| With its breathtaking natural beauty & unlimited opportunities for outdoor recreation, a trip to Giant City State Park near Carbondale is sure to delight visitors of all ages. From camping & horseback riding to fishing & rappelling, it’s an outdoor lover’s paradise. Visitors will marvel at the many wilderness trails, & a sure treat awaits anyone hiking the Giant City Nature Trail, home of the “Giant City Streets” formed 12,000 years ago by huge bluffs of sandstone.
Nestled in the Shawnee National Forest, just minutes south of Carbondale, the area was named for the unique impressions made by its massive sandstone structures. Eons of geological faulting & folding have molded a landscape like none other, which is now clothed in lush garments of fern, moss, large flowering mints, hundreds of species of wild flowers & 75-plus varieties of towering trees. The natural splendor of Giant City has made it a renowned retreat that attracts more than 1.2 million visitors annually.
History
Shelter bluffs, or rock shelters, worn into the sides of the cliffs have revealed evidence of human habitation in this region from as early as 10,000 years ago, & the blackened ceilings caused by their fires are still visible today. On an 80-foot sandstone cliff near the main entrance, one can see the remains of a Native American stone wall that was erected between A.D. 600-800.
The first European settlers moved into the area from Kentucky & Tennessee in the early 1800s, & by 1850, settlers were using the land to cultivate fruit trees. During the Civil War, many of the cliffs & canyons were used as havens by soldiers of both the Union & Confederate armies.
By the early 1900s, many biologists, geologists & visitors had become intrigued with the region for study & relaxation. It provided ample opportunity for both.
In 1927, the State of Illinois acquired more than 1,100 acres of land in Union & Jackson counties & dedicated the area as Giant City State Park. In 1936, the Civilian Conservation Corps completed construction of a lodge & 12 overnight cabins on the highest point in the park. Today, the park has grown to encompass 4,000 acres of spectacular countryside & the 110-acre Fern Rocks Nature Preserve.
An 82-foot, 100,000 gallon H2O tower was constructed in 1970 to feature a 50-foot observation deck that provides panoramic views of large expanses of the area.
In 1999, a 4,725-square-foot Visitor Center was completed. The new facility houses exhibits on the natural & cultural history of the park, as well as a gift shop, audio-visual room, & a discovery corner for children. |
Giant City - State Park Campground Web Site
Driving Direction GPS Coordinates:
37.602872, -89.188327
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Campground: Giant City - State Park in Makanda Illinois *