Silver Springs hosts a variety of activities including fishing, hunting, boating and hiking.

The park has areas of native prairie restoration, a sledding hill and a seven-mile (11 km) equestrian trail.

The Park is divided by the Fox River, with the northern area situated next to the Edith Farnsworth House, designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.

There is evidence that the Fox River valley near Silver Springs was populated by indigenous people near the end of the last ice age, 10–14,000 years ago.

For the 2002 project, the IDNR removed numerous invasive species from the area including: basswood, ash, maple, and exotic honeysuckle.

Water quality at Loon Lake was identified as "good" in 1996 by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

[2] The spring's name is derived from the effect of sunlight on its surface, which makes the pool appear to shimmer like silver.

[2] Even through the winter, the bubbling spring never freezes, and plants often poke through snow surrounding the watercress-bordered pool in the coldest months.

[1] The Fox River at Silver Springs has numerous species of freshwater fish including, bluegill, crappie, channel catfish, bullhead, carp, muskie and northern pike.

[9] Besides its prairie restorations and bodies of water, Silver Springs has areas of deciduous forests, and wetlands, both of which are populated with species of mammals, birds and insects.

[9] The park has areas set aside for trap shooting, and archery, participants are required to bring their own equipment and restrictions apply.

[9] For anglers, Loon Lake is stocked in the spring and fall with rainbow trout and a small one-half acre pond to the east of the lake is stocked annually for children during the National Hunting and Fishing Days, which is marked yearly by events at Silver Springs.

[9] Silver Springs State Fish and Wildlife Area has trails for hiking and horseback riding.