I was looking up things to do in the Carbondale area and this place caught my eye. I don't have any…read morekids nor am I one but I had to visit the park and I got to hear the story about how this park was built and how it came to be. This park is very well kept! I've never been to an active park that is so well maintained and the fact that it has no graffiti on it! This park is so Interactive and I thought it was convenient that it had porta potties next to it as well. Even the ice cream man came by to visit. Plenty of great Interactive things that check out that are one-of-a-kind like climbing got a dragon and even the playground is big enough for grown-ups to walk around without actually it's time to climb on stuff. This place was like walking into a Renaissance fair , I highly recommend checking this place out!

Really good park we really like the castle I love this park specially Corbin, and Paisleyread more

A wee bit sketchy but I'm terrified of heights. It's beautiful once up…read more 123 steps up! Would be beautiful at sunrise and sunset.

Even though me and my wife were disappointed that we didn't have time to check out the Welcome…read moreCenter since it was closed down Memorial Day we were able to check out a few of the trails at Giant City state park. I enjoyed the mixed variety of Trail Lengths mainly just because I'm not much of a hiker myself. The state park is actually a solid place to check out if you're in the area or are coming to the area since there's many things to check out especially on this side of the Shawnee National Forest compared to the east side. There's plenty of parking spaces and amenities at most of these trailheads. The area is still a well-kept secret in my opinion that I don't feel like a lot of tourists still come and check out. Overall, the state park is actually worth checking out and thankfully the parking is free or you don't need a parking pass of any source

I stopped here on a road trip. The visitor center was shut down due to COVID-19 but it was still…read moreeasy to find my way around. I went to the scenic overlook and got a great view of the muddy Mississippi River. we (me and my dogs) then hiked a mile, which wasn't bad. but it was hilly. there was also a lake where people were swimming. this a great park, if you are driving through the area be sure to stop by and enjoy the nature it has to offer.

A lot of sad but informative history at the visitors center, don't pass it by. The visitors center…read morealso features wildlife of the area, and the staff is helpful and knowledgeable. Camping, swimming, picnic areas available. Couple of nice lookout points for photos.

A tiny gem in the heart of Carbondale. Tucked away in the low hills southeast of the city center,…read moreBrush Hill Preserve certainly doesn't announce its presence; you may have driven by it a dozen times and never noticed the sign. (A tip for finding it is below.) It's just one of several preserves maintained by Green Earth Inc., and it's whet my palate to explore the others. A single trail twists gradually down a hillside covered in trees and lush vegetation. It forms a loop -- a feature of trails I LOVE -- of one mile. Two loops makes a very nice jogging circuit with some serious grade. If you're training for cross-country or just tired of the flats of Campus Lake, Brush Hill is your answer! A cute brochure is available on the Green Earth website, so you can check out what the 7 numbered posts refer to (woodpeckers, seasonal pond, etc.). The single-file dirt trail is beautifully maintained, with gradual slopes and stone and wooden steps inserted as necessary. The bends are smooth, with no switchbacks. No poisonous plants line the path. Birds are obviously happy about being there, and you will be too! Tip for finding it: it's immediately next door to the Carbondale Township Fire Department on Park St. As you're looking at the FD from Park St., the Preserve's gravel parking lot is just to the right.

Great National Wildlife Refugee! An oasis down the road from Marion which was awful because it is…read morefull of semi trucks and fast food and rushing cars. If you are in the area seek this place out. It is beautiful. Lots of grasslands with birds such as wild turkeys! There is a large expanse of water that can drive through on a narrow gravel road.

Stayed in the campground, which is open year-round. They have a new bath house with 8…read moreseparate/private restroom/showers. 6 are locked up for the season. For the two that are open, the rooms are blazing hot but the showers are very cold. Not quite ice cold but the are not even "like warm". Totally unacceptable. They need to take the money wasted on overheating the rooms to heating the water to a reasonable temperature.

The highlight of this park is a reconstructed wooden fort, which overlooks the river and is fairly…read moreimpressive. I assume there is some more action during business hours as it wasn't the most happening place in the evening. There are a variety of trails and other facilities, as well as a disc golf course. Maps suggest that a road leads to another forest park, but the road does become unpaved dirt and gravel before the point of crossing under the main highway. The water fountains did not work for me. It is a free park with some interesting features and a variety of possible uses.

I wish I had photos to post. This place incredibly gorgeous!! Great place to wander, take photos,…read morefor kids to explore. If we lived here I would visit often. Very peaceful. There is a self pay/donation box at the gate which is very reasonable.

We are staying in Marion while in the area to run the Shawnee Marathon. We were looking for a park…read moreto explore and do an easy walk the day before the race and found this listing. These gardens are in the backyard of a guys house. It's easy to miss the drive off the road and we ended up turning around and coming back. When we arrived a man came out to greet us and offered to make change if we didn't have exact change. While the gardens are nice, many free parks are much larger and have more to offer. There is a fee of $2 per person and it is relatively small. We walked the entire loop and it was 0.3 miles. There are some interesting rock arches and the flowers are pretty, but the pond was murky. I guess if you didn't have anything to do, you could visit this place, but I would not recommend making a special trip.

My husband and I stopped to spend the night at Wayne Fitzgerrell Park and we were so glad we did!…read moreCharlie, the host, was very friendly and helpful. The campground is gorgeous!! Many campsites on the water, bike trails, a memorable sunset, beautiful trees and scenery.

This is a very large park in the Lake Rend Resort area…read more Imagine waking up in your RV, unzipping the door, and being greeted by the serene views of the Lake. This is a vast area of peninsulas and water. The campgrounds at Wayne Fitzgerrell are spacious and offer memorable vistas of the area. Each site is mostly level, equipped with electric hookups, and under shade, making it an RVer's dream come true. But the allure of Wayne Fitzgerrell extends beyond its scenic campgrounds. It is an outdoor enthusiast's wonderland. You can indulge in various activities, from hunting and fishing to horseback riding and hiking. As the sun dips below the horizon, gather around a crackling campfire, exchange stories under the starlit sky, and create memories that will last a lifetime. The facilities at Wayne Fitzgerrell? There's a lodge, cabins, a swimming pool, and tennis courts - in varying states of wear. The restrooms and showers were in a state of disrepair or run-down during our visit but these seem to be temporary conditions. Go and enjoy! It's worth a stop. #RVAdventure #Illinois #WayneFitzgerrellSRA #TravelStories no

Quiet and remote Illinois State Park that is worthy of all the stars in the sky. 16.5 miles of…read moretrails for your feet and horse trails. Tent and trailer parking spots, no hook up. Lots of turtles live here and sure some other abundance of critters to find. Picnic areas, hunting and fishing on the vast water areas. great spots to kayak.

Great primitive park for hiking and picnicking. Keep in mind you can hunt here too so know your…read moreseason before venturing out. Primitive Camping is available.