Natural, man-made wonders to explore in Southern Illinois parks

 (This article appeared on April 29, 2022 in St. Louis Sprout & About.)

Imagine what it would have been like to have been among the first people to explore some of the natural wonders of the great outdoors. The southern half of Illinois certainly offers a wealth of scenic locations in which that feeling of awe still embraces its visitors. Mighty rivers meander around many of the sites, sculpting some truly magnificent rock formations to view and sometimes climb. Over time, these jewels of nature have been combined with a smattering of man-made structures, adding even more to the region’s fantasy settings.

                                         Meet dragons and knights on a visit to Boo Castle Park.     Photo by Jeffry Greenberg

Pere Marquette State Park
Precisely 350 years ago, French missionary Pere (Father) Jacques Marquette traversed the Illinois River near the state park that now bears his name. The site offers spectacular river views near its confluence with the Mississippi River. While the Great River Road town of Grafton provides boat launching ramps and boat tours, the area is also home to a wide array of other recreational activities, including bike and horse trails. The park also features more than a dozen miles of scenic trails for the beginner to the most experienced hiker. The best, lengthier trail is the combined 3.9-mile Hickory South, North, Fern Hollow and Goat Cliff Loop. Several shorter trails, plus the uphill Scenic Drive featuring Lover’s Leap and Eagle Roost Scenic Overlooks, all offer great views, particularly in the autumn. Pere Marquette Lodge & Conference Center serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and hosts special events throughout the year. Pere Marquette State Park is located at 13112 Visitor Center Lane, Grafton, IL.

Giant City State Park
About 15 minutes south of SIU-Carbondale in Makanda, Ilinois, is an otherworldly escape for college students and kids of all ages. Giant City State Park is a rather compact fantasyland for all outdoor enthusiasts. The park borders beautiful kayaker-friendly Little Grassy Lake and houses six scenic trails with sandstone formations that are laden with wildflowers. The most popular trail is probably the Giant City Nature Trail, a one-mile moderate loop featuring huge sandstone bluffs. It’s fun for climbing, tunneling and also wiggling through Fat Man’s Squeeze. The .3-mile Devil’s Standtable Trail is named after its incredible giant mushroom-like pillar. Other easy but fun trails of a mile or less are the Stone Fort, Post Oak and Indian Creek Shelter Nature Trail. At 1.3 miles, the Trillium Trail is considered moderate. Grab a bite to eat at Giant City Lodge and take a moment to view the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) statue, which honors workers from 1933-1942. Giant City State Park is located at 235 Giant City Rd., Makanda, IL.

Boo Castle Park
Less than a 10-minute drive from Giant City State Park heading towards Carbondale is Boo Castle Park, a tribute to Jeremy "Boo" Rochman who was a fan of knights, wizards and dragons. The fantasy-inspired playground features climbing structures, knights, gargoyles, dragons, wizards, a sword collection and more whimsical play elements. Nearly every unfenced figure can be posed with and most can be climbed on (except for the castle ground items itself), but there are some restrictions for guests. Visit Boo Castle Park on Facebook in advance for more information about rules for visiting the park. Boo Castle Park is located at 31 Homewood Dr., Carbondale, IL. The park is open daily from sunrise to sunset (weather permitting).

Garden of the Gods Recreation/Wilderness Area
Located throughout the Shawnee National Forest, the Garden of the Gods is truly a godsend for photographers and outdoor enthusiasts. Both the close-up sandstone pillars and far-off panoramic views of towering rock formations, cliffs, woodlands and wilderness draw families from far and wide. The area’s most traversed hike is the ¼-mile Observation Trail, which is chock full of countless dramatic points of view in every direction, including Camel Rock, Mushroom Rock, and Devil’s Smoke Stack. Anvil Rock and Indian Point trails are worth exploring, as well. In all, there are some 5.5 miles of connecting trails in this one area alone. 

Fort Massac State Park
Overlooking a beautiful stretch of the Ohio River, Fort Massac became part of Illinois’ first state park back in Metropolis in 1908, but its history precedes that by more than a century. Although the fort’s replica remains closed at this time for repairs, there is still much to see. The site itself includes the Fort Massac Visitor Center, which features Native American artifacts and a video. The park is also home to an 18-hole disc golf course and a wide variety of outdoor recreational activities. Closer to the river is a statue of George Rogers Clark, who helped fight against a British takeover during the Revolutionary War. Few events rival the annual Fort Massac Encampment weekend, typically held in October, which includes food, children’s activities and historical reenactments. Fort Massac State Park is located at 1308 E. 5th St., Metropolis, IL. Visitor's tip: If you're in Metropolis, be sure to stop by the Super Museum for a photo with the 15-foot-tall “Man of Steel” statue on the building grounds, and watch for the annual Superman Celebration.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Scroll to the bottom of this article for Greenberg's additional photos of these natural and man-made wonders through  https://www.stlsprout.com/articles/places/item/8944-natural-man-made-wonders-to-explore-in-southern-illinois-parks?fbclid=IwAR1NgCguwUaUhIL9HIHbrwSVR3VzxjdYIzxzC9JQyW3lTVRaynsy7aV8Dbg