| For wildflowers, fresh foliage & soothing breezes in the spring...picnicking, camping, hiking, boating & fishing in the summer...appreciating the brilliant hues of autumn's colorful plumage...or ice skating & ice fishing in the brisk, blue winter...Red Hills State Park is waiting for you.
In southeastern Illinois midway between Olney & Lawrenceville on U.S. 50, Red Hills is a carefully preserved & maintained 948-acres of high wooded hills, deep ravines, captivating meadows & year-round springs. It's the perfect setting for natural relaxation & outdoor activities. The sparkling 40-acre lake is ideal for fishing & boating.
Dominated by Red Hill itself -- the highest point of land between St. Louis & Cincinnati -- & the 120-foot tower & cross rising from its summit, this unspoiled sanctuary from everyday life provides a great opportunity to relax & rediscover nature.
An open-air tabernacle at the base of the tower -- financed & constructed by area residents cooperating with an interdenominational council -- services are held on Sunday evening during the summer. A popular activity since 1943 has been the annual Easter sunrise services.
A satellite area of the park, the 565-acre Chauncey Marsh Nature Preserve, contains the best remaining example of what is called a Wabash Border Marsh Ecosystem, with marshes, dry & wet prairie, lush bottomland forest & thriving riverline communities. During late July & early August beautiful pink & white hibiscus & hairy rose mallow are in bloom.
Veterans' Point is a one-quarter acre parcel of land that is available to local veteran groups to honor ex-servicemen of all wars & to provide a place for their gatherings.
History
The park is an important historical crossroad, the western most edge of the first land in Illinois ceded by Native Americans to the United States. The borderline runs through the park from southwest to northeast, & was set by a treaty made in 1795 at Greenville, Ohio, by General Anthony Wayne whereby Native Americans relinquished all claims to the land northwest of the Ohio River & east of a specified line. The area was called Vincennes Tract. The western boundary running through the park was known as the Indian boundary line & is marked by decided jogs which corresponded to the original survey line.
The area was bisected by the Old Cahokia Trace, commonly known as the "Trace Road," which ran east & west just north of what is now U.S. 50, & was for many years the principal route from historic Vincennes, IN, to St. Louis & the west.
A dam constructed across Muddy Creek, a tributary of the Embarras (pronounced "Ambraw") River in 1953 created the 40-acre lake with a maximum depth of 30 feet & 2.5 miles of shoreline.
Since then, the park has grown to its present size, & development & improvement of its recreational facilities has been continuous. |
Red Hills - State Park Campground Web Site
Driving Direction GPS Coordinates:
41.862269, -88.097828
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Campground: Red Hills - State Park in Sumner Illinois *