Giant City State Park

About Giant City State Park

Located just minutes south of Carbondale in the Shawnee National Forest, the area is named after the unique impression it leaves. From camping, horse riding, fishing and abseiling, it is a paradise for outdoor lovers. Visitors of all ages will be delighted by the scenic views of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the many wilderness trails. Those who walk the Riesenstädter Naturlehrpfad near the homeland Riegenstadt will have a special pleasure.

Eons of geological faults and folds have shaped this landscape like no other and now envelop it with mint - blooming mints, towering trees and wildflowers, and a host of other plants.

The natural splendour of this vast city has made it a famous retreat, attracting more than 1.2 million visitors each year. From the sandstone rocks at the main entrance, you can see an Indian stone wall built between 600 and 800 AD. The blackened ceiling caused by fire is still visible today, and the rock walls protruding from them already indicate a settlement of the region over 10,000 years ago.

The first European settlers moved to the area from Kentucky and Tennessee in the early 19th century, and in the 1850s, settlers used the land to grow fruit trees. During the Civil War, Union and Confederate soldiers used the many cliffs and ravines as hideouts. Since the beginning of the 20th century, many biologists, geologists and visitors have been interested in this region for study and relaxation. In the Riesenstadt-Staatspark there are many opportunities to relax and unwind.

In 1927, the state of Illinois acquired and dedicated the area as Giant City State Park, and in 1936 the Civil Protection Corps completed the construction of the first of its many hiking trails. Today, the park covers an area of 1,500 hectares and is covered with more than 1.5 million square feet of parkland.

It was completed in 1999 and was built for a 50 foot observation deck that overlooks a large part of the area with a magnificent view.

The highlight of the Riesenstadt-Staatspark is the new visitor centre, which offers a great view of the park and a wide variety of activities for children and adults.

The rustic beauty of the Giant City Lodge creates an unparalleled atmosphere in southern Illinois.

Visitors are guided through some interesting facilities and can also visit the main entrance of the park, the visitor center and the entrance to the lodge.

Accommodation guests have three types of cabins with forest views, each with unique features.

Many of the original furniture and decorations have been restored and are still in use at the lodge.

The colourful sandstone and white oak wood, first used in construction in 1930, have been
preserved and have been used with great care in the expansion and reconstruction of the huts.

The Bald Knob dining room, with 170 seats, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily and is known for its excellent cuisine at a reasonable price. It is best known as a family home - fried chicken - and offers a comfortable place for families of up to six people. Twelve of the historic cottages are one-room apartments, 18 prairie cottages are two-room cottages and twelve historic cottages are one-room apartments.

For lodge reservations, call 618 - 457 - 4921 or write "Lodge Reservations" to 62958 and make a reservation. The lodge also features a dining room, bar, indoor / outdoor pool and outdoor dining area.

Giant City is a popular weekend destination due to its well maintained campsites and facilities. The Class A campsite offers a wide range of amenities including picnic area, picnic tables, showers and toilets. Giant City Lodge is closed on weekends, except for special events and events for children and families with special needs.

In the southwest corner of the park there is a separate A-dressage riding stable, which is located near the riding trails. For those who prefer a more primitive environment, campsites with toilets, showers, picnic tables and toilets are available.

Tables, water, barbecues and playgrounds are available throughout the complex, and the park is filled with excellent picnic facilities and shelters. There are also campsites for youth groups, as well as a number of picnic tables, picnic blankets and picnic areas for children. Water and outdoor facilities as well as showers are also available in the parking lot at the southern end of the campsite near the picnic area.

Climbing and abseiling are allowed in two places in the park, and the 1 Bluff area near the entrance to Makanda is accessible to climbers. Climbers should bring their own equipment and climb the steep slope straight up, but no rope is allowed on the cliffs.

The sandstone rock community in southern Illinois is fragile and not easy to find in this area, and they are fragile. The cliffs are steep and the sandstones can be slippery in wet conditions, so be careful. All climbing activities in the park are at your own risk and a check is required. Those who protect themselves from poisonous copperhead snakes will find sunny rocky outcrops, but beware!
Always do what you wear and do not overdo it - wear your shoes, boots, gloves or other protective gear, especially in wet weather.

The Oak Trail is specially designed for disabled visitors and represents an invigorating challenge for truly dedicated backpackers. Discover the Trillium and Arrow Vault Trails, the Death Trail, and learn about the history and history of Big City State Park.

For equestrian sports, the park has two options: If you bring your own horse, you have the opportunity to ride in the Big City State Park Horse Park. All 25 campsites have electricity connections and access to water and showers, as well as a variety of other amenities such as picnic areas, picnic tables and water.

Fees are $15 per night for each location, with a minimum of $5 per day and $10 per hour for the first day and a $1 per day fee for the second day.

The campsite is located at the southern end of the park and the trailer parking for day guests is located at the back of each campsite. The camping permits are issued by the staff of each campsite and follow the signs you will find in the parks. The use of landfills near the main camp is permitted, but not in landfills or car parks.

Hiking maps and information are available on the Giant City State Park website and the park's Facebook page. Day tickets for the horse trails are free of charge, day tickets for the hiking trails are open daily at 8 a.m. and are accessible to all visitors.

The park houses the giant stables and offers guided horse riding on the horse trails as well as a variety of other activities for children and adults.

The stables are open Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm. M. and Saturday from 10 a., 12 to 16 p. and Sunday from 12 - 17 h. Call 618-529-4110 for more information on Tuesdays that are closed, or have a one-hour long parking lot that is open Saturday and Sunday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

If you have a vehicle with a boat sticker required by COWR, you can take Interstate 57 to the park, take RT West and park in the parking lot on the east side.

Giant City Road leads from Interstate 57 at the intersection of Giant City Drive and the freeway overpass into the park. Continue 12 miles south, look for Wal-Mart on your right, then turn left at a traffic light toward Giant city Road and continue.

The grocery is just around the corner, then turn left onto Grassy Road and follow I-24 to the entrance to Giant City State Park on the east side of the park.

Follow Grassy Road for 5.7 miles, then turn south on Giant City Road and stay left when you come to Y. The grass road becomes a t-shaped place and you can stay left for about a mile and a half if you turn right onto I-24 and turn south.

Continue on Grassy Road for approximately 4 miles to Giant City Road and continue on Grass Road for another 5.7 miles until you are in the park, then turn right on Y.

If you are further south, you can take I-64 east for about 4 miles to the park and then west onto I / 70. East, west on the road If you are further north or east on the east side of the freeway, take I-64 West for about 3.5 miles.

At the traffic light, turn left toward Giant City Road and go south for 12 miles, looking for Wal-Mart on your right. Turn left and turn right into the parking lot of the Walmart and then left onto I-64 West for approximately 4 miles.

Continue south approximately 50 miles to Murphysboro and turn left and you will enter the town of Carbondale. Turn left onto Giant City Road leading into the park and then right onto I-64 West for approximately two miles.

Turn right on Giant City Road southbound and drive 12 miles into the park and look for the mall on your right. When you see a Wal-Mart on the left, you will see the traffic light and turn left into the parking lot And then straight on.