5 Best Illinois State Parks
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Are you thinking about going to Illinois soon? Many people love Illinois for its natural beauty. The Illinois State Parks are living proof of that. They’re green, full of wildlife, and have lush landscapes ready to explore.
Are you looking for things to do in Illinois? Look no further. Whether you love water sports, horseback riding, or hiking, there’s plenty to find in an Illinois State Park. Here are the 5 best Illinois State Parks:
Matthiessen State Park
Matthiessen State Park is one of the most beautiful parks in Illinois. It’s located in central LaSalle County, about four miles south of Utica and three miles east of Oglesby. There’s a lot to see, including canyons, prairie, streams, and forests. All of these combine to make a natural wonderland for visitors, and there are also beautiful rock formations.
Geology lovers will love Matthiessen State Park. There’s some unusual sandstone, and the upper and lower dells in the canyon have scenic walking tours. The moist canyon walls are a great place for frogs, toads, and salamanders.
Starved Rock State Park
Starved Rock State Park was voted the #1 attraction in the state of Illinois, and it’s easy to see why. You can find beautiful waterfalls in this Illinois State Park after heavy rains in the spring. It has 13 miles worth of trails and 18 canyons ready to explore.
Even though you can see waterfalls in spring, there’s plenty to see year-round. The park looks different every season, so it’s worth coming back to see how it’s changed. If you go June-November, you can take a free guided hike.
Mississippi Palisades State Park
Mississippi Palisades State Park is a beautiful park that features large, steep cliffs. Because of these natural features, limestone caves can be found straight down. You’ll find interesting rock formations made over time from erosion. As you look, you’ll be in touch with the Native Americans who walked through this area first.
There’s also plenty of animal life in this Illinois State Park. You’ll find plenty of birds, such as wild turkeys, woodpeckers, and even eagles in January and February. You’ll also see wildlife such as skunks, weasels, mink, muskrats, squirrels, foxes, woodchucks, and sometimes even
badgers.
Kankakee River State Park
The Kankakee River State Park extends 4,000 acres on both sides of the Kankakee River. You’ll see lots of woods and other scenic areas in this park, and it’s t
he perfect place for many outdoor activities. You’ll find plenty of hiking trails, camping, fishing, canoeing, snowmobile trails, cross-country skiing, and hunting.
You’ll also love the rich history there. Potawatomi Indians lived there during the 1770s and hunted along the river. The “Rock Village” was the site of the last great Indian Council in 1830. After the Black Hawk War in 1982, they ceded their land to the United States. You can find Chief Shaw-waw-nas-see’s commemorated grave along the nature trail at Rock Creek.
Giant City State Park
If you’re looking for things to do in Illinois, head over to Giant City State Park. It got its name from the unique impressions made by sandstone in the landscape.
Some activities you can find at this Illinois State Park are rock climbing, rappelling, horseback riding, hunting, fishing, and camping. It hosts 1.5 million visitors annually that love to visit as a retreat.
Looking for more ideas of what to do while you are in Illinois? Check out 20 Things to Do in Illinois by Midwest Explored. Looking for more hiking ideas in the Midwest, check out Best Hiking in the Midwest US by Explorer Chick. Are you looking for more travel tips? Visit our website.
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References
- “Matthiessen State Park.” - https://stateparks.com/matthiessen_state_park_in_illinois.html
- “Starved Rock State Park.” - https://www.starvedrocklodge.com/starved-rock-state-park/
- “Mississippi Palisades State Park.” - https://stateparks.com/mississippi_palisades_state_park_in_illinois.html
- “Kankakee River State Park.” - https://openlands.org/places/kankakee-river-state-park-2/
- “Breathtaking Beauty.” - https://giantcitylodge.com/park/
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