Giant City State Park

Carbondale Illinois Campgrounds , Carbondale Illinois Parks , Carbondale Illinois Trails , Illinois State Parks

Welcome to Giant City State Park located in the heart of the Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois near Carbondale.

Park History: Giant City State Park was named for it's unique sandstone structures that have revealed traces of human settlement dating back nearly 10,000 years. Some of these traces include a Native American Stonewall on dating back 1,200-1,400 years. Some of the region's first European Settlers came to the area in the 19th century after migrating out of Tennessee and Kentucky in search of fertile land for agriculture. During the civil war, the park's canyons and rock formation were used as havens by soldiers of both the Union and Confederate Armies. In 1927 the State of Illinois purchased over 1,100 acres of land and established Giant City State Park. The Civilian Conservation Corps helped to construct the park's lodging facilities. Additional purchases over the years brought the park to it's present size of more than 4,000 acres.

Today, Giant City State Park is quite the outdoorsman's paradise. Visitors flock here to climb on the park's sandstone cliffs (beware of rattlesnakes and slippery rocks), enjoy the parks 12 miles of multipurpose trails, and camp at one of the park's 85 Class A (meaning electricity and water) campsites. Come on out and explore!

To contact the office please call 618-457-4836.