Illinois

Hiking trails, waterfalls, lakes and more: 10 most visited Illinois state parks

Published

1 year ago

July 30, 2024

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Hiking trails, waterfalls, lakes and more: 10 most visited Illinois state parks

There’s plenty of beauty across Illinois, from the southern part to the northern part and everything in between.

Plenty of that beauty comes at state parks.

According to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Illinois has 135 state parks; 28 parks and areas are located in West Central Illinois. State Parks tend to be open from 7 a.m. to sunset unless listed as closed on their respective website on DNR.

Here’s a look at the 10 most visited state parks in 2023 according to IDNR. The estimates are based on a 12-month calendar year by visitation and guests per car.

More: Who are Illinois’ highest paid state workers? Here’s the top 10

10. Fort Massac in Massac County

Number of visitors: 953,000

What: Overlooking the mighty Ohio River from the southern tip of Illinois, this majestic location has been preserved and maintained since 1908, when it became Illinois’ first state park. The nearly 1,500-acre park is perfect for picnics, camping, hiking, fishing, boating, and seasonal hunting programs. The park also has an 18-hole disc golf course. The fort is a reminder of days gone by and a good place to take a step back in time to breathe in the natural surroundings as people did over a century ago. The park is also home to special events that bring to life Colonial and early American history, including the popular Fort Massac Encampment festival each October.

9. Frank Holten in St. Clair County

Number of visitors: 991,000

What: Within view of the St. Louis Gateway Arch, Frank Holten State Park is an ideal destination for outdoor recreation in an urban setting in East St. Louis. The 1,080-acre St. Clair County park features the 18-hole Grand Marais Golf Course, two lakes for outstanding fishing, and plenty of open space for picnicking and other outdoor fun. The site is named for the late Frank Holten, who served the region in the Illinois General Assembly for 48 years.

8. Clinton Lake in DeWitt County

Number of visitors: At least 1 million

What: Clinton Lake State Recreation Area in east central Illinois can fit just about every outdoors activity into its 9,300-acre site. The 4,900-acre lake and outstanding fishing are the primary draws, with accessible boat launches at the Mascoutin and West Side Access Areas, a fishing pier at the Spillway Access Area, and bank fishing at Valley Mill. With over 3,600 usable acres for archery and deer hunting, hiking trails follow the long shoreline toward campgrounds with over 300 campsites.

7. Rock Cut State Park in Winnebago County

Number of visitors: 1.1 million

What: Rock Cut State Park is aptly named – being chiseled directly out of the rocky landmarks and hills of northern Illinois. Rock Cut’s 3,254 acres include two lakes: Pierce Lake with 162 acres, and Olson Lake with 50 acres. Both offer a retreat for people wanting to fish, ice fish or ice skate. The park’s hiking trails, horseback riding trails and cross-country skiing and wildlife watching, as well as seasonal hunting programs, make it a year-round recreation destination.

More: Looking for the most underrated small towns to visit in Illinois this summer? Here are 14

6. Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area in Franklin County

Number of visitors: 1.32 million

What: Overlooking the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ 19,000-acre Rend Lake Reservoir, Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreational Park is Southern Illinois’ biggest outdoor area with countless ways to outdoorsmen to enjoy nature’s pleasures. A large contributor to the visitations is the hunting season programs, which attract thousands annually. Rend Lake is well-known as an outstanding sport fishery for white and black crappie and a dog training field for dog sporting.

5. Kankakee River State Park in Kankakee County

Number of visitors: 1.3 million

What: On land first treasured by the Native tribes to the region, Kankakee River State Park offers visitors its proud heritage in an unspoiled setting. Anglers, canoeists, hunters, campers, hikers, bicyclers and other outdoor enthusiasts find the park’s recreational opportunities unsurpassed. The naturally channeled 11 miles of the Kankakee River is listed on the Federal Clean Streams Register and is the focus of the 4,000-acre park’s popularity.

More: A cockroach, flies, mold, expired food all found in Springfield-area kitchens in June

4. Kickapoo State Recreation Area in Vermilion County

Number of visitors: More than 1.3 million

What: Since the state’s purchase of the land in 1939, trees and vegetation have reclaimed the former mined land. Once a turn-of-the-century surface mining operation, Kickapoo State Recreation Area’s 2,842 acres now provide an outdoor playground with something to appeal to every member of the family. The park offers 22 deep-water ponds, ranging in size from 0.2 to 57 acres, provide a total of 221 acres of water for boaters, canoeists and anglers.

3. Hennepin Canal State Trail spanning five counties

Number of visitors: 1.9 million

What: There are plenty of picnic tables along the 104.5-mile linear Hennepin Canal State Trail spanning five Illinois counties from Rock Island to Whiteside. The trail was first constructed in 1892 for the historic Hennepin Canal, the first American canal built out of concrete without stone cut facings. The towpath provides 155 miles of hiking/biking fun from the Illinois River to the Rock River, with the feeder canal path to Rock Falls. Segments of the trails are open to horseback riding and for those looking to plan ahead – snowmobiling is a must in the winter.

2. Illinois Beach State Park in Lake County

Number of visitors: 2 million

What: It makes sense why Chicago is such a popular city; skyscraping city lines that touch the clouds down to the transit system which buzzes across the golden coast right past Illinois Beach State Park, a gem in northern Illinois. The park is the only remaining beach ridge shoreline left in the state, with dunes and swales, sprawling marshes, forests of oak and vast arrays of animal life on its 6.5-mile stretch along the sandy shores of Lake Michigan. More than 650 species of plants have been recorded in the dunes area alone, including dozens of types of colorful wildflowers. The 4,160-acre park, consisting of two separate areas offers ample opportunities for swimming, boating, picnicking, hiking, fishing, camping and simply appreciating nature.

1. Starved Rock State Park in LaSalle County

Number of visitors: More than 2.3 million

What: As Illinois’ second state park ever established in 1911, the park’s beautiful 18 canyons soar above heads with moss coverings on sandstone, formed by glaciers of bygone eras past.

Previously used by the Hopewellian, Woodland, and Mississippian Native Americans who thrived in the region, in 1673, French explorers Louis Jolliet and Jesuit missionary Father Jacques Marquette passed through the area on their way up the Illinois from the Mississippi River. In 1682 however, the French would return to build Fort St. Louis atop Starved Rock for its strategic position.

More than 13 miles of trails allow access to rain-fed waterfalls, sandstone overhangs, and spectacular overlooks.

The Starved Rock Visitor Center is open year-round, and the 1930s-era stone and log Starved Rock Lodge offers luxury lodging, cabin rooms, and fine dining.

Claire Grant writes about business, growth and development and other news topics for The State Journal-Register. She can be reached at CLGrant@gannett.com; and on X (Formerly known as Twitter): @Claire_Granted

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Illinois

Opening statements Wednesday in trial of ex-Illinois officer who killed Sonya Massey

Published

4 hours ago

October 22, 2025

Press Room

Opening statements Wednesday in trial of ex-Illinois officer who killed Sonya Massey

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Fifteen months after Sonya Massey, a Black woman who had called 911 for help, was killed in her home, the former police officer who fired the fatal shot is set to go on trial.

Sean Grayson, 31, a former deputy for the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Department in central Illinois, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of first-degree murder.

The trial was scheduled to begin Wednesday with opening statements. If convicted of murder, Grayson faces a sentence of 45 years to life in prison. Prosecutors dismissed single counts of aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct.

On July 6, 2024, Massey, a 36-year-old single mother of two teenagers who struggled with mental health issues, called emergency responders over a suspected prowler. When Grayson, who is white, and another deputy entered her Springfield home to report finding no one, Grayson noticed a pan of hot water on the stove and ordered it removed.

According to body-camera video that is certain to play a key role in the trial, Grayson and Massey joked about how the deputy backed away as she moved the pan before Massey said, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.” Grayson later told sheriff’s investigators he thought Massey’s statement meant she intended to kill him, yelled at her to drop the pot and in the subsequent commotion, fired three shots, striking her just below the eye.

The incident has prompted continued questions about U.S. law enforcement shootings of Black people in their homes and generated a change in Illinois law requiring fuller transparency on the background of candidates for law enforcement jobs.

A jury of 10 women and five men, including three alternates, will hear testimony that’s predicted to end next week. The questioning of prospective jurors on Monday by Sangamon County State’s Attorney John Milhiser and defense attorney Daniel Fultz focused on attitudes toward law enforcement during a volatile time in America.

In this image taken from body camera video released by Illinois State Police, Sonya Massey, left, talks with former Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson outside her home in Springfield, Ill., July 6, 2024. Credit: AP/Uncredited

Witnesses scheduled to testify for both the state and defense are reported to be experts in police training, generally accepted police practices, use of force, body camera video, use of video in investigations and the review of incidents involving the use of force.

The national attention the case has garnered prompted Sangamon County Circuit Judge Ryan Cadagin to move the trial from Springfield to Peoria, 167 miles (269 kilometers) southwest of Chicago.

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Illinois

When’s the best time to see fall colors in Illinois from Rockford to Carbondale

Published

23 hours ago

October 21, 2025

Press Room

When’s the best time to see fall colors in Illinois from Rockford to Carbondale

Jack Ivanic
| Special to the Rockford Register Star

When it comes to fall colors, Illinois stretches the season longer than most states, with colors starting in northern Illinois in late September and peaking in the south well into November.

Each year, websites like SmokyMountains.com publish a fall foliage prediction map that shows stages such as patchy, partial, near-peak, peak, and past-peak across the country. While the map is focused primarily on the eastern U.S. and regions like the Smoky Mountains, it also provides a helpful nationwide context and visual timeline for seasonal leaf change.

Here’s what the fall color timeline looks like across Illinois.

Northern Illinois: Late September to mid-October

If you live near Chicago, Rockford, or the Galena area, you’ll see the first hints of color before the rest of the state. Leaves in northern Illinois usually begin to change by the third or fourth week of September.

The peak display arrives around the second or third week of October. Popular spots include Starved Rock State Park, Matthiessen State Park, Rock Cut State Park, and the Great River Road, which runs along the Mississippi.

Central Illinois: Early to Late October

In the heart of the state, from Springfield to Peoria and Champaign, trees hold their green a little longer. Color typically starts to appear in the first half of October.

By the middle to late part of the month, central Illinois hits its stride.

City parks, forest preserves, and stretches of rural highway all light up. Spots such as Allerton Park near Monticello and the Sangamon River Valley as reliable fall color destinations.

Southern Illinois: Late October to Early November

Farther south, warm temperatures delay the season. Expect to see changes beginning in the last two weeks of October, with the best colors holding into early November.

In Southern Illinois, you’ll find some of the most memorable fall backdrops in the state. Rock formations at Shawnee National Forest’s Garden of the Gods and the bluffs of Giant City State Park provide great viewing points.

What to Wear

Packing smart can make your fall color adventure more comfortable. Mornings in Illinois can be chilly, while afternoons often warm up quickly. A light jacket or fleece paired with a long-sleeve shirt gives you flexibility. Comfortable walking shoes or hiking boots are important if you plan to explore trails in parks. Packing items such as hats, gloves, and even a scarf can come in handy if temperatures drop, especially on bluffs and overlooks where the wind picks up.

Planning Your Visit

From late September in the north to early November in the south, Illinois delivers a long season of color worth exploring. The good news is that Illinois offers a six- to eight-week window for watching the fall colors. If you miss the show in one part of the state, you can always head a little farther south and catch it there.

Jack Ivanic is a freelance contributor to the Rockford Register Star.

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Illinois

Trial begins for former Illinois deputy accused of killing Sonya Massey

Published

2 days ago

October 20, 2025

Press Room

Trial begins for former Illinois deputy accused of killing Sonya Massey

The trial of a former Illinois deputy who is accused of killing Sonya Massey began on Monday in Peoria, Illinois.

Massey, a Black 36-year-old mother of two, was fatally shot in July 2024 after calling authorities to her Springfield home over concerns about a prowler, officials said. Body camera footage shows two deputies responding to the incident, including then-Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson.

Grayson, who is white, shot Massey three times, saying in a report written after the incident that he feared bodily harm because she was holding a pot of boiling water and said, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.”

Almost two weeks after Massey’s killing, Grayson was fired and charged with three counts of first-degree murder, one count of aggravated battery, and one count of official misconduct. He pleaded not guilty and was held in jail pending trial.

Grayson’s trial started on Monday morning with a jury selection. No cameras were allowed in the courtroom, and the trial is expected to last for one to two weeks.

The case ignited a national firestorm, prompting protesters across the country to call for justice for Massey, who suffered from mental health issues, according to her family. In February, Sangamon County officials agreed to pay a $10 million settlement to Massey’s family, a step their attorney, Ben Crump, called “only the first step in the journey for justice.”

In April, a judge granted a venue change for the trial from Sangamon County to Peoria after receiving a request from defense attorneys who said media coverage and the nature of the case have “shaped public perception, making it difficult to separate fact from speculation,” NBC Chicago reported.

A group of people gathered for a rally outside the Peoria County Courthouse on Monday morning, holding signs calling for justice for Massey. One sign read: “Unite Now Against Racist Violence.”

“No justice, no peace. Prosecute the police, ” the crowd chanted.

Keri Hayes, the racial justice committee chairwoman for the American Civil Liberties Union in Peoria, was one of the handful of people outside the courthouse.

“I really feel like it was a senseless slaying that happened, and I really want to see the police being held accountable,” she told NBC News.

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