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.

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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.

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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.

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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