Supporters continued to press for the White Pines Woods, as it was once known, to receive state park designation throughout the period 1903-1927.

[5] The influential Friends of Our Native Landscape included the area around the Rock River between Dixon and Oregon on a list of 20 places in Illinois that should be designated state parks.

[3] The area was noted by Elia W. Peattie, a poet and member of the Eagle's Nest Art Colony (located at present-day Lowden State Park), who expressed the need for preservation of the White Pines Woods in one of her poems.

The law, which was amended in 1931, gave the director of the Illinois Department of Public Works jurisdiction over the state parks.

[4][6] Per the 1925 mandate, White Pines Forest became a state park in 1927 after its proponents enlisted the support of the Chicago Tribune and WGN Radio.

[5] In 1933, with the Great Depression in full swing, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) sought to relieve the work needs of unemployed Americans.

[5] Logs for most of the project were shipped via railroad from as far away as Oregon and Washington state, unloaded in Stratford, Illinois and dragged to the construction site by teams of horses.

[8][1] Nature preserve designation gave the stand of white pine trees in the park the highest form of legal protection in the state.

[9] The park represents the southernmost remaining stand of virgin white pine (Pinus strobus) forest in the state.

White Pines Forest State Park provides habitat for a variety of plant and animal life and has two freshwater streams within its boundaries.

[5] The fords offer visitors a chance to actually drive through the creek, though high water frequently closes the crossings.

[10] Floods are frequent enough on Pine Creek, a large watershed to the north of the park, that there is an emergency exit from the campground.

[10] White Pines has 103 campsites all accessible by vehicle; the campgrounds are sometimes closed because of high water or soft ground.

[9][10] The two cross-country ski trails total 4.5 miles (7.2 km) in length and are open as winter weather permits.