State Parks and National Parks

Giant City State Park

Surrounded by the Shawnee National Forest, this park is named for its huge formations of Pennsylvanian sandstone.

Twenty-one miles of hiking trails, many designated as rugged, include shady "streets" running between the stone formations.

The 4,050-acre park harbors a wealth of plant life, including ferns, mosses, more than 75 species of trees and a variety of wildflowers. The park's bird list numbers 150 species.

A nature preserve of 110 acres is integral to the park. There are also sites of significant archaeological interest, including a clifftop "stone fort" dating back 1,000 years or more and smoke-blackened shelters worn into the cliffsides.

The park is adjacent to 1,000-acre Little Grassy Lake, which offers boating, canoeing and fishing.

Camping facilities include developed and hike-in sites and a dedicated equestrian campground on a 12-mile trail.

Photo credits in order: Photo by Greg Laun, courtesy of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Courtesy of Giant City State Park.