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Giant City State Park is an Illinois state park on 4,000 acres (1,619 ha) in Jackson and Union Counties, Illinois, United States. Illinois acquired more than 1,100 acres (450 ha) in 1927, and dedicated the park as Giant City State Park. A lodge and visitor center welcome state park guests.Put Giant City State Park on your schedule, and learn what else deserves a visit by using our Makanda trip maker website.
Giant City State Park is a haven for nature lovers. It is a popular destination in Southern Illinois, and visitors to the park enjoy a number of activities such as hiking, horseback riding, picnicking, and rock climbing. Some of the park's most popular hiking trails include Giant City Nature Trail, Red Cedar Trail, and Trillium Trail.
The park is served by the River to River Trail.
The park's lodge and original six cabins were constructed by the 696th Company of the Civilian Conservation Corps from 1934 to 1935. The CCC used locally quarried sandstone and locally harvested lumber to build the lodge. In 1936, the lodge and cabins were dedicated by Illinois Governor Henry Horner. The CCC later added a dining room and kitchen as well as six additional cabins to the complex. They were also responsible for building the lodge's furniture; the quality of the wooden furniture led Pere Marquette State Park to commission the 696th Company to furnish their lodge as well. In 1985, the lodge and cabins were added to the National Register of Historic Places; the original cabins were demolished and replaced by replica cabins in the same year, and several new cabins were constructed. The new cabins are used to lodge visitors to the park, while the lodge houses a restaurant and gift shop.
This state park is a National Natural Landmark. The Giant City Stone Fort Site, a prehistoric stone fort located within the park, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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Giant City State Park reviews
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Nice quiet spot. We booked online, but came a day earlier. It was easy to just fill out the envelope and pay for the extra day. It is nice because you can do this any time of day and do not have to...
Nice quiet spot. We booked online, but came a day earlier. It was easy to just fill out the envelope and pay for the extra day. It is nice because you can do this any time of day and do not have to... more »
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We totally enjoyed the dinner and experience of Giant City State Park. It is a must if you are in the area.
We totally enjoyed the dinner and experience of Giant City State Park. It is a must if you are in the area. more »
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Absolutely beautiful park!! Felt like we were in another world. Took the Nature Trail, spent about an hour and a half with stopping for pictures. There's a bunch of really cool rock formations- even some you can walk through! Some old stone staircases and caves as well, although all caves are currently closed. This was an absolutely beautiful trail, and while there is some elevation change it's nothing too steep and overall a fairly moderate hike. Definitely worth the views!
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Wonderful State Park, visitor center, campground and lodge. The visitor center is worth exploring and they have a small gift shop. The park staff are knowledgeable and friendly. Well maintained trails. We had a wonderful breakfast at the lodge. The campground was shaded with level sites. I would stay here again.
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