Outbound Collective logo

Murphysboro, Illinois

Top Spots in and near Murphysboro

  • Murphysboro, Illinois

    Paddle at Lake Murphysboro State Park

    Beautiful rolling hills and woods surround Lake Murphysboro and provide opportunities for boating, fishing, picnicking, camping and hiking. Paddling is a perfect past time here. Canoe, Kayak, and Paddle Boards are all allowed much of the year. If fishing is on the agenda, a 10 hp maximum outboard...
    Read more
  • Gorham, Illinois

    Explore Kindcaid Lake Spillway

    One of Illinois' best kept secrets, the Kincaid Lake Spillway is a awesome swimming hole just outside of Murphysboro. The three level cascade makes for a great place to spend a hot summer day. People sit, splash, or even slide down the tiers into the pools below.  There is a small side trail that...
    Read more
  • Pomona, Illinois

    Hike the Little Grand Canyon Trail

    5.0
    3.6 mi / 365 ft gain
    The trail starts along Hickory Ridge, the southern rim of the canyon. Continue on the trail as it begins to descend into the canyon, following the white diamond markers – you can make a quick stop off along a side path, which leads to some scenic river views. When you reach a stone staircase in t...
    Read more
  • Carbondale, Illinois

    Fernlands Preserve Trail

    5.0
    0.69 mi / 46 ft gain
    Fernlands Preserve Trail is a loop trail where you may see beautiful wildflowers located near Carbondale, Illinois.
    Read more
  • Pomona, Illinois

    Hike to Pomona Natural Bridge

    0.5 mi / 68 ft gain
    The Pomona Natural Bridge located in Pomona Illinois is a great hike for most ages.  Starting on a scenic drive from the small town of Pomona, there is ample parking at the trailhead. The hiking trail is easily identified with its gravel path and sign. The trail begins at the top of a hill then d...
    Read more
  • Makanda, Illinois

    Trillium Trail

    1.22 mi / 253 ft gain
    The natural area you are now entering is 110 acres of bluffs and forest designated as Fern Rocks Nature Preserve. The reasons this was designated a preserve were to protect not only the sandstone bluffs, but also two endangered plants. The white flowered mint, and the grove bluegrass. many other ...
    Read more
  • Makanda, Illinois

    Hike the Stonefort Trail

    0.75 mi / 125 ft gain
    The massive stone wall was at one time 285 feet long, six feet high, and nine feet thick. The appearance of a “stone fort” or stone wall here at Giant City is one of at least ten in Southern Illinois.  The trail begins at the parking lot and traverses a intermittent cascade waterfall that is amaz...
    Read more
  • Makanda, Illinois

    Camp at Little Grassy Lake Campground

    Located within Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge and along one of the most scenic lakes within the Shawnee Hills of Southern Illinois Little Grassy Lake Campground is a awesome place to camp for a night or a whole week. There are 14 full hook up campsites. 54 sites have water and electric acc...
    Read more
  • Wolf Lake, Illinois

    Hike to Inspiration Point at LaRue Pine Hills

    0.75 mi / 164 ft gain
    Inspiration Point Trail is a 0.7 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Wolf Lake, Illinois. The Inspiration Point Trail offers a panoramic view of the Mississippi River valley and the Big Muddy bottomlands and is well worth the climb. The 300-foot drop, seven feet to the left ...
    Read more
  • Makanda, Illinois

    Hike or Climb Devil's Standtable

    0.5 mi / 75 ft gain
    Devil's Standtable was once a large block of the bluff that cracked loose during earth movements. The wind and rain erosion of the surface removed the softer areas of sandstone in the mid-section of the pillar leaving the large base and iron embedded cap much larger, which creates the mushroom-li...
    Read more
  • Makanda, Illinois

    Devil's Standtable Trail

    0.26 mi / 75 ft gain
    Devil's Standtable Trail is a loop trail where you may see great forest setting located near Makanda, Illinois.
    Read more
  • Makanda, Illinois

    Hike the Giant City Nature Trail

    1.1 mi / 125 ft gain
    Pioneers had not seen skyscrapers, so these sheer bluffs seemed like the “streets of a giant city” to them. Thus became the naming of a pinnacle state park in Illinois. Giant City State Park is a paradise for hikers, climbers, campers, and lovers of nature. Parts of the park reminds you of the Mi...
    Read more
  • Cobden, Illinois

    Hike Indian Creek Trail

    0.75 mi / 65 ft gain
    This wandering intermittent creek inside of Giant City State Park only flows in periods of heavy rain or after snow melts. Prior to a confluence with Drury Creek, the path comes to a mid sized shelter bluff wall. What this shelter lacks in sheer size, it made up for in importance to Native Americ...
    Read more
  • Makanda, Illinois

    Camp at Giant City State Park Campground

    Giant City is a popular weekend retreat because it provides for all levels of camping. There are 85 campsites in the Class A Campground which provides water, electricity, showers and restroom facilities for tent and trailer camping. Some facilities such as showers are closed for the winter. A sep...
    Read more
  • Makanda, Illinois

    Explore the Giant City Lodge and Water Tower

    0.25 mi
    Like the rest of the park, the Giant City Lodge was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930's. The lodge's architecture will remind someone of great lodges of the West with its hardwood timber and sandstone blend that has a two story fireplace and rotunda to enjoy one of the be...
    Read more
  • Alto Pass, Illinois

    Drive through the Bald Knob Wilderness

    5.0
    Adjacent to the beautiful Bald Knob Cross monument is one of the most scenic drives in Southern Illinois. The road winds and turns through this rugged and remote wilderness.  Highlights along the way for hikers are the Bald Knob trail loop and the linear Godwin Trail which connects into Clear Spr...
    Read more

Camping and Lodging in Murphysboro

Dam West Area (Day Use)
Benton, Illinois

Dam West Area (Day Use)

North Sandusky Campground
Sesser, Illinois

North Sandusky Campground

North Sandusky Day Use
Sesser, Illinois

North Sandusky Day Use

Benton KOA Journey
Benton, Illinois

Benton KOA Journey

Spillway Group Area
Benton, Illinois

Spillway Group Area

Dale Miller Youth
Benton, Illinois

Dale Miller Youth