Giant City State Park
Emmy showing Adam how to cross a creek on the Red Cedar trail.
We’ve visited the Shawnee National Park system in Southern Illinois a lot since increasing our hiking adventures, but we had never visited any of the state-owned nature areas nearby. On a whim, we decided to get a cheap hotel room in Carbondale, Ill. about twenty minutes from Giant City State Park. Technically located in Makanda, Ill., this is a popular and large natural park with a massive campground, lodge, and all of the outdoor activities.
The Trails
Giant City State Park has several small trails ranging from .5 - 1.5 miles long, and one 12 mile loop trail. We opted to take on the large loop, but don’t discount the shorter trails. They offer need geological features and neat history from the Native American tribes who settled the area.
Regardless of length, these are trails you want to be adequately prepped to walk. Wear solid shoes and protective gear. There are many elevation changes, slippery rocks, and water overflows (depending on area rain total).
The Red Cedar Trail (12 miler) is a fairly slim trail with lots of overgrowths. The first six miles of it are through an old forest with steep climbs and incredible rock formations. There is a bit of prairie and gravel road towards the end. If you take the trail “backwards” you will encounter the Red Cedar waterfall about three miles in. It’s a neat feature to hike out and back to if you’re looking for a shorter way to enjoy the trail.
The trail signage is present but can be hard to spot at times. Pay close attention to your area and download and review the trail map. We did have to stop and re-focus our direction a couple of times. There are, what we assume are, hunter trails that can be easy to follow and lead to….nothing.
Things We Love
There are a lot of different kinds of forest: pine tree clusters, lowlands, patches of berry bushes, wildflower alleys, and some intense rocky climbs, plus a wide variety of biodiversity.
We had a few close encounters with wildlife while on this trail (including adorable baby turkeys, eek!) - and based on where they were hanging - we don’t think the 12-mile trail is as traffic-heavy as the others. On a gorgeous Saturday for walking (clear weather in the low 50s - 60s), we only encountered one other person in four hours. Reminder: leave the wildlife alone, but it’s always fun to observe at a distance.
If you’re visiting with a larger group or children, there is a lot of outdoor space to explore. The shorter trails are just as magical, but you don’t have to worry about having to carry anyone back a few miles. The main campground is situated next to a beautiful section of the Red Cedar Trail, giving folks a chance to enjoy a peaceful nature walk with their morning coffee.
There’s a LOT to do in this general area. You could easily spend a few days hiking and camping in a 45-mile radius - with some decent food and brew options available when you’re tired of campfire cooking.
Things to Know
This is a popular park. If you are looking to stay overnight, plan it out and book early. The campground was packed with tents and RVs in early May. There are primitive camping areas as well, including one about six miles in on the Red Cedar Trail. There are outhouses, but they’ve seen better days (though I appreciated their existence when we found them…).
There are several bodies of water, so expect flies and mosquitoes once the weather is warmed. We also pulled many ticks off of our pup and a few off of us. We did douse ourselves in military-strength bug spray, wore protective clothing, etc.
There are both cycling and equestrian trails in this area, and at times, these trails intersect, so be mindful of others (and watch out for horse poop!).
We packed in a lot of water, and other than at the campground, we did not see any great places for re-filling. We would recommend bringing in lots of your own if you’re just visiting to hike.
Trail Maps (you can download different ones separately)