What to do to plan a trip for 6 siblings, their kids, a set of parents, and have them all have fun? Here is the extra tricky part: 1 pregnant lady, a two year old, and a lady with a broken foot... The answer was Matthiessen State Park! We descended on Illinois from surrounding states ready for a long weekend of family bonding and hiking. We stayed in the Comfort Inn in Mendota, and headed to the park first thing in the morning. We loaded on the bug spray, and opted for flip flops (excellent choice...). We took the path through the Upper Dells first. The path through the center was incredible! Even in a cast I was able to get through pretty well, I did have a piggy back ride from my husband for a short ways. The lower dells were MUDDY! I couldn't do it with my bum foot, but everyone else walked through the water and enjoyed the Wishing Well, even the toddler! We took a bag each and brought back some trash, that was gross. The park is free and it was super sad to see abuse of such a treasure. Overall, this park is a gem! If you are close, grab your bug spray and go!! read more

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Great hiking spot! Lower dells is gorgeous. A nice get away that is free and not too far from home. Check it out during all seasons. It's really breathtaking and a reminder that we are on beautiful Illiniwek/Peoria/Myaamia land. Don't take it for granted! read more

Similar to Starved Rock State Park, Matthiessen Park has a huge canyon with millions of stairs reaching from the parking lot to the lower dells. The difference is that this park is WAY smaller than Starved Rock. Winding down some country roads, the entrance to the park creeps up out of nowhere. With a large parking lot and a decent-sized covered picnic area, this would be a great place to have a family party. There are also random picnic tables around the parking lot for smaller groups and areas to dump hot coals when you're done grilling. The bathroom was alright, running water, soap and toilet paper available (I'm not picky as long as I don't have to wipe with my hand). Not designed for those with mobility issues, right next to the picnic area and recreated fort, there is a set of stairs down to the first ring of hiking trails. After a big rain, it was really muddy, so bring some boots and/or extra shoes and socks. More stairs and mud later and you've reached the lower dells. Though we were there hiking and taking pictures, there were a considerable amount of people fishing. In sum: -mosquitoes....bring bug spray -large picnic area -lots of steps -gorgeous geography -minus one star for small size and lack of options for those not able to truck up and down a zillion stairs read more

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Beautiful Park. Trails are easily accessible, and well marked. Easy to navigate. Great views. read more

Matthiessen State Park - Parks Near Me - Oglesby, Illinois

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Way better and less crowded than Starved Rock. Come early for sure (before 9 am) to beat the summer camp crowds and families with children. If you don't like dogs, don't come here either lol cuz these pups are out to play! Also, just a heads up, be aware that there are lots of steps. If traveling here with elderly family members, consider that fact. Also, don't wear nice clothes/nice shoes cuz it be muddy af out here. The rock formations, waterfalls, and trees/grass is beautiful. read more

We visited this park before visiting Starved Rock. I recommend visiting this one first because it is fun, but it may seem underwhelming is you go to Starved Rock first. We hiked the lower and higher dells. It was a fairly easy hike for our family, with a 6 year old and an 8 year old. You have to cross the stream in some places on stones, so you will need appropriate footwear. We brought lunch and found that there were no benches or places to picnic along the hike. There are picnic areas off of the parking lot and in the river area, but those areas needed mowed badly. The sunflower field was well-marked and easy to access from the river area. read more

Spectacular hiking with water falls, caves, stairs, wide open spaces covered with foliage. Picnic tables available bring a table cloth. Plenty of parking with trash cans so I hope people clean up their trash. The nicer bathrooms are closed at this time but they have nicely provided porta-potties- bring paper. No cover charge to get in. There are permanent maps posted so you can find your way around, they recommend taking a photo of the map on your phone. They have a place to put your hot coals after you barbecue. Bring your walking stick there are slippery spots and a walking stick helps. Awesome place to go if you like hiking and the great outdoors. Bring your bugs spray. read more

My GF's family has a picnic reunion here every year ( it's been about 50 years!). The picnic areas are ordinary but what makes this place spectacular is the canyon area ( "dell's entrance" off the road) that you can walk in. There's a nice waterfall down there if you're there in the spring or when it hasn't been dry. The landscape in this area is so unlike the rest of northern Illinois and it's within a 120 miles drive from Chicago. read more

I've been going to Matthiessen State Park my whole life. My son and I make a point of visiting MSP to hike and climb every year. Today wasn't exactly ideal being that it was Memorial Day..but I was willing to deal with the masses. And given this morning's rain, I figured we'd be in for a real treat. Call me crazy but the best hikes and climbs of my life seem to be centered around rain. It poured yesterday and this morning so I knew the water flow through the canyons would make for enhanced conditions. I wasn't wrong. As per our tradition we hike around the upper rim of MSP first. Then we go down into each of the canyons. A good rule of thumb..when the upper trails are muddy, the canyon interiors are going to be a mess. After hiking the upper rim we headed into the Giant's Bathtub canyon first. The cement blocks to cross the stream are a favorite for my son but they really came in handy today. The trails were extremely muddy and the water was moving in various places..not to mention a few feet deep in spots. The further north we went up into Giant's the less and less people there were, so we kept climbing. At one point my son asked where all the people went. I responded.."you mean the idiots with tennis shoes and sandals". "Yeah..those people dad..hahaaa". : ) It's always good to know your limitations...and to watch the idiots find theirs! So we had a nice extended hike back into Giant's with little disruption, given the fact that we were both wearing sturdy hiking boots. The real treasure today was the Devil's Paintbox canyon. I've always liked this side more given the shape of the canyon and its immense walls and waterfall. The rain really made this part a trip today. From the moment you step off the cement staircase you were putting your feet into 2-3 inches of mud in nearly the entire canyon. It was wonderful! We moved quickly back to the waterfall portion of the canyon where people were swimming in the muck. Rain or shine MSP is a terrific park. It has just enough trail to satisfy a longer hike while giving you some amazing and unique views. Happy hiking and climbing! read more

Matthiessen State Park - skyward view from the canyon floor at Matthessen - Parks Near Me - Oglesby, Illinois

If it were possible I would give the State a "0" for the deplorable condition of the roadway going into the park. It isn't a roadbed but a complete series of hole from one side to the other and one end to the other... State won't consider a fee per car but will let the roads be in this condition... what is wrong with them!!!! Shame on you State of Illinois read more

Love this place. It is Starved Rock's smaller, less crowded twin, located just a few miles south. The locals call this Deer Park and there are two entrances. The main one is lined with trees and takes you into a wooded, picnic area with easy access to hiking trails. I say easy access but be forewarned, the hike back up can be tough! It easily consists of over a hundred stairs - so going down is easy. Up is more challenging. The second entrance farther south is an open grassy area the locals call Frisbeeland. I grew up 3 miles from Matthiessen and have been here many, many times. It's got the same dells hiking w/canyons, waterfalls, etc. as Starved Rock but a bit smaller in scale and MUCH less crowded. In years past, they have maintained cross country ski trails here as well. read more

Beautiful landscape me and my family loved it so much. Can't wait to go back soon. scenery was so pretty, definitely recommend!!

Great park to avoid some of the crowd from Starved Rock. Views and trails are just as beautiful! read more

Matthiessen State Park - Parks Near Me - Oglesby, Illinois

My family loves hiking at this park. When you park your car, there are real bathrooms and vending machine right by the lot. There are also some spots of picnics. Also there's an old fort building for exploring. As you descend down the steps inti the woods, you will find two dells. One has a waterfall pool and caves (to the left). The other seems to go on forever. There are decent trails, but it would be a tough hike if someone isn't solid on their feet. Get ready for some serious stair climbing on the way out. If it has rained recently, there will be lots of mud and bugs. Lots of folks bring dogs too. I think this park is more fun than Starved Rock. There's no waterfall to be played in there. Just a bunch of walking. read more

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The bathrooms are terrible they don't flush They need to get this fixed. A bunch a tissue in the toilet. Somebody needs to call the health department They need to hand somebody out here cleaning up This is sooo sad read more

Came here for the first time and it was simply amazing!! My grandson really enjoyed himself, unfortunately I wasn't able to cross where there were stone or planks of wood because it was slippery. I don't mind getting dirty but I'm not willing to fall and hurt myself. Also the stairs going down to the waterfalls were somewhat difficult because it had mud & leaves piled on the steps. I'm an older woman with some difficulty issues. So I really hope that someone looks into this and make it fun fo all. read more

July 8th, 2016... One of the best hikes of my life. There's so much beauty here. I went with my 14 y/o daughter and our dog. We didn't have any expectations or a map but got to see so so many gorgeous falls thanks to last night's substantial rain. The park itself was clean and well maintained. There's going to be dirt, mud, sweat, and bugs when in nature. Once we decided to give in and get the shoes wet and muddy, we laughed and wowed our way through streams, caves, and canyons. As a bonus, our dog learned how to "dog" on this gorgeous summer day. Can't wait to go back! read more

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I love that these state parks exist in IL. Great hiking trails from easy to moderate skill levels. Lots of waterfalls. It still gets packed with tourists, kids and dogs if you go on sunny Saturday afternoon. But it's well worth it, since you can still find some hidden areas to be one with nature. There's even little caverns you can walk through and some mild rock climbing. Seeing the array of fall colors in the tree canopies and a rainbow over a waterfall all in the same day is pretty amazing. Go breathe some fresh air. read more

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As an avid photographer I have done my time at Starved Rock where tourists seem to ruin the ambience - every time. I used to actually work at Starved Rock... and even though SR still can allure me back... Matthiessen State Park is the "hidden" gem near it's bigger brother of a state park. Matthiessen seems to allow one really the chance to connect with nature. There seems to be less "tourist" laden staircases and paths directed by the park... you can roam wherever you like. The thing I noticed about Matthiessen is it is well kept. I didn't see hardly any trash through out my two hour photo session there and simply enjoyed the quietness and splendor of it all. I came third week in October and the colors were in full brilliant display for all to be impressed by. The day I came it was drizzling which could cause some to stay home but with Matthiessen and the lower dells area unless rain is coming straight down you are always guaranteed somewhat of a dry path. I personally am drawn to the waterfall at the end of this walk and there exist two caves you can shoot from within at. It really adds to the photograph session. Photos to be included later. Overall Matthiessen Park is not an overwhelming park and you can enjoy a shorter visit here with 98 percent less tourists and still see some amazing aspects of nature without being overran by the Chicago weekend tourists. read more

I just returned home (St. Louis) from a trip to Starved Rock State Park and Mathiessen State Park with my family (wife, 10 year old daughter and 2 boxer dogs). We stayed from a Monday-Thursday, mid-June (2017), in our camper at the Starved Rock campground. My review will encompass all aspects of our trip. Camping: If there was a low-light in a trip of mostly highlights, I'd say the campground would be it. We're big state park folks, because they're pretty consistent from state-to-state. The campground at SRSP clearly operates on a "you're here for the hiking and scenery, not the accomodations" kind of mentality. There are basically two kinds of campsites at SRSP, wooded and non-wooded. Translation: wooded sites are heavily wooded and not manicured at all and non-wooded sites are in an open field, with essentially no trees or shade. Pick your poison if you go in the summer. You're either swarmed by relentless bugs at the wooded sites or you're out in the open in the blistering sun at the non-wooded sites. The sites themselves range from being pretty secluded, to being right on top of each other, with no real rhyme or reason. I'm sure the close ones work for larger groups or families, who need separate sites but still want to be close, but you can't tell from the map which site numbers those are because no maps are to scale. We stayed at site #95. It was on the outer loop, so it was relatively secluded and it was wooded. The electric, at least at our site, needed to be updated or something. The breaker tripped at least twice a day during our stay. Sometimes when we had nothing more than the A/C running. It was a 30 amp box and we had a 30 amp unit, so it shouldn't have been a problem. We were given the option of changing sites, but it was more of a hassle to move than it was to just go out and reset the breaker periodically. For what it's worth, we scoped out the campground for other sites and the hands down best site we saw was #29. It was large, private, wooded, yet it had more of a clearing in the wooded area behind it so it wasn't as jungle-like. The showers at the campground were pretty clean, but they were push-button operated and the water would only run for 5 seconds at a time (holding the button in did not extend the time). It made for an unsatisfying shower, having to frantically scrub and wash during your 5 seconds, then free up a hand to push the button again. Hiking at Starved Rock: We did two trails there, St. Louis Canyon and LaSalle Canyon -St. Louis Canyon- St. Louis canyon is one of the few trails at Starved Rock accessible by it's own designated entry and parking area, as opposed to the majority of trails needing to be accessed from one of the park's far ends. The hike itself was pretty easy. There's a parking lot down at the trailhead, however the road going to it was closed, I'm guessing due to the asphalt being is such disrepair. We had to park at the top of a hill, outside the gate. Ironically, the most difficult part of the hike was having to walk down and up the asphalt roadway to the trailhead. The trail itself was easily maneuvered by my clan. There were some really nice canyon features, walls and rocks to climb in and on. And of course a beautiful waterfall that flowed into a shallow pool. -LaSalle Canyon- LaSalle canyon can be accessed from a longer hike, beginning at either of the Starved Rock Park ends, however it's most directly/easily accessed by parking at Parkman's Plain, which is right off of 71. There's a parking lot there with easy access to the river trail. The trail begins in a heavily wooded area by trekking down numerous flights of wooden steps, which ultimately lead you to the river trail. It's a wide, shaded trail that runs along side the river. After going alongside the river for a bit, there are clearly marked signs that indicate where to branch off to see LaSalle canyon. Once you reach the canyon, you'll be swept away by it's beauty. Gorgeous rock formations complete with a waterfall you can stand under or walk behind. The water also flows along the graded canyon floor, creating a natural waterslide. Upon exiting the canyon, you have the option of going a different route along the river trail to continue your exploring, or you can simply go back out the way you came. Hiking at Mathiessen (about 3 miles from SRSP): We spent nearly all of our time on the interior canyon trail, which was technically closed, presumably due to a broken staircase leading down to the trail, but we went on it anyway. Our risk definitely came with reward. We saw three different waterfalls along the trail and they were all gorgeous. We only encountered two other visitors while on the trail. I'm guessing this was partly due to visiting during the week, but most likely because the trail was marked as "closed", and most people didn't attempt it. Take this trip, go visit SRSP and Mathiessen, during off-peak days/times if you can. It is well worth the visit!!! read more

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I thought starved rock was great but this place blew it out of the water. There's so much to adventure and nobody is yelling at me to stay on a particular path. I get to explore and sight-see whatever I like. My friend recommended me to come here for these particular reasons and I enjoyed my time coming here. If you're coming here I definitely recommend waterproof boots because your feet will get wet. Their aren't many bugs out here any way which was a complete shocker to me. I'm coming back, I highly recommend this place. read more

Trails are really fun. If you can't do stairs, be careful because there are A LOT of stairs. Make sure you wear water shoes. The Giant's Bathtub on the lower dells has some really cool caves to walk through. Certainly the best local state park. read more

Matthiessen State Park - Parks Near Me - Oglesby, Illinois

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We went to the river area in Mathewson park not good for dogs due to burrs and lots of bushes that sting and have needles . Smaller trails not kept up with lots of downed trees and brush. Pretty but not a good place for furry dogs and we had three with is read more

Get here early and enjoy the sounds of nature. Wear water ready shoes so you can hike the lower dells and not be worried about getting your shoes/feet wet. After 10am park gets busier but plenty of room to wander and enjoy nature. There are a few stairs but really not too bad. I liked it better than starved rock personally. read more

Did you ever have a special place when you were a kid where you could go to for a little fun adventure that would leave lasting memories that still hold strong decades later? For me, this is the place. Astonishingly to this day, the masses continue to flock to Starved Rock (a very beautiful place, no doubt) and its simple, paved or decked trails, nice lookouts of the river, and a well-kept visitors center. Astonishing because all of that could be bypassed for a smaller State Park only about a mile and a half away, with really no visitors center, moderate to sometimes difficult trails (especially after a rain they can be downright dangerous), but almost definitely more solitude, peace, and dare I say- more beauty and fun around every corner. It's true- Matthiessen is the neglected step-brother to Starved Rock, but in a way, that makes this place even more charming and interesting. A simple gravel parking lot is flanked by plenty of picnic tables and even public grills if you dare. A replica old log cabin and a modern day bathroom facility are all that stands in the way of a pretty steep decline into a canyon that has a couple different trails to explore through. If you are used to the amazingly well-kept trails of Starved Rock, then you might be in for a surprise here. Take them at your own pace and without risking too much you will get to see some picturesque waterfalls, beautiful natural erosion designs on the sandstone walls, and plenty of gorgeous surroundings throughout this park. The adventure is up to you, because though swimming and off-path exploring are technically not allowed, it is done all the time. Self-awareness and good reason being your guides, you too- no matter what your age- can find a bit of adventure and fun here. As a boy I used to love coming here after a bit of rain and sliding down the natural water slides that occur around some of the water falls/spills along the sand stone. Splashing in the natural pools and climbing up the walls to look into caves was really any kids idea of a good time. Now I go back with those memories, might try to scale a very short wall every now and then, and just enjoy the scenery. I still get as much enjoyment out of this almost hidden gem as I did a quarter of a century ago. Not much has changed here, and it thrills me to realize that sameness every time I come back. read more

So I was there this weekend & let me tell you people; the waterfalls are as lovely as ever but people PLEASE, PICK UP YOUR FUCKING TRASH!!! I brought back a bag load of empty water bottles & granola bar wrappers! read more

Matthiessen is like the overlooked little sibling of Starved Rock State Park. For too many visits I neglected to take the 1.5 mile side trip from the Starved Rock Lodge to little Matthiessen, and that was a mistake. This park is small (the canyon is about a mile long), but we spent three hours there last weekend enjoying the challenging lower dells trail. The challenge was that with the spring runoff it was pretty muddy in spots. There were a few times we almost turned back but we always pressed on, and were rewarded with a beautiful waterfall, a peaceful area of solitude, and even some cool caves to explore. For a nice stroll, stay on the upper bluff trail -- you won't get your shoes wet. All trails are nicely marked, and the crowds are minimal. As a bonus, there is a replica of a fort at the trailhead, which is big fun for the kiddies. read more

Best spot in all of Illinois as far as I'm concerned. Way better then starved rock which is also nice. Free access and Free parking. Less crowded then starved rock. I found it fun to actually do both parks in the same day since they are so close to each other and I drove two hours to get there. read more

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Great park with some beautiful views. We made the mistake of coming on Labor Day and it was really, really crowded. It's crazy to think a place like this is in Illinois. I did get a little irritated with some people leaving trash behind them. If you're going to appreciate nature you need to clean up after yourself! Also, what's with all the vandalism? No one cares that Jake was here or that Tim loves Jessica. Nature is fine on it's own and doesn't need any of that! read more

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I was incredibly excited for the first part of the hike. I pulled up at the trail for the River part. I couldn't find a map, but I read the online website that the trails were clearly marked. I quickly discovered this could be further from the truth. There were no maps or guidance. What started as a 3 mile hike, ended up with me spending 4 miles more trying to find my way out. It was raining and I was covered in mud. It would have been a great hike if there was indeed maps available or some sort of trail guidance. read more

This is a great state park to visit. Parking can be difficult on the weekends and this place can get crowded. But it's a beautiful place to visit. There are many stairs and trails to climb around on. Make sure you have beautiful weather and give yourself plenty of time to get here. When you get off 80, the road to the state park gets backed up because it also takes you to Starved Rock. So don't get frustrated with these things because it's worth getting through the traffic. Bathrooms are nice here and they have picnic groves near the parking lot. read more

When I tell people I am going to starved rock what I really mean is I'm going to Matthiessen. For whatever reason this is the lesser known black sheep state park in the area. Well maybe not so lesser known because when we came here for the fall colors the place was teeming with families and critters and people all over the place. If you are going to make the trek out to Starved Rock do take a moment and check this place out. It's got wonderful terrain for hiking and very scenic outlooks. read more

Matthiessen State Park - Parks Near Me - Oglesby, Illinois

When you think that Starved Rock is all that there is to be had in this area, you get Matthiessen State Park smacking you in the face with its wondrous bounty of beauty. And you can actually single track mountain bike to add to the adventure. Think you know Illinois in all its flatland glory ? Think again. read more

There's so much to do here that we didn't visit every point of the park. Beautiful nature walk just make sure you know where the trail takes you. So spray that bug spray, bag a lunch, and enjoy the hike ! read more

Matthiessen State Park - One of the many beautiful points of the park. - Parks Near Me - Oglesby, Illinois

After having been to Starved Rock a number of times (which I love btw), my friends and I decided to give Matthiessen a try and I'm glad we did. This park is somewhat smaller than Starved Rock, but it's every bit as scenic. It's also a lot less crowded. Totally worth the visit! Trails are very well-marked and there are maps at numerous points. There is a peaceful, zen-like factor at Matthiessen that I really loved. Definitely will be back. read more

Really enjoyed our hike though the dells area! It rained the night before so the waterfall was flowing nicely. On a Thursday morning, about 20 people were at Cascade Falls. The rest of the park was mostly empty. Recommend wearing an old pair of gym shoes w/o socks & have a towel to wipe off your feet before putting your regular shoes back on afterwards, then you can trek through the mud & water w/o concerns. If you want to avoid a lot of steps, & 15 minutes of hiking, park by the Lake Shelter & head to Cascade Falls. There will still be plenty of steps. We did not see deer or wild turkeys in any of the parks which I attribute to over hunting in the area. If you are planning a trip to Starved Rock be sure to include Matthiessen which is 10 minutes away. read more

Matthiessen State Park - Cascade Falls in lower dell. - Parks Near Me - Oglesby, Illinois

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I went here with family on the 4th of July because most of Starved Rock's trails were closed, and I am actually glad it turned out that way! We showed up here at around 930-10am, and it was not that crowded yet. It started to get crowded when we were leaving which was around 1pm. So get there earlier if you don't want to be around many people. The environment was beautiful. There were many trails that took you along the forest, and to waterfalls. The waterfalls (large and small) were awesome. It was so much fun around the waterfalls since there were streams, and you needed to rock-hop to get from one point to another sometimes which was fun! I am definitely coming back here sometime soon! read more

Adore this park. We enjoyed the scenery without obstruction, interruption, or distraction as it was less busy compared to other parks like Starved Rock. The caves near the lower waterfalls were my families favorite place to visit & explore. Trails were well-marked. There were adequate trail maps and restroom facilities. Although it's smaller, it's well worth exploring & provided a fun & memorable experience. read more

Matthiessen State Park - Caves at the lower falls offer serenity. - Parks Near Me - Oglesby, Illinois

I personally prefer this park over starved rock since you can get down into the water. I recently went when it snowed and it was beautiful. This was the first park that peaked my urge of hiking and exploring. I cannot wait till the snow melts and I return with some rain boots! read more

Matthiessen State Park - Water mostly frozen - Parks Near Me - Oglesby, Illinois

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I love this nature park! The day we visited, we had a chance to see little waterfalls. It was an awesome experience. I would love to return! read more

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