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Parks, Forests & Natural Areas
Carbondale Parks
Attucks Park
This neighborhood park includes a pavilion, bbq grills, picknicking, hiking, basketball courts, soccerfields, tennis and a football field.
400-800 North Wall Street
Carbondale
618-549-4222
http://www.cpkd.org/
Evergreen Park
This park is located on the south side of Carbondale and includes playground equipment, natural areas, hiking, fishing, picnicking, shelters and baseball/softball fields. Plenty of parking.
901 W. Pleasant Hill Road
Carbondale
618-549-4222
http://www.cpkd.org/
Lenus Turley Park
This park is home to the pupular summer Sunset Concert series. It includes
playgro
und
equipment, shelters, parking and beautiful gardens.
1010 N. Glenview
Carbondale
618-549-4222
http://www.cpkd.org/
Labyrinth Peace Garden
A place for meditation, contemplation, and relaxation is the theme for the beautiful labyrinth, located near the Southern Illinois University campus.
913 S. Illinois Avenue
Carbondale
618-549-7387
http://www.carbondalelybrinth.org/
Oakdale Park
A small and secluded neighborhood park that includes playground equipment, hiking and picnicking.
940 North Oak Street
Carbondale
618-549-4222
http://www.cpkd.org/
Parrish Park
This neighborhood park includes flower beds, hiking and walking, multiple use fields, natural areas, parking and multiple soccer fields.
West Sunset
Carbondale
618-549-4222
http://www.cpkd.org/
William M. Marberry Arboretum
This 24-acre park has more than 6,000 species of trees, plus shrubs, wildflowers and assorted wildlife. You'll also find many historical sites here, including sandstone slabs walked on by President Abraham Lincoln and two unmarked graves from the Civil War, and stones from a Shawnee Indian Counsel fire.
Wall & Pleasant Hill Road
Carbondale
618-529-4147
http://www.cpkd.org/
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Forests & Natural Areas
Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge
Worth visiting any time of the year, this 4,000-acre refuge is especially beautiful in the fall when the geese return for the winter. Every Sunday in October, wildlife enthusiasts drive through sections of the refuge normally closed to traffic, watching for wild turkeys, coyotes, foxes and bobcats. Deer are most often sighted early in the day or late in the evening. Thousands of visitors enjoy the view from observation towers along Illinois 148 in Williamson County.
Devil's Backbone Park & Devil's Bake Oven
Devil's Backbone is an unusual rock ridge that runs along the Mississippi River at Grand Tower in Jackson County. Another unusual rock formation called Devil's Bake Oven is at the north end of the park. Pitted with caves, the Oven once harbored river pirates until a U.S. cavalry troop drove them away in 1803. The park also was the site of an Indian massacre in the early 1800s. The foundation walls of an old house still stand atop Devil's Bake Oven. According to legend, the ghost of a young girl who died of a broken heart lingers among the ruins and is sometimes seen on quiet, moonlit nights.
Grand Tower
618-529-4451 or 1-800-526-1500
http://cctb.org/
Giant City State Park
An outdoor lover's paradise, visitors enjoy the wilderness trails
and incredible landscape. The forest boasts more than 75 varieties of
trees that tower over visitors and offer a beautiful, serene environment
for relaxation. The Giant City Lodge,(
http://www.giantcitylodge.com/
)
built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, offers all-you-can-eat
fried chicken! Minutes South of Carbondale on Giant City Road.
235 Giant City Road, Makanda
Park Office: 618-457-4836 Lodge: 618-457-4921
http://dnr.state.il.us/
Lake Murphysboro State Park
Beautiful rolling hills and woods surround star-shaped 1,022-acre Lake Murphysboro and provide a wonderful backdrop for boating, fishing, picnicking, camping and hiking.
(5 minutes West of Murphysboro, off Route 149)
618-684-2867
http://www.dnr.state.il.us/
LaRue Pine Hills Ecological Area
From Murphysboro, go south on Illinois 3 to Wolf Lake, then east on Illinois 146 for .6 mile to sign, then left (north) on Forest Road 236. Pull offs for several observation points and trails along the way.
Off Hwy. 3 Couth
Grand Tower
618-833-8576 or 1-800-526-1500
http://cctb.org/
Shawnee National Forest
The Shawnee National Forest is the largest, most diverse natural treasure in Illinois. Over 280,000 acres offer relaxing drives along National Scenic Byways, watchable wildlife and magnificent vistas of the woodland. Enjoy photography, hiking, biking, picnicking and seimming. For detailed information, call 1-800-699-6637 or visit
www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/shawnee
Turkey Bayou
From Murphysboro, take Illinois 149 to Illinois 3, then head south to Forest Road 186 (Johns Spur Road). Then turn on Forest Road 786.
10 minutes southwest of Murphysboro
618-833-8576
http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/Shawnee/recreation/camping/turkey/
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Green Earth Natural Areas
Green Earth, Inc. is a not for profit corporation dedicated to preserving land in the vicinity of Carbondale, Illinois. Since 1974, the primary purpose of Green Earth has been to acquire, preserve, and provide public access to natural areas in Carbondale.
Green Earth nature preserves provide places for relaxation, contemplation and inspiration. Scientific research, outdoor education, nature photography, bird watching, wildflower identification, hiking and any other non-destructive and non-consumptive activities are permitted and encouraged on Green Earth properties.
Group activities are welcomed, however, groups should be limited to 25 people or less. Large groups should contact the executive director for assistance. In order to preserve these areas for future generations, no guns, hatchets, alcohol, horses, vehicles, bicycles or fires of any kind are allowed. Dumping, camping or removal of any plants or animals are structly prohibited.
Green Earth: Brush Hill
The Brush Hill Nature Preserve is located off Park Street. This property was the first parcel of land acquired by Green Earth. This site preserves approximately 20 acres of forest and contains a well traveled trail that passes through many different habitats including an old clearing, upland forest, lowland forest, a seasonal pond, and a coal pit excavated by early settlers.
Green Earth: Oakland
The Oakland Nature Preserve is located off North Oakland Avenue. This property preserves approximately 20 acres of forest and prarie habitat. There are two well marked trails with interpretive guides to points of interest, including common prarie plants and tree species at the site. Wildlife inhaviting other areas include gray and fox squirrels, rabbits, opossums, raccoons, chipmunks, mice and a variety of bird species.
Green Earth: Chautauqua Bottoms
The Chautauqua Bottoms Nature Preserve is located on the north side of Chautauqua Street, between Emerald Lane and Tower Road. Historically, this area was bottomland hardwood forest. The soils at the site are representative of wetlands, and indeed, the grounds are wet throughout the rainy season. Green Earth acquired the east third of the preserve and planted it with native prarie grasses in the early 1990s. Twenty acres to the west of the prarie grass area were acquired in 2004. Restoration of these 20 acres from over-grazed pasture to hardwood bottomlands forest began in 2005. A trail has been established between this property and Green Earth Flagland. Three trails meander through the site and can be accessed from either the east or west entrance to Chautauqua Road, the parking area located at the west terminus of Freeman Street, or from Sunset Drive west of Little Crab Orchard Creek. Please use caution when crossing Little Crab Orchard Creek.
Green Earth: Fernland
The Fernland Nature Preserve is located off Kennedy Road. This property contains approximately 20 acres of woodland habitat. This forested watershed houses beautifully clear streams flowing between steep banks that are densely covered with mosses. The moist nature of this environment supports many ferns and a broad array of spring woodland wildflowers. An established trail will guide you through three different habitat types within this forest preserve.
Green Earth: Flagland
Flagland is located off West Sunset and preserves a small green smapce within a residential area of Carbondale. This property sonsists of two city lots where an American flag waves year round. A patch of prarie grasses and wildflowers was planted in the center of the property and displays a beautiful showing of prarie blooms each summer.
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