Fort Defiance State Park, an Illinois State Park

FORT DEFIANCE STATE PARK

Camping

Fort Defiance State Park has 16 campsites. The camping area is non-modern. No flush toilets or showers are present. However, electrical hookups are available at eight sites. All camping permits are obtained through self-registration at the campground. Camping Fees can be paid at the site.

Area Accommodations

Timber Ridge Outpost Cabins - Elizabethtown, IL

Cottages and Cabins

Come back to a simpler time when families played games together in the evenings and sat on the porch talking into the night. Enjoy some southern hospitality while staying in a real Log Cabin or a one-of-a-kind luxurious Tree House

Web Site: http://www.TimberRidgeOutpost.com

Cedar Rock Cabins - Goreville, IL

Cottages and Cabins

Located in beautiful Johnson County, Illinois, and nestled within the Shawnee National Forest. Enjoy the screened in porch at dusk and view the wildlife that wanders freely through the woods. The hot tub is located out of doors so you can relax in luxury beneath the stars....

Web Site: http://www.cedarrockcabins.com

Doc's Lakeside Cabin - Jonesboro, IL

Cottages and Cabins

Doc's Lakeside Cabin was built in 2012 and is located in beautiful Southern Illinois. Let us welcome you to setting where you can rejuvenate your mind, body and soul.

Web Site: http://www.docslakesidecabin.com

The Davie School Inn - Anna, IL

BBs / Inns

Restored and remodeled to created an Inn with all the modern conveniences yet still leave the atmosphere of the old school house. Convenient accessibility to many Southern Illinois tourism attractions.

Web Site: http://www.www.davieschoolinn.com

Pinnon Lake Cabins - Buncombe, IL

Cottages and Cabins

Tucked away in the picturesque rolling hills of Southern Illinois, our location rests on the highly acclaimed Southern Illinois Wine Trail. Pinnon Lake cabins are ten tranquil minutes from the edge of Shawnee National Forest. Moments from anywhere yet feels like miles from it all.

Web Site: http://www.pinnonlakecabins.com

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Swimming

Several trails take you around the park and through the hills and woodlands that make up Fort Defiance. Equestrian use is allowed on three of the trails. During winter months the park is a popular place for snowmobiling and cross country skiing.

Fort Defiance State Park's 191 acres of rugged woodland provide a beautiful contrast to the gently rolling surrounding farmlands. The park's trails, picnic areas and scenic overlooks provide a great place to relax. Its lush cover of vegetation includes hawthorn, plum, locust and many species of the state tree - the oak. In the spring, the slopes are speckled with trillium, bloodroot, hepatica and violets. A small prairie with native grasses and flowers, including the endangered prairie bush clover, thrives on a secluded knoll.

Visitor Comments, Memories and Reviews

December 18 two rivers by allmylife

theres no place else that you can put one foot in the ohio and one in the mississippi @ the same time

December 17 Pretty Cool ! by Chuck

Visited November 21, 2010. While the park appears to be abandoned and the building showing decay, the reason my family visited was to see the RIVERS. It was very impressive to actually stand on a point of land and watch the Ohio and the Mississippi waters merge together. Standing on the very tip of Illinois, you look to your left accross the great Ohio River into Kentucky, you look to your right across the Mighty Mississippi into Missouri. How cool is that. I would recommend this place to anyone interested in geography.

December 12 This park is NOT abandoned. by Robert

I have talked to the park maintenance supervisor and he assured me that the park is being maintained and mowed. Funding is down (like everywhere) so consequently the park is not receiving maintenence as often as in years past.

June 26 Abandoned by John

This park is totally abandoned and completely run down. The road is impassable due to flood damage once you get into the loop, and the area is overgrown.

April 16 Great historical site by Bud Dietrich

Have been stopping there for years in my travels from Tn to Wa. Most of the time I am the only one enjpying the barges and solitude. Love it!! Hope it is open 4/18/10 when I pass through again.

July 10 Awesome, Historical, Breathtaking! by avemaria47

On Tuesday, 7/8/08, my daughter, granddaughter and I had the opportunity to view the confluence of the great Ohio River and the mighty Mississippi River. It is absolutely breathtaking! Fort Defiance State Park is the only place this is possible. To think that the same charting done by Lewis and Clark is still being used today is mind boggling! The size of these two rivers is massive! Be sure top see it.