #gorockford #enjoyillinois
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Have a fantastic weekend! 🍁🍂🍁🍂

#Fall #jokes #leaves #trees #arboretumjokes #klehmarboretum #gorockford #enjoyillinois

Release yourself to the forest on this, the longest night of the year.
There will be no sunlight to guide your journey.
There will be no moonlight to show you the way.
But you will have your senses and the light of your spirit.
Let the night envelop you and teach you
that you can be the light to dispel the darkness.

This is a slow, silent, guided contemplation walk through the forest. Please join us!

For more info and to register, please go to: klehm.org/solstice-tranquility-walk/

#winter #solstice #walk #december #klehmarboretum #gorockford #enjoyillinois
... See MoreSee Less

Release yourself to the forest on this, the longest night of the year.
There will be no sunlight to guide your journey.
There will be no moonlight to show you the way.
But you will have your senses and the light of your spirit.
Let the night envelop you and teach you
that you can be the light to dispel the darkness.

This is a slow, silent, guided contemplation walk through the forest. Please join us!

For more info and to register, please go to: https://klehm.org/solstice-tranquility-walk/

#winter #Solstice #walk #december #klehmarboretum #gorockford #enjoyillinois
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