The top 5 highest-rated Illinois state parks for your summer vacation plans
If you’re looking to enjoy the outdoors after spring storms pass through, Illinois has several highly rated state parks for hiking, camping and other activities.
Popular hiking and outdoor recreation app AllTrails named Starved Rock State Park the No. 1 state park in Illinois, with a 4.6-star rating and more than 21,200 reviews. Starved Rock has also been one of the best state parks for great value stays, and the nearby Starved Rock Family Campground was previously named among the best mid-size campgrounds in North America.
“This park is made up of 18 canyons formed by glaciers,” AllTrails reported. “The park is best known for its fascinating rock formations, primarily St. Peter sandstone.”
Starved Rock’s top-rated hiking trail is a “moderate” difficulty level 4.2 mile trek, according to AllTrails, but the park has shorter options as well, including a one-mile “easy” rated hike through Ottawa Canyon.
For those looking for outdoor recreation closer to home, the metro-east is home to several highly rated campgrounds. One metro-east state park also landed among the top five most popular state parks in Illinois, according to AllTrails.
Here’s what to know about the five top-rated state parks in Illinois, from AllTrails.
1. Starved Rock State Park
Illinois’ top-rated state park via AllTrails is Starved Rock, which has opportunities for hiking, camping, picnicking and kayaking. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources reports some of the park’s trails are closed until June due to construction.
Location: LaSalle County
2. Matthiessen State Park
Matthiessen State Park, which is located about 2.6 miles south of Starved Rock, landed in the No. 2 spot with a 4.4-star rating and 6,725 reviews. In addition to hiking, Matthiessen State Park has options for horseback riding, archery, mountain biking and geocaching.
Location: LaSalle County
3. Giant City State Park
Southern Illinois’ Giant City State Park received a 4.5-star rating from AllTrails users, with 6,586 reviews. IDNR reports Giant City State Park has “breathtaking natural beauty” and many options for outdoor recreation, including camping, rappelling, horseback riding and fishing.
Location: Shawnee National Forest
4. Pere Marquette State Park
Pere Marquette State Park is a popular metro-east destination for hiking, camping, viewing fall colors, boating and more. The park received a 4.4-star rating from AllTrails, with more than 5,000 reviews. Pere Marquette is also home to a lodge and conference center.
Location: Grafton area
5. Moraine Hills State Park
Moraine Hills State Park landed in fifth place, with a 4.7-star rating and more than 3,800 reviews. In addition to popular pastimes of hiking and camping, the park is also known for its birdwatching opportunities.
Location: McHenry County
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