Cave in Rock State Park
Cave in Rock State Park, is located in Cave in Rock, a sleepy town in southern Illinois. The park is located on the banks of the Ohio River, and is available for camping and hiking year round. Visitors can explore inside the cave on foot, and enjoy breathtaking views of the Ohio River from within! The cave has also been featured in popular culture, dating back to 1956, when Walt Disney Productions shot Davy Crockett and the river pirates. Cave in Rock State Park is located at 1 New State Park Road, Cave in Rock Illinois. For more information, click here.
Giant City State Park
This picture is owned by Michael Flavin
At Giant City State Park, you will be in awe of the incredible rock formations that were forged some 12,000 years ago. There are several trails here for you to explore. Other than the 12 mile Red Cedar Hiking Trail, the rest are fine for people of more limited abilities. Giant City Stone Fort Site is currently an abandoned pile of rocks that used to be a stone enclosure that was built around 600-900 AD. There are actually about 10 of these old structures in the area, and they are believed to have been either former military forts or ceremonial temples. Giant City State Park is located at 235 Giant City Rd, Makanda, IL. For more information, click here.
Rim Rock Recreation Area
The Rim Rock Recreation Area & Trail is located in Shawnee National Forest in Southern Illinois, if you haven’t already heard this area is a hotbed for outdoor adventure! To take advantage of this historic beauty, take Highway 34 to Karbers Ridge Road and turn East. Follow Karbers Ridge Road 8.3 miles to the Rim Rock entrance road. For more information, click here. The Rim Rock area is broken up into two sections the Upper Trail and the Lower Trail. The Upper Trail is paved and is wheelchair accessible with assistance. The trail leads guests past the remnants of a Native American rock wall and offers stunning views of the valley below. About halfway through this trail you will find the staircase providing access to Rim Rock’s lower trail. This is a challenging hike, but its also very rewarding.
Millstone Bluffs
First off I need to warn you, this trail is not for the faint of heart. It’s an excruciating vertical hike. However, if you make it all the way to the top, it is quite a rewarding jot. To reach Millstone Bluffs in Southern Illinois take IL-145 to IL-147. In 1.4 miles look for the signage on the right for Millstone Bluffs. Continue for 0.3 miles to the parking lot and enjoy this rare glimpse into Native American History. The area is known as Millstone Bluff, and the trail offers a unique peak into a prehistoric Native American community offers more variety than any other archaeological dig in Southern Illinois. If a challenging hike isn’t what your looking for, you can still view the spectacular towering bluffs from the parking lot. This really is a sight to be seen as the bluffs stick out like a sore thumb from the surrounding flat terrain. For more information, click here.
Castle Rock State Park
Castle Rock State Park is located three miles south of Oregon, Illinois on Highway 2 located along the west bank of the Rock River in Ogle County. The park is spread out across 2,000 acres of rolling topography, and includes six miles of marked hiking trails, and a public boat ramp/parking facility is located across from the park’s main entrance. Castle Rock is named after a sandstone bluff, adjacent to the river, that offers a breathtaking view of the surrounding river valley. The picnic area includes tables, shelters, grills, toilets, drinking water and playground equipment. The park is located at 1365 W. Castle Rd. Oregon Illinois For more information click here.