This is most definitely not a beginner's hiking trail!!…read more This spot is hidden away outside Carbondale, and offers a great overview of the bluffs and the Big Muddy River. The trail is rugged and is quite slippery, especially after a rain. You will have to descend down a slippery rocky waterway to get down into the canyon, but the views are amazing. To get back out, another climb up a waterway is needed, and both can be quite hard to get up and down on. However, if you are looking for an amazing but challenging trail with great views, a wonderful stroll along the bluffs, and just overall connect with nature, definitely give this trail a try. Definitely need a good pair of shoes for this. Hiking boots/shoes greatly recommend!!

Trying to milk every last possible drop of warm weather out of the fall, our friends Eric and Laura…read moreasked us to get outside and take a hike with them. Knowing that my boyfriend has been getting restless to travel amidst the pandemic, The Little Grand Canyon gave us the perfect opportunity to "get out" of St. Louis and enjoy a mini-road trip with two great friends. At just two hours outside of the city, this popular hiking spot was the perfect destination. More about the actual trail: Erosion carved this deep box canyon located in Shawnee National Forest, south of Murphysboro. It is located on east bank of the Big Muddy River across from Turkey Bayou to the west, between Swallow Rock to the north and Chalk Bluff to the south. There is about a 350-foot difference in elevation between the bottom of the canyon and the trailhead. Access to the park is gained from Hickory Ridge Road to the east. The area was designated a National Natural Landmark in February 1980. The trailhead area is well maintained. There's a small bathroom, a few picnic tables, and ample parking. We did go on a slightly busy day and the access road was a bit tough to navigate because of people trying to drive as close to the trailhead as possible. From the trailhead to the first overlook is a pretty easy hike. The trail is well worn and doesn't change elevation much. The first overlook is incredible! You truly understand why it's called the Little Grand Canyon. It had three levels so it was easy to space out away from other hikers so you could get your group photos! Once you have your good social media post, you can either take the trail back to your car or descent into the canyon. DO IT. The second half of the trail is definitely more challenging as you go through a steep and sometimes slippery sandstone side canyon to the lusher, damper habitat of the canyon floor. But getting to see the way the stone has eroded over the years is absolutely worth it. You feel like you're on a movie set or on a different planet. The beauty of the stone is beyond compare. Getting back up out of the canyon was quite a workout. You really don't realize how far you had gone down until you have to go back up. I did, however, enjoy the challenge! Worked up a sweat getting back up to the car. I was glad I didn't drive so that I could snooze on the car ride back to St. Louis!

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.

Disgraceful! I took my 69 year old mother and my 1 year old grandson today to swim $32!!! We were…read moreso disappointed!

the staff was so terribly rude, lifeguards mostly. Way overly aggressive, especially to little ones…read more(2-4 especially.) I understand enforcing the rules and sometimes having to be just a little meaner, but the lifeguards were so disgustingly rude to all parties involved. Not to mention there was a middles aged man, looking in from the gym touching himself, while there were little kids swimming. there should not be a way to see the swimming area from the gym that clearly. disgusting.

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

What a cool little park located in the town of Desoto. A large variety of playground options for…read moreall ages. I loved the old school teeter totter! The grandbabies enjoyed the older play structures. Bathrooms were surprisingly open (mid week winter) and clean. Easy parking. Located next to several little League baseball fields. Lots of fun.

Had a really nice weekend at Ferne Clyff. There are 18 trails that are maintained and for various…read morelevels, but be aware that nearly every trail has poison ivy just at the edge of pathways. There's lots to do, whether you're there to hike, bike, climb, or relax in nature. The camping grounds are a bit crowded, but most everyone keeps to themselves and are very friendly. There are lots of primitive restrooms throughout the park, but maintained with plumbing restrooms are only available for overnight paid guests. If you forget firewood, there is a place near the main campground restrooms where you can get bundles of firewood from a vet owned business. As of 5/8/2026 when I'm writing this, each bundle is $5 and can be paid in cash or QR.

This is my go to hiking park when I need to introduce someone to the beauty of SoILL on a tight…read moretime budget. The Waterfall Trail is flat and wide and boasts a fun waterfall in wet seasons, but also lovely bluffs and wildlife even when it's dry. My favorite hike was on a cold January day. We started with flurries, and the ground was completely white when we completed it. My kids are also HUGE fans of the Hawks Cave hike. Lots of fun boulders to climb on and explore. It's a short (though a bit steeper) hike, but begs you to linger at the cave.

Loved the many places in the Shawnee National Forest! Of course we came down to this area for…read moreGarden of the Gods which is five stars, top three places in Illinois to visit! And we hiked there as well. The Shawnee is large and stretches east and west, so it's really like, two National forests in one! The town of Marion was lovely, and we camped at Cave in Rock on the Ohio River. I also visited Scratch Brewing in Ava, IL. There's so much to do on all sides of the Shawnee, I'd love to return to do more hiking!

People don't even realize how big the Shawnee National Forest is. It basically stands most of…read moresouthern Illinois. It would truly take you about a week or more to truly experience everything in this entirety or at least the most out of it. Most of your activities if you come to the show National Forest are on the west side. Many things I wish we could still check out where the Little Grand Canyon that were on my bucket list but unfortunately we couldn't make it. Due to time restraints. The east side of the Shawnee National Forest is basically home to the very popular Garden of the Gods and I recommend the Rimrock Trail as well. I have yet to visit the central part of the Shawnee national forest as well as a few other parts. This place was beautiful to check out it says I felt like I was not even in Illinois, it felt like I was back parts of the Smoky Mountains. I do recommend if you come out to bring plenty of bug and Sun spray because these bugs do bite out here and you should be prepared especially in the summer

lake is beautiful. horribly managed, dirty bathrooms, docks are in disarray, no boat shop, no boat…read morelifts are allowed in docks. gaming area was wrong use for space. has large enough kitchen to support more open hours. large patio and indoor dinning/bar is also under utilized. Maybe some friendlier/service oriented management adjustment needed.

This is our favorite campground. The people are so nice, the prices are very reasonable and they…read morehave a bar and grill called Moody Muskies Bar & Grill. Highly recommend this place for camping, boating or just coming out to eat or have a drink.