Agencies
Services
Park Activities
Hours
Park Hours:
7 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Trail Hours:
7 a.m. - Dusk
Visitor Center Hours:
8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Daily Phone:
618-457-4836
Lodge Hours:
8 a.m. - 8 p.m. Mon - Sat & 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. Sunday
Lodge is open the first Friday in February - mid December
Phone:
618-457-4921
Horse Stables:
Open from March 15 - November 15th
Phone:
618-529-4110
- Giant City State Park brochure
Park Brochure
Survey: Tell us what you think!
Did you know that Giant City State Park has a historic airstrip in the Park? This airstrip was operational through the 1980s and was likely a part of the short-lived post World War II aviation boom. Giant City State Park is considering the feasibility of restoring the air strip to be a functional back-country fly-in air strip, with primitive camping opportunities. We would like to know your thoughts on this, and how to best serve multiuse outdoor recreational opportunities at the site. Thank you you for your participation!
With its breathtaking natural beauty and unlimited opportunities for outdoor recreation, a trip to Giant City State Park near Carbondale is sure to delight visitors of all ages. From camping and horseback riding to fishing and rappelling, it's an outdoor lover's paradise. Visitors will marvel at the many hiking trails. Especially popular is the Giant City Nature Trail, home of the "Giant City Streets"—huge bluffs of sandstone formed 12,000 years ago.
Nestled in the Shawnee National Forest, Giant City State Park was named for the unique impressions made by its massive sandstone structures and a landscape like none other, with lush garments of fern, moss, flowering mints, hundreds of species of wildflowers, and more than 75 varieties of towering trees.
The Giant City Visitor Center provides interpretive displays on the geology, plants, animals, and history of the park and regional tourism information.
The rustic beauty of the Giant City Lodge is the perfect fit for the natural splendor of the park, with three types of cabins and the Bald Knob dining room; the lodge also features a gift shop, lounge, and outdoor swimming pool. Open from early February until early December, contact the lodge for reservation information at 618-457-4921 or visit the Giant City Lodge website.
Giant City is also popular for a camping retreat, with 85 Class A campsites that can be reserved online at ExploreMoreIL™, a Class C camping area with 14 walk-in campsites, and a youth group camping area.
Visitors can enjoy picturesque natural wonders along Giant City's hiking trails, and rock climbing/rappelling are permitted in two locations. Rock Climbing Information
Horseback riding enthusiasts will find an equestrian campground and a 12-mile loop trail, and visitors without horses can stop by Giant City Stables.
Ponds are located throughout the park for bank fishing. Fishing Map | Fishing Information Sheet
For information on seasonal hunting programs at Giant City, view the site's Hunter Fact Sheet.
Southern Illinois
235 Giant City Road
Makanda
62958
37.602
-89.189
