A surprisingly gorgeous state park in Southern Illinois.
As someone who spent over a year in the geological pancake area of Illinois, it’s hard for me to grasp the beauty of Southern Illinois. It’s a whole another world from the central and northern areas of the state. This park looked cool looking on Google, so I put on my endless list of places to visit.
Giant City State Park is named for its large sandstone bluffs that appear like buildings. It’s hard to explain. One of the trails, the Giant City Nature Trail, looked awesome on Google Maps so I decided to stop and hike at least that trail. I ended up staying much longer than I intended.
Jana Irving The trail was even pretty before the weird rocks. I somehow keep ending up in parks with weird rocks.
Jana Irving Just a normal bluff with a cave. I’ve always said that erosion is weird.
Jana Irving The trail loops around this random bluff in the middle of the woods.
Jana Irving There were even some side trails that lead you to the top of the bluff. I didn’t climb those for some reason.
Jana Irving Side trails also lead you through the rocks at the base of the bluff.
Jana Irving Literally through the rocks.
Jana Irving Boardwalk over rough ground.
Jana Irving And this is why they call it Giant City. Erosion eroded the walls in a very strange way leaving pathways through the bluff, almost like walking through a city.
Jana Irving Doesn’t seem natural but it is.
Jana Irving Very angular.
Jana Irving Climb up through a narrow alley under a bolder.
Jana Irving I’m honestly surprised that boulder is still sitting there at that angle.
Jana Irving More walls on the other side of the bluff.
The next trail was the Devil’s Standtable. I may have gotten myself lost by taking a random trail off this trail without realizing it was a different unmarked trail that wasn’t on any maps. I eventually turned around.
Jana Irving Another bluff.
Jana Irving Rock overhangs like this are everywhere.
Jana Irving And there is the Devil’s Standtable. I totally got lost right after this for a while. There is a trail on the other side of the cliff that is definitely a trail but not on any map.
Jana Irving I’m easily distracted by pretty fall colors.
Down another trail, the Indian Creek Shelter Nature Trail, one finds a rock overhang that was used as shelter by Native Americans when they hunted and fished in the area.
Jana Irving The shelter.
Last but not least, the Fern Rocks Nature Preserve’s Trillium Trail. I really enjoyed this trail.
Jana Irving The trail is all overgrown and messy. I love it.
Jana Irving More towering bluffs. You can’t escape them in this park.
Jana Irving The trail follows the base of the bluffs.
Jana Irving And through some rocks.
Jana Irving Weird cracking.
Jana Irving All good and mossy.
Jana Irving The trail even goes up picturesquely.
Jana Irving Sunbeams on moss.
Jana Irving Tight squeeze through some vegetation.
Jana Irving It’s a bit of a hike to get up there.
Jana Irving At least the climb up was pretty.
Jana Irving The top of the bluff wasn’t as exciting, but the fall colors were nice.
Jana Irving Long way down.
Jana Irving I’m just going to end with a bit more fall color.
Giant City State Park is a fantastic state park, especially for Illinois (it’s really impressive for this state). I was greatly impressed and loved the trails. This park is definitely a must-see if you find yourself in Southern Illinois for some reason.
Check out my next update where I return to Illinois and hike the Little Grand Canyon!
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