2013 Travel Guide
Enjoy Illinois App
Showing 1-57 of 57 items found in Outdoors & Play
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Giant City State Park
Spectacular woodlands and sheer sandstone walls create a challenge for rock climbing and rappelling, as well as hiking. Outdoor lovers will also find horseback riding, a lookout tower, cabins and a swimming pool. Dine at historic Giant City Lodge, known for its homemade fried chicken dinner.
CITY: Makanda
Pomona Natural Bridge
This natural geologic sandstone formation spans 90 feet across a ravine in a mature beech, oak and hickory forest. Nearby is an easy hiking trail dotted with picnic sites.
CITY: Pomona
Shawnee Hills Wine Trail
The Shawnee Hills Wine Trail features 12 award-winning wineries located along a 25-mile scenic drive along highway 127 and highway 51 in the Shawnee National Forest. Along the way have a picnic, go on a hike, visit a shop, and stay in a cozy B&B or cabin. Many of the wineries host special events throughout the summer and fall.
CITY: Carbondale
Alto Vineyards - Alto Pass
This award-winning winery's original Shawnee Hills Wine Trail location (Alto also has a Champaign outpost) offers free wine tasting and a gift shop, in addition to spring, summer and fall festivals with music and food.
CITY: Alto Pass
Stone Creek Golf Club & Resort
Nestled in the Shawnee National Forest, Stone Creek features an 18 hole-championship course and beautiful cabins. Stone Creek also offers a restaurant, clubhouse, and a scenic area for hiking and fishing.
CITY: Makanda
Southern Illinois Golf Trail
Golf is always in season on the Southern Illinois Golf Trail, where the mild weather allows for golfing nearly year round. Start putting in Marion and make the rounds through all five of the Trail courses—Kokopelli, Crab Orchard, Hickory Ridge, Stone Creek and Gambit—ending in the lush green hills of the Shawnee National Forest.
CITY: Carbondale
Bald Knob Cross
A national symbol of faith, this 111-foot-tall cross, when illuminated at night, can be seen over an area of 7,500 square miles atop the most prominent elevation in Southern Illinois. The cross is surrounded by the Shawnee National Forest.
CITY: Alto Pass
Marberry Arboretum
The arboretum houses more than 6,000 species of trees, plus shrubs, wildflowers and wildlife. A hiking trail takes you through the woods and past stones from a Shawnee Indian Council fire.
CITY: Carbondale
Popeye Statue
This monument honors Elzie Seager, Chester native and creator of beloved cartoon character Popeye the Sailor Man. The Popeye statue stands proudly next to the Chester Bridge.
CITY: Chester
Hickory Ridge Golf Course
This 18-hole golf center is the highest-rated public golf course in Southern Illinois, earning four stars from Golf Digest. The course offers discounted "twilight hours" rates for unlimited play after 4pm.
CITY: Carbondale
Drury Lane Llamas
Established in 1990, Drury Lane Llamas is located in the hills of Southern Illinois, at the edge of the Shawnee National Forest, and features a herd a furry friends.
CITY: Carbondale
Honey Bee Stables
Ride the beautiful countryside. See the back roads and enjoy the Shawnee National forest with scenic bluffs, hardwood trees, seasonal flowers, wildlife, streams, waterfalls and rock formations. Specializing in all day and 1/2 day guided trail rides with picnic lunch included. Romantic rides for couples. Equestrian Vacations. All rides are private and guided. You will find that our experienced trail guide will go out of their way to ensure that you have a pleasant and memorable experience. There is no better way to see nature then from the back of a horse. The Shawnee National Forest offers miles of equestrian trails with different terrains and spectacular scenery. Ride through creeks and streams. See magnificent rock formations, waterfalls, and bluffs where the view is awe-inspiring. Explore the Shawnee Hills. Your guide will point out interesting places and facts along the ride.
CITY: Cobden
Giant City Park Campground
Class A campground with separate tent and trailer camping for equestrians. Also, a youth group camp and primitive walk-in tent sites.
CITY: Makanda
Kinkaid Lake Village Marina
Located on Lake Kinkaid, the marina offers camping, boat slip rental, and boat rental. They have a restaurant, bar, bait shop, camping and boating accessories, and water toys. In addition, you can also purchase your fishing license.
CITY: Murphysboro
Big Muddy River
Visitors can canoe from Riverside Park in Murphysboro to Rattlesnake Ferry in LaRue Pine Hills.
CITY: Murphysboro
Kosmic Acres Stables
Scenic trails rides for small groups of 1 to 6. From 2 to 4-hour rides and lunch rides offered. Basic grooming, saddling and riding instructions are given. By appointment only.
CITY: Alto Pass
Touch of Nature Enviornmental Center
Just 8 miles south of Carbondale, Touch of Nature borders the Shawnee Forest. It is a 3,100 acre wooded retreat area perfect for group events. Located in the City of Makanda, IL.
CITY: Makanda
Little Grassy Campground & Marina
1200-acre lake with 36+ miles of shoreline with an average depth of 27 ft. Provides gas, boat rentals, bait, tackle, license, boat slips and a snack restaurant.
CITY: Makanda
Giant City Stables
Enjoy the beauty of Giant City State Park on horseback. All trail rides are guided by experienced wranglers. Lessons & pony rides also available.
CITY: Makanda
Herrin City Park
Beautiful pond, bridge with year around ducks and geese. A variety of playground equipment that caters to children of all ages.
CITY: Herrin
Cedar Lake Trail
A 10-mile trail on the west side of Cedar Lake from north to south. Encircles Little Cedar Lake.
CITY: Carbondale
Hickory Ridge Public Golf Center
One of the most challenging courses in Southern Illinois, this championship caliber 18-hole layout plays over 6,800 yards from the back tees. The course has a distinctive links appearance, even though it is cut through the typically hilly local terrain.
CITY: Carbondale
Turkey Bluffs State Fish and Wildlife Area
Hiking, picnicking, horseback riding and wildlife viewing. Hunting for upland game, fur-bearers and deer is encouraged on its 2,265 scenic acres that overlook the Mississippi River.
CITY: Chester
Midland Hills Golf Course
Among the abundant hills and lakes of Southern Illinois, you will find one of the most scenic, oldest and one of the most challenging course in the area. Come out and enjoy the fun.
CITY: Makanda
Johnson Creek Recreation Area
Recreation area includes group camping, walk-in camp sites, swimming, and picnicking facilities. Handicap accessible restrooms and fishing pier.
CITY: Murphysboro
Kinkaid Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area
Sandstone bluffs and rolling hills surround the lake and oak-hickory forest. Picnicking, fishing, boating, and hunting opportunities available.
CITY: Murphysboro
Stone Creek Golf Club
Chip along dense forests on one of the most scenic courses in Southern Illinois. Nicely appointed cabins located right on the 18-hole golf course provide a convenient stay-and-play option.
CITY: Makanda
Devil's Kitchen Lake
With a maximum depth of 90 feet and a 24-mile shoreline, this fishing lake is stocked with rainbow and brown trout, bass, sunfish, crappie, bluegill and catfish. Boats have a 10-horsepower limit.
CITY: Carterville
Shawnee Bluffs Canopy Tour
Shawnee Bluffs Canopy Tour consists of eight zip lines, the longest stretching more than 1,100 feet, which will zig-zag across the property’s bluffs and through the valley. The tour also includes 11 platforms high in the trees, three aerial suspension bridges, the longest stretching 180 feet, and two short ground hikes. A canopy tour is an exciting way to experience the flora, fauna, geology and history of the outdoors by safely traversing an established route of ziplines and aerial bridges between platforms built in the trees, and they are just plain fun!
CITY: Makanda
Cedar Lake
Located in the Shawnee National Forest, this 1,750 acre lake has 40 miles of shoreline, a maximum depth of 60 feet, and 10hp limit on boat motors.
CITY: Carbondale
Sharp Rock Falls
This campground on Kinkaid Lake is open year round. There are 81 permanent sites available for annual rental. There are 20 sites with electricity, water, and sewer, plus 40 tent sites. There is also a snack bar.
CITY: Ava
Devil's Backbone Horse Camp
Provides a scenic riding trail for riding enjoyment. Two acres fenced in for horses, several electrical and water hook-ups. Located west of Grand Tower, the site overlooks the Mississippi River. Horse trails are open year 'round.
CITY: Grand Tower
Little Grassy Lake
Little Grassy Lake Campground and Marina is located on Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge and is a destination stop for returning campers, boaters, and sportsmen. They offer full service camping, primitive camping, boat rentals, concessions, and a bait shop. Reservations accepted to reserve boats and campsites. Pontoon boats, fishing boats, and kayaks can be rented. You don't want to pass up the opportunities to explore the thirty miles of shoreline and embrace the solitude you will find on the lake. The 1200 acre lake is stocked with catfish, crappie, and bass, and offers plentiful oppourtunities for fishing, paddling, boating, and wildlife observation. Amenities include waterfront camping sites, remodeled bathrooms with hot showers, dump station, swimming, pets allowed, monthly educational programs and a renovated concession/bait shop which is stocked with minnows, crickets, camping supplies, cold beverages, food items, ice cream, firewood and ice.
CITY: Carbondale
Lake Murphysboro State Park
Popular lake for fishing. This 1,000-acre park is the perfect place to enjoy hiking, camping, picnicking, boating and fishing.
CITY: Murphysboro
Randolph County State Recreational Area
96 sites, electricity available, dump station.
CITY: Chester
World Shooting & Recreational Complex
Largest shooting facility of its kind in the U.S. Find more than 100 trap fields on a 3-mile line parallel by 5,000 parking spaces. Over 20 fields for skeet also. 3-D archery range, rifle and pistol ranges, 1,000 campsites, events center building & more.
CITY: Sparta
Devil's Backbone/ Devil's Bake Oven
A ridge that runs parallel to the Mississippi River. Offers spectacular views, but with a steep ascent and descent (not an easy hike).
CITY: Grand Tower
Crab Orchard Lake & Campground
6900-acre lake, popular lake for fishing. Campground offers RVs, motor homes, tents, hot showers, flush toilets and a country store.
CITY: Carbondale
Devil's Kitchen Campground and Marina
This 810 acre lake is part of the Crab Orchard Refuge and is stocked with rainbow and brown trout. Also provides largemouth bass, bluegill, sunfish, crappie, channel catfish, bullheads, and carp. Boat ramps available.
CITY: Carbondale
Midland Hills Golf Course
Among the abundant hills and lakes of Southern Illinois you'll find one of the most scenic and challenging courses in the area.
CITY: Makanda
Crab Orchard Golf Club
Located between Marion and Carbondale, this 18-hole, semi-private par 70 course features lush zoysia fairways and a practice area with target greens. Crab Orchard made Golf Digest's 2008/09 "Best Places to Play" list.
CITY: Carterville
Fountain Bluff
Prehistoric dwellers left their marks on the rock walls. Petroglyphs depict animals, humans, geometric figures, and crosses.
CITY: Gorham
Pine Lakes Golf Club
The 18-hole "pine lakes" course at the Pine Lakes Golf Course facility features 5,889 yards of golf from the longest trees for a par of 67. The course rating is 67.0 and it has a slope rating of 107.
CITY: Herrin
Pyramid State Park
Pyramid State Recreation Area consists of heavily forested hills and many lakes and ponds. Total overall acreage is 19,701, making Pyramid the largest State Recreation Area in Illinois. It gets its name from a coal mine that once existed here. Many species of wildlife may be found in the area, including songbirds, deer, squirrels, beavers, rabbits, turkey, bobcat, raccoons, possums, coyotes, weasel, mink, woodchucks and waterfowl. Tent and trailer camping are permitted at designated camping areas only. There are 16.5 miles of foot and horse trails and mountain bike riding. Canoeing is popular because of the rough terrain, and boats with 10-hp motors or less are allowed.
CITY: Pinckneyville
Randolph County Conservation Area
Amid rolling hills and abundant game cover, this area is a hunter's paradise offering quail, deer (archery only), squirrel, dove, and rabbit hunting. Bass and channel catfish are found in its 69-acre lake. Equestrian trails, picnicking, and camping.
CITY: Chester
Four Seasons Campground
Stop on by and enjoy the friendly, peaceful atmosphere. Spacious shaded sites. Abundance of wildlife Also available: wireless internet, L-P gas fill, dump station, large pull through, 31 full hook-up sites, 12 pull through sites, (20, 30 and 50) amps available. Public access to: city park, lighted walk path, shower house, laundry facilities/handicap accessible. Cabin rentals.
CITY: Herrin
North Sandusky Campground
Beautiful campground on Rend Lake with 118 sites with electricity. Full hookups available on selected sites. Three picnic shelter areas (wheelchair accessible). One group area with 21 wooded campsites for $100 a day.
CITY: Sesser
Burns Goose Club
Located 1.7 miles west of Illinois Route 148 on Grassy Road just south of the Crab Orchard Wildlife Refuge. Waterfowl and deer hunting on 960 acres. Guides available. One of the top three harvest clubs in the southern Illinois quota zone.
CITY: Carbondale
South Sandusky Campground
120 camping sites with electricity and 8 tent sites on beautiful Rend Lake. Full hookups on selected sites. Beach.
CITY: Sesser
Steeleville City Park
The focal point of this park is a monument dedicated to fallen soldiers from WWI, WWII, Korea, and Vietnam.
CITY: Steeleville
Cannon Park
Picnic shelter, playgrounds, and a lake for visitors to enjoy fishing.
CITY: Carterville
Old Bates Campground
Located on the west side of Rend Lake off of Route 148 at the intersection of Peach Orchard Road. Offers electricity, water and sewer, shower house, bottle gas filed, dumping stations as well as campers to rent. Owners: Robert and Angela Holder.
CITY: Sesser
S.I. Bowl
Bowling and bar. There is a game room and a bar and lounge. They have youth programs, tournaments, leagues, and parties. Offers cosmic bowling
CITY: Carterville
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