Matthiessen State Park is such a gem. The trails take you through gorgeous canyons, lush greenery, and peaceful streams that make you forget how close you are to the city. The waterfall views are the highlight and absolutely worth the hike in, especially when the sun hits the rocks and everything feels like a hidden escape. The trails are well marked and offer a good mix of easy walks and more adventurous climbs, so there is something for everyone. Even on a busier day you can still find quiet corners to enjoy the sound of the water and the view of the sandstone cliffs. If you enjoy hiking, photography, or just want a beautiful spot to reset in nature, this park is a must visit. Bring good shoes, some water, and be ready to take a ton of photos. read more

Matthiessen State Park - Chasing waterfalls at Matthiessen - Parks Near Me - Oglesby, Illinois

Beautiful park and very similar to Starved Rock as they are just down the road from each other. We liked our time here and our son did have fun on the little playground, but it was unfortunately looking very neglected. read more

Fantastic place to hike and explore. Not too crowded and lots of space to wander and explore read more

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Great walk in the woods. We entered at the River entrance. Very wild, narrow trail, rough. Markings there bit either away or return. The Dells entrance a bit more accessible and welcoming. read more

Matthiessen State Park - Less built up entrance. - Parks Near Me - Oglesby, Illinois

Great for seeing and descending into a canyon with stairs and a rail where you can feel away from it all - in a canyon with lots of walkways, rock formations, and little overhangs. Many people show pictures of waterfalls. Going at the end of August - there are no waterfalls. I'll post what I saw in photos. read more

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A nice state park located in Oglesby Illinois with many gravel trails and a beautiful canyon. Located just a few miles south of Starved Rock State Park. Expect to see beautiful rock formations in addition to wildlife and an abundance nof vegetation. Parking will be limited on weekends but they do have overflow lots. Bathroom facilities are available. read more

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This is a very interesting park, just south of Starve Rock Park, along the Vermillion River. There are plenty of trails for hiking as well as a section for shooting (we did not venture into that part of the park). Additionally there are also trails for horseback riding and biking. Would have given the park five stars but for the poor trail signage. read more

Matthiessen State Park - Heading done to the river - Parks Near Me - Oglesby, Illinois

Review Visit: August 26th, 2015 Located just a stone's throw away from Starved Rock State Park, this state park is pretty. Pretty ravine, pretty relaxing, pretty views, pretty waterfall. Overshadowed by nearby Starved Rock State Park, don't let this one slip under the radar. It is a less popular destination for your average hiker, but should be be on every Illinoisian's list. Actually, you could stay at a local lodge and hike both Matthiessen and Starved Rock over a weekend. Matthiessen offers quite a few trails to walk and none are really a challenge. The trails are well-worn and laid out, so you can easily follow them. There are stairs that lead down to the 'ravine' area where you are staring up at ~50′ rock walls. Around the perimeter, there are horse-riding trails. I may or may not have gotten turned around and walked the horse trails for awhile until I was able to find the park entrance and hop back on the trails. If you have every seen anyone standing in front of a waterfall while hiking, and they are from Illinois, it is probably from here. I even got my photo in front of it. It's a bit of a challenge to get to it, but the payoff is a great photo op! read more

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Less visited than the starved rock but was beautiful. Just did a drive through because we had a busy day planned. Wish I had more time, but I will return in the fall when the leaves start to change colors. read more

IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL. definitely gonna be coming back with my puppy, i met so many friendly people and animals, the trails are amazing, i absolutely was in awh. most go!!!! parking was easy read more

Matthiessen State Park - Lower dells! - Parks Near Me - Oglesby, Illinois

Stopped here first after being in the car for 7 hours. I had seen a couple of YouTube videos of people hiking and the Glacier falls looked the best. There are a lot of steps! Walked to falls, and they are a small trickle due to lack of rain. I had hiking boots on and explored the caves. I did need to scoot up on butt to walk back into cave. There was garbage such as a diaper on the ground. Do better people! read more

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Over the years, I've heard repeatedly that Matthiessen was a must-visit, and at times that it was better than dealing with the Starved Rock crowds. Sadly, I disagree after a fall 2024 visit. The natural beauty of this state park is secondary. It's overlooked by all the graffiti and trash. The human visitors have been very unkind to this place, and it's a shame. Matthiessen deserves better. read more

When we booked a staycation to explore and hike in the area, we added this park to our plans as an afterthought. It turned out to be the best part of our trip. Simply gorgeous. You'll want good boots for hiking here. The trails wind all around and it was often muddy and slick. There's a completely random staircase with many stairs in the middle of the park. We got caught in a storm down there and had to wait it out under the rocks with the few other hikers we saw that day. Give me a dirty trail and few people over a crowded boardwalk viewpoint any day. read more

Matthiessen State Park - Parks Near Me - Oglesby, Illinois

Our first time at the park, the parking lot is really small for the amount of people on the trails. There's a grass lot about 1/4 mile up and we walked down. The kids loved the stairs but climbing them back up is a real pain. We ended up going down to the water at the bottom and didn't realize the stairs to the right led to a smaller area that's not connected to the waterfalls. We tripped and thankfully a Boy Scout wa down there and had bandages. Really slippery. A lot of parents bringing babies, which I thought was personally a poor choice considering. Definitely wear shoes that you don't care if they get dirty. My Birkenstocks are not thanking me. read more

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Big state park but not as big as other nearby parks even. It has a lot to see here, especially in the canyon is where you'll find the prettiest rock formations. Matthiessen State Park is just one of the state parks in and around Oglesby. Good for a few hours. This is near the more popular Starved Rock, so make this part of an extended trip. A lot of natural wonders can be found. It has lots of rock formations, which were carved out in the ice age and are unique for around here. There's also a few waterfalls. Good option for those with not as much time to walk around. This isn't as big as Starved Rock, but still packs in a lot. For sure see the main attractions. Strawberry Rock is a large rock along the trail. It's shaped like a strawberry, of course. There's a few waterfalls. Devil's Paint Box is a little opening in the rocks with a small waterfall trickling in. The larger waterfalls are further along the trail. Cascade Falls is pretty nice. This is at the end of the first part of the inner trail. Also check out Giant's Bathtub. This is a rock formation with water cascading down it. Lake Falls is up near the dam. These are the waterfalls coming off the big lake. Give yourself about a couple hours. It doesn't take a real long time to see it. This is a good side trip from Starved Rock, where you can then go see more nature and stuff. read more

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This has to be one of the dirtiest state parks in north central Illinois. There is trash is all over the trails and swirling around in the water like Illinois own version of the great plastic garbage patch. Trail steps, railings and landings are collapsing and falling down, but don't worry the single strip of caution tape will protect you. read more

The bathroom buildings are out of order, and the port-a-potty's are COMPLETELY FULL up to the seat, there's no toilet paper, and no hand sanitizer in any of the John's. It's absolutely disgusting. There's garbage and dirty socks left behind on the trails, as well as people with dogs off-leash and barking, and people smoking/vaping at the waterfalls. Yikes. Takes a lot away from the whole experience of hiking at Matthiessen. read more

COVID has ruined lots of travel plans for folks these days and it has limited us to staying within our state borders. I planned to visit a park in autumn to watch the leaves change color. We went the second week in October and the trees displayed patchy foliage. If we waited towards the end of the month, the color change would've shown at peak display. Regardless, we had an amazing time. We spent 3 hours primarily in the Dells portion of the park. The entire Dells trail is roughly 3 miles. We took our time enjoying the scenery, taking pictures and in the end got a decent workout. We started off walking through the tree lined path of the Lower dells. If you have a good camera, the Upper Dells has picture worthy canyons and waterfalls. The Upper Dells, depending on the weather, may have waterfalls. We went during a dry week so the waterfalls had weak streams. It's best to come a day or two after a heavy rain. The only downside with that is walking through a muddy trail. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes like hiking boots because both Upper and Lower Dells have moderate to steep inclines. There's lots of stairs so make sure you're up for it. Benches are present when you descend/ascend from the stair entrance however it would've been nice to see more lining the trail path. The Dells trail is for moderate skill level hikers. Due to all the inclines and stairs, this trail can definitely test your cardio, especially if you're elderly and/or not an active person. My husband and I brought a few snacks and a backpack full of fluids to keep us hydrated. Packing these items is a necessity on your hike in addition to having on hand wet wipes and toilet paper. Bathroom availability was another concern. The only restroom was at the main entrance so if you're deep within the trail and nature calls, you're pretty much SOL and will need to hold it. I've gone to both Starved Rock and Mathiessen and between the two; I would encourage going to Starved Rock first and then visit Mathiessen. Starved Rock is a larger park and tends to draw in big crowds. Mathiessen is small and private, however crowd size could change if word of mouth spreads. If you do plan to visit, come early in the morning before 10am and if you can swing it, come on a weekday to avoid crowds. Weekends can get busy no matter what time of the year you go. If you arrive after 10, you will find yourself waiting for a spot. A majority of visitors took COVID precautions, maintained a safe social distance and wore masks which was greatly appreciated. My husband found an empty plastic water bottle on the ground. Later he would remark to me he was impressed that it was the only water bottle or trash we encountered during our trip. Overall we had a wonderful time and it was a memorable day trip. read more

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Excellent place to hike. Trails were well marked and maintained. Not as big or as busy as Starved Rock State Park.

This natural wonder is hidden behind a farmers field from the main road . Parking can be tricky in the main lot . There are two additional lots that require walking on the road as there are no sidewalks getting to the trail head . Wear proper foot wear that you don't mind getting wet and muddy . The upper delle has natural stepping stones and man made flat steppers that have shifted and tilted . That's your first opportunity to fall in the water . The lower delle is where the waterfall is accessible . Stepping stones and a muddy log crossing leads to a beautiful high walled water oasis . Rocky ground and dirt bank trail . People claim there area for pleasant recreation . The water is about waist high and some of the walls can be explored . Just a notice that there are lots of wood stairs going down from main trail , coming back up was fun and requires a little extra exertion . read more

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Awesome state park. A lot easier to navigate than Starved Rock. Lots of stairs. Beautiful scenery. read more

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#THANKYOUTHURSDAY We have been so thankful for good hikes this year and getting outside! My husband and I visited Matthiessen State Park with our Lucky girl a few weekends a go when it was really randomly warm out. It's about 1.5 half from the Oak Park area to get there. We wanted to really enjoy the day and weather so we got here about noon. The main parking lot by the main trails was closed due to capacity being reached before we got there. The parking lots were stressful. There were SO many cars parked in random spots- looks like everyone had the same idea! If you kept driving from the main lot you would get to the overflow parking lot with access to less crowded trails. This actually was a blessing in disguise because the trails we were on were really not crowded at all. One of my friends actually was at the main trails the same weekend and said it was unbelievably crowded. Crowded trails make the experience extra difficult nowadays because of COVID precautions so I recommend going to the second lot to start your hike during this time. The trails were well marked and maintained. The trails we were on were also an easy level. They are horse-friendly! There were some incline/decline parts that make it difficult with a pup but it wasn't too bad. We hiked an easy 3 miles, stopped half way through and had a small picnic lunch. Lucky, our pittie loves swimming so we also let her jump in the river our trail led us too. Such a great spot to stop for a break! Overall, we enjoyed our time here! We are excited to come back and check out the main trail hopefully next year some time :) read more

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Really nice hike! We drove from Lincolnshire to see 5 state parks - this was the furthest & the best. It also whipped our butts! We walked almost 2 miles, from the fort, down the stairs, and past the stairs leading down to the lower dells. We walked on, looking for a bridge, to make the loop back to the steps to the fort. After lots of muddy, rocky, and uneven steps on the path, we gave up, turned around and retraced our steps. There are 150 steps down to the first bridge, and as we were walking back up, we were grateful for the benches that are provided every 40-50 steps on the way up. Port-a-potties are available, as well as flush toilets, sinks with soap & blow dryers. The parking lot is big, but being a popular place, we were lucky to find a space. Next time, we'll go all the way down to the cool, refreshing waters. read more

We came to Matthiessen state park beginning of November on a Saturday. The drive from the city of Chicago is about 1.5 hours and it's located right next to starved rock. For being in the middle of Illinois I think this is a decent trail. The park is pretty with a good amount of woods so you feel like you're in nature away from a big city. I would highly recommend coming during fall season because of the fall foliage. I wish I had come in October to see more of the changing colors of leaves because by November most of them had fallen (which was still a pretty backdrop). The park is divided into 2 main areas: vermillion River area and dells area. We started in the river area because we had to park in the overflow parking lot since the main lot was full by the time we got there at 10:30am. The river area hike is about 2 miles total and pretty easy. After doing the river trial we were pretty lost. We didn't know how to get to the dells area. There are maps around but it was still a bit confusing. We took the horse trail to get to the dells area then ended up taking another trail off of it (even though entrance there was apparently restricted although everyone was taking it and that was the only way to get to the falls)...again it was all a bit confusing. Everyone we encountered seemed to be lost. The falls itself was a pretty area but there was just a trickle of water flowing the day we went. I think there are 2 falls at the park but we only saw one. Overall it was fun day activity. The hikes are short and pretty easy for the most part. There are some steep parts so make sure to wear shoes with good traction. Not sure if it's worth the 1.5 hour drive from Chicago since there isn't THAT much to see here but if you're looking to do a hike and enjoy some nice scenery, this is a good option. read more

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Matthiessen is supposed to be a great park right by Starved Rock. My husband and I have been to Starved Rock multiple times, but this was our first time at Matthesian because it was different than what we were used to. We had our toddler with us, so we weren't able to explore as much as we wanted, but still saw most of the park. I will say the parking situation is very stressful. The actual lot is extremely small, so there aren't many spaces at all. We were so lucky we found a place but it was a pretty far walk which isn't ideal for a toddler. Starved Rock doesn't have a bunch of parking either, but still has way more than Matthiessen. Also, it isn't stroller friendly, so make sure to bring a baby carrier. Starved Rock isn't stroller friendly either, so we were anticipating this and didn't bring the stroller with us. The views are beautiful here. They have a very pretty waterfall that is fairly accessible with younger kids, but just be careful where you step because it is pretty muddy. They have shorter and longer trails, so you have options for how you feel on that day. Also, they have a little spot if you want to have a picnic and indoor bathrooms that are clean... at least for a forest preserve. There were not any places to buy food if that was something you were looking for. Overall, we did enjoy our time here and liked spending time outdoors, but wish they had better parking. read more

Coming from California, I was really excited to see such beautiful fall foliage. They recently reopened and it wasn't as crowded as I was expecting. The parking lot was full after around 10am and they do not let anyone in until the afternoon. When we arrived at around 9am on a Saturday, there were only a few spots left (spots are very small!) I would recommend getting there early. The park itself is very kid-friendly and scenic. Easy to get your shoes wet so bring an extra pair of socks! (I learned the hard way!) Only downside is I was expecting a longer more challenging hike, but it's more like a short scenic walk in a park with a few stairs. All in all, a far drive from the city but well worth it for anyone who is looking for a lowkey, relaxing weekend outdoor activity! read more

Matthiessen State Park - Parks Near Me - Oglesby, Illinois

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I enjoyed this spot way more than Starved Rock overall. It was way less crowded and much cooler in temperature. It's really divided up into two short hikes, about 2 miles round trip each. We only visited the dells portion of the park. The bluff trail was not very busy on a weekday (whereas Starved Rock was still packed) and we actually had good stretches where we couldn't see anyone else. We ended up traveling down the creek portion of the trail. It was much cooler temp wise down there and much more interesting in terms of sights to see. You'll have to criss cross some rocks (which can get slippery when wet) at various points in order to walk the trail dry. You can just walk through the water if you wanted, it's not deep. The lower trail itself can get quite muddy and dirty if there was any recent rain. We went about a day after some heavy storms and some parts were still dicey. Outside of that, we got lucky with parking as someone left right as we got there, but as we were leaving, there were several cars driving around looking for a spot. read more

This is a great park for hiking. One can't compare both Matthiessen and Starved Rock state parks. To me they are different experiences and environments. We came here late at 4pm on a Saturday. Waited patiently in line for parking for 30 minutes. So if you are getting here come very early, by 9:30am parking is usually full this summer. Matthiessen upper dells is pretty and we opt for the river trails to the waterfall instead of the dry bluff trails. If you take the river trails, for sure leave your sneakers behind and just wear your water shoes for this hike. We loved the river trails as there are path ways are made of stones, edge of the rocks or there are some stairs as you climb higher to the waterfall. Very pretty as the river was shallow and clear, we can see little fishes swimming. After the waterfall from the upper dell, it is a short walk from the upper dells to the stairs to descent to the lower dells using the bluff trails. We went down the stairs to canyon at the lower dells but after seeing how muddy people are getting coming up from the canyons and trails, we cherished the beauty at the distance. The path to Vermillion was temporary closed. While we could drive to the other side of the park however it was getting late and call it a day. Regardless it was a short and beautiful hike. Attached are some pictures of the river trails on the upper dells. read more

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This is a beautiful and relaxing state park. Very nice for a relaxing hike. The park has a lot of deer and was originally called Deer Park. Check out their website for opening hours and to see if they're closed for hunting season! There are almost 2000 Acres in the park, including dells, forests, and prairies. Don't miss the canyon and Cascade Falls. The canyon has beautiful moss. There are lots of beautiful flowers here in the spring. read more

It's overly populated with visitors so it was super hard to actually enjoy the beauty of this place but it was so gorgeous what we were able to take in. The hike is very easy (kid & fur baby friendly) it's about 2 miles to the first waterfall and then another mile to the second one. You are able to play in the water if you are brave enough or a kid because the water is greenish, the dirty kind. Oh, you also see toilet paper and tissue as you walk because people no respect for nature. You can walk inside the large rocks and the beauty you see is breathtaking but again people had to be ignorant and carve their names everywhere inside taking away from it's natural beauty. They have this massive cave in strawberry rock waterfall that's so amazing you can't believe it's real. I'd love nothing more than to actually visit this place with a lot less people. Very touristy!!! I'm looking forward to visiting this place during the beginning of winter as well. They have cabins and camping areas so that extremely cool. They have two areas you can park so there is lots of parking. This place is massive so if you have children keep them close cause it's very easy to get lost or tumble down a cliff. We overall had a great workout and enjoyed the waterfall an walking within the massive rocks barefoot :) read more

Matthiessen State Park - Waterfall - Parks Near Me - Oglesby, Illinois

This park is Beautiful. The waterfalls were amazing... Seeing the waterfalls was one of the best parts of this trip. It's great place to explore with kids and pets. The trail is really fun to walk. I would suggest to get there early on Saturdays. It becomes extremely busy after 10:00am. Warming: There are steep stairs.. it's wasn't to bad for us but can be an issue for another group. read more

Our plan was to go to Starved Rock and at a whim, we decided to try this as we have never visited this place. This is a well-maintained state park with well marked paths. Stayed in high grounds most of the time, except for that canyon with waterfalls. On our way to the low grounds, people who came out of there warned us of really muddy trails, so we skipped that. This place is not as large as Starved Rock, but its 5 mile trail is a great place to hike with amazingly unique sights. Both main parking and overflow lot were full when we left. Lots of people, but not overcrowded. read more

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Beautiful scenic state park, Best know for its waterfalls in the upper and lower dells, worth the hike to see them, the trails have stairs Not easy hike for anyone with mobility impairment If you wear or bring shoes that you don't mind getting wet you can get much closer to the waterfalls Also in lower dells some parts of the trail cam be a bit muddy, ample parking, rest rooms vending machines outside of restrooms and a Picnic area are located above the dells. This park is typically less crowded than the nearby starved Rock state park. read more

Hidden gem. Nearby the famous Starved Rock State Park, this park is typically less crowded, and is beautiful all times of the year. The ravines are really fun to walk in and see the waterfalls. I recommend this to everyone. read more

Matthiessen State Park - Parks Near Me - Oglesby, Illinois

Matthiessen was wonderfully GREEN. The special sight I had searched was Giant's Bathtub but the trail to reach it happened to be closed for some reason. After much debating, I decided to take my chances and get on the trail anyway only to get rewarded with the amazing sight at the end of it. Though I don't promote breaking park's rules, I was glad I did. Sometimes a little risk pays off ya know! The river was very low on water as it hadn't rain for a bit so I suggest you go 2-3 days after it rains. I can't imagine how even more amazing the hiking would be with the sound of running water through the park. ONLY bad thing I have to say is pick up your damn trash please!! The park was also super filthy with water bottles and snack wrappers all around. This isn't a complaint on the park, but to make people aware of how much we affect nature! Pick. It. Up. read more

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Absolutely beautiful and less crowded than starved rock. This is a must visit state park!

Awesome state park! There are two locations to hike at. The Dells and Riverview. The Dells has the waterfalls and bridges and lots of stairs! Riverview has wooded hiking trails and views of the Vermilion River, also has a large field for flying remote control planes. It's early spring and still very enjoyable. Both have restrooms, picnic benches, posted maps of trails and horseback riding trails. read more

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Wow, what an adventure! Hiking a trail through the fallen leaves of October. Then, to reach an amazing view of a canyon below with a beautiful Cascade Waterfall, what more could you ask for? Oh yes, a chance to head down into the canyon and get close to the waterfall. As I continued along the trail, my wish came true. I reached a flight of MANY wooden stairs that took me down and deep into the lower Dells. I found myself surrounded by the steep walls of the canyon and standing up close and personal with the huge and amazing waterfall that I saw from above! It was incredible. The echoes of the voices and the sound of the water sprinkling into the lower lake was truly awesome. From here, we headed back up the wooden stairs and back towards the Upper Dells. Here you have the choice to take the easier Bluff Trail or the more adventurous River Trail. I took the exciting River Trail, where you will need to have the balance to cross the tree logs and strategically placed concrete steps to cross the shallow waters... or expect to get wet shoes. Either way it's all fun and all in a round trip of only 3 miles. Matthiessen State Park has done an outstanding job in the up keep of this place and for providing this hidden Jem! read more

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I'd seen a sign for Matthiessen State Park while going to Starved Rock, but sought it out on purpose when I saw it featured in an article titled "17 Unforgettable IL Hiking Trails." It's such a bonus to have it so close to the 'burbs! FYI: The trails on the base and Upper Dells are primarily 1" rocks and total 5 miles. There are 9 miles of equestrian/mountain biking trails. You'll find water, sand, and mud in the Lower Dells. Scenic/Less-Traveled: If you go down the stairs and to the left, there are some hiking trails that then lead into ski trails. Those were neat - much less traveled and thus less disturbed. I saw a woodpecker, butterflies, these giant psychotic buzzing insects, giant spiders with funnel nests (::shudder::), and a shimmery spider web. Coolest thing - not sure how those little buggers built it! Lower Dells: The main attraction is the waterfall in the Lower Dells. The Lower Dells were my favorite as far as scenery - the cliffs, greenery, trees with exposed roots, creek are just so cool to look at IMO. As far as getting dirty: personally, I ended up just fine in gym shoes! (Brand new yellow ones, actually, that maybe got a smudge or two of sandy dirt.) Upper Dells: There is a dam that feeds from the Upper Dells - THAT is a nice hike up. The trails are laid out in such a way there are stairs (lots of stairs!) at a few points that you can take down to the Lower Dells and back up again. Overall: You could spend an hour, two, or make more of a day out of Matthiessen. Some people just hung out at the waterfall for extended periods. There is also a large grassy area near the parking lot where you can picnic, grill, play games, etc. Though smaller than Starved Rock, Matthiessen is much less traveled and is very cool in its own right! read more

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Do you live within a few hours of Chicago & have never heard of Matthiessen Park, or for that matter it's even bigger sister park just 5 minutes away, Starved Rock State Park??? Sadly, I'm not surprised. It depresses me to think the #1 tourist attraction in our great state is Navy Pier (/shudder!), and so many people don't know about these AMAZING parks we have to explore. And you could spend DAYS & DAYS exploring them, they are that big & wonderful. We actually like Matthiessen Park more during the peak season because there's usually less people and this park has a cool old replica of a fort you can go inside. There are plenty of trails & some waterfalls - and steps! Yes, just like Starved Rock there are a couple sets of steep steps here - but don't worry, they have a resting place with a bench every few flights for your trek back up to the parking lot. Oh, and we are pretty sure the Keebler Elves live here. You know, the magical treehouse where they bake all those cookies? Well, we were hiking in the middle of this park one afternoon & suddenly we were surrounded by the delicious smell of chocolate chip cookies baking. I kid you not. It was bizarre. And wonderful. We never found their secret tree house, but we keep looking! ;D read more