While exploring Giant City State Park, I marveled at the massive boulders, cascading waterfalls, and the majestic Devil’s Standtable.
The park is a little over two hours south of St. Louis near Carbondale, Ill.
Our family explored three trails each with different amazing sites to see.
DEVIL’S STANDSTABLE NATURE TRAIL
The 1/3-mile Devil’s Standstable Nature Trail is a natural surface loop trail that starts flat before going up into a cliffside.
Sandstone Rock Shelter
The trail led to an area of huge sandstone bluffs. Then we came along rock shelter. A small waterfall drips from the top.
Native Americans used these caves as home. Small pieces of “chert” or “flint,” the byproduct of tool making, washes out of the ground where water drips from the bluff during rainfall.
My son Andrew and I wandered around the large rocks and cave-like area for a bit (main blog photo). He enjoyed climbing on the huge boulders here.
David looked into a gap and found a bird’s nest in a crevice in the cave.
Devil’s Standtable
My son and I walked along this area before we came to a mushroom-shaped rock. This is Devil’s Standtable. It is a free-standing pillar of sandstone that must have seen more like a pulpit for the devil to many local folks. Their name for it has stuck through the years.
We walked around behind the rock formation to a narrow passageway between huge rocks that we could pass through. This was down a side trail.
Back on the Main Trail
We headed back on the main trail finishing the loop.
By the Parking Lot
Parking for the trail is on the other side of the road. This area also has Giant City Creek flowing through it along with picnic tables.
Final Thoughts
For a short trail, there is plenty to enjoy with rock formations and a rock shelter. My son had a good time exploring this rocky landscape.
Trailhead Parking Address: Devil’s Standtable Nature Trail, Makanda, IL, 62958
GIANT CITY NATURE TRAIL
A one-mile natural surface loop trail that goes up into the bluffs and the sandstone can be slippery with some rock steps and wooden boardwalks.
Crossing a Creek
A wooden bridge crosses Giant City Creek. Below Makanda sandstone fragments lie scattered on the floor of the stream.
Going Right
The trail came to the loop and we headed to the right starting on the lower end of the bluff area.
An opening in the rock formed a small cave that my son looked into.
Next, we passed by a low rock shelter.
Along the trail my son, Andrew found a rock outcropping to checkout.
Then we went into a side trail to a larger rock shelter.
In this space small paths led between huge boulders and under cliffs. My son would play a game of “Hide and Seek” here hiding behind a large rock or a tall tree. David even got into the act.
Then we came to some stairs and a boardwalk.
Giant City Streets
After the walkway, we entered an area with huge bluffs and narrow walkways or “streets.”
The narrow walkways lead to deeper “streets” and the temperature goes down cooling us off on a warm day.
Pioneers had not seen skyscrapers, so these sheer bluffs seemed like the “streets of a giant city” to them, hence its name.
Also in this area, we found carved names of early pioneer families.
Balanced Rock
Continuing on the way we passed under Balanced Rock. Weighing tons, this rock seems to have slid downhill getting stuck in its present spot, probably been there for thousands of years following the last glacial period.
I looked up along a cliff and viewed a tree that had managed to root itself along the edge of a cliff.
Under a Rock Shelter
Water drips from above us as we walk under a rock shelter. You can walk here along a cement walkway.
Finally, we made it back to the start of the trail. My son spent a bit checking out the creek and then swinging at a playground. Restrooms are nearby.
Final Thoughts
This was a mile trail with some elevation changes with a lot of natural features to check out in a small area. My son enjoyed wandering the street area and rock shelters.
Trailhead Parking Address: Giant City Nature Trail, Cobden, IL 62920
INDIAN CREEK SHELTER NATURE TRAIL
This is a ¾-mile natural surface trail that leads to a wet-weather waterfall and follows a creek.
Start of Trail
This trail starts flat with wooden bridge crossings of Indian Creek. It was flowing today, but can be dry if it has not rained in a while.
We walked once more to the right and kept following the creek.
Shelter Cave
Then the trail comes to a shelter cave. Native Americans used this cave to live in it between 400-900 A.D.
My son wandered back of it and then we went to the right of where the trail entered this area and found a dripping waterfall.
Then further down we came to another small waterfall that was flowing even more.
Second Part of the Loop
Next, we followed the shelter back to the left heading towards the other part of the loop. This part went higher along the hillside following the cliff until finally it went away from it going back towards the creek.
This part of the trail once again crossed the creek. Andrew stopped for a bit playing in the clear stream.
Back to the Trailhead
After playing in the creek, we finally made it back to the trailhead.
Final Thoughts
The clear stream, rock shelter, and dripping falls made this a fun short hike for all of us. I was glad we included this one on our day here.
Trailhead Parking Address: Indian Creek Trail, Cobden, IL, 62920
OTHER TRAILS
There are many other trails to check out at Giant City State Park, but we only had time for a few on a day trip.
Arrow-Wood Trail
It is a 1/3-mile loop trail near the Giant City State Park’s Visitor Center. The trail goes through a field and forest and along the way, there are signs with information about the plants and trees here.
Trillium Trail
This is a 2-mile loop trail where you can find the white trillium flower and go through woods along with bluffs and a stream.
Stonefort Trail
A 1/3-mile loop trail that leads to a sandstone bluff and a Native American stone fort along with a wet-weather waterfall.
Post Oak Trail
It is a 1/3-mile that is near the Bluff Top Playground. It is easy and partially paved and has many plants to see along with a scenic bluff-top view.
Red Cedar Trail
The longest trail in the park at 12 miles and goes throughout the park. It is rugged and includes stream crossings and climbing over rocks and trees.
MORE PARK DETAILS
This park also has historic Giant City Lodge for food, campgrounds and cabins, an archery range, and a Visitor’s Center with a gift shop,
Drive: Take Interstate 64 out of St. Louis. Then turn onto Interstate 57 going south. Next, take exit 45 and make a right onto Highway 148 then a left onto Grassy Road, and finally, a left onto Giant City Road.
Hours: 6 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Giant City State Park Address: 235 Giant City Rd, Makanda, IL 62958
MORE SOUTHERN ILLINOIS HIKES
Waterfalls and Caves at Ferne Clyffe State Park
Walking along a clear stream to waterfalls and going up into the cliffs to see a cave are some of the natural treasures at Ferne Clyffe State Park. The park has a large number of trails to explore.
Larue-Pine Hills and Snake Road
Larue-Pine Hills bluffs have inspirational views and below it is Snake Road, known for its snake migration in the spring and fall. This area is part of the Shawnee National Forest and has a diverse habitat to explore.
Dad Hikes: Pomona Natural Bridge
A short loop hike through an oak and beech forest leads to the 90-foot Pomona Natural Bridge nestled in trees by a cliff.
