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Nearby Parks:
Red Hills State Park Lake
Red Hills State Park Lake Dam
Lincoln Trail State Memorial
George Rogers Clark National Historical Park
George Rogers Clark State Memorial
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| State Park Overview: |
 | For wildflowers, fresh foliage and soothing breezes in the spring...picnicking, camping, hiking, boating and fishing in the summer...appreciating the brilliant hues of autumn's colorful plumage...or ice skating and ice fishing in the brisk, blue winter...Red Hills State Park is waiting for you.
In southeastern Illinois midway between Olney and Lawrenceville on U.S. 50, Red Hills is a carefully preserved and maintained 948-acres of high wooded hills, deep ravines, captivating meadows and year-round springs. It's the perfect setting for natural relaxation and outdoor activities. The sparkling 40-acre lake is ideal for fishing and boating.
Dominated by Red Hill itself -- the highest point of land between St. Louis and Cincinnati -- and the 120-foot tower and cross rising from its summit, this unspoiled sanctuary from everyday life provides a great opportunity to relax and rediscover nature.
An open-air tabernacle at the base of the tower -- financed and constructed by area residents cooperating with an interdenominational council -- services are held on Sunday evening during the summer. A popular activity since 1943 has been the annual Easter sunrise services.
A satellite area of the park, the 565-acre Chauncey Marsh Nature Preserve, contains the best remaining example of what is called a Wabash Border Marsh Ecosystem, with marshes, dry and wet prairie, lush bottomland forest and thriving riverline communities. During late July and early August beautiful pink and white hibiscus and hairy rose mallow are in bloom.
Veterans' Point is a one-quarter acre parcel of land that is available to local veteran groups to honor ex-servicemen of all wars and to provide a place for their gatherings. |
| Reviews By Park Visitors: |
| Be the 1st to Review Red Hills State Park. You can rate it, post a comment on it, or do both. |
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| Area Activities |
| Photography | |  | LLPix Photography - Linton, IN
The most affordable photographer in Greene County Indiana. We offer a large variety of professional photography products, from wallets to 20"x30" prints, buttons, calenders, cards, invitations, portfolios & more. I defy the rules of conventional photography to focus on your individuality by being a "people in the environment" photographer.
Web Site: http://www.llpix.com |
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| Camping: |
| For longer stays, there are more than 100 Class A campsites with vehicular access that provide electricity, a sanitary dump station, water and access to a modern handicapped-accessible building with showers and flush toilets. Some sites are pull-through with 50 amp service.
Handicapped sites are also available. In addition, there is a primitive tent camping area, rent-a-camp cabin, an equestrian campground and, in the North Park, a youth group tent camping area. Camping permits must be obtained from the park staff. |
| Trails: |
| Eight miles of refreshing, scenic trails of moderate difficulty wind through the park, where the vibrant colors of redheaded woodpeckers, bluejays and wild canaries can be seen.
Hiking
For the intermediate hiker, Indian Treaty, Robin, Valley Springs and Tulip trail loops overlap each other on the hilly north side of U.S. Route 50 for about 3 miles. There is also a 5-mile trail for horseback riding and bicycling when soil conditions permit.
Horseback Riding
There also is a five-mile equestrian trail for horseback riding when soil conditions permit. A Class C equestrian campground is available.
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| Picnicking: |
| For family outings, what better way to spend a day than to have a picnic. Red Hills has pleasant, shaded picnic areas throughout the park, with tables and grills. There are three picnic shelters for large gatherings, two reservable and one first-come, first-serve, and six playgrounds for the kids. All areas are convenient to parking lots. Facilities are handicapped accessible. |
| Fishing and Hunting: |
| Fishing:
A paved road circles the lake, and bank fishing for largemouth bass, channel catfish, crappie, bluegill and bullhead is very popular.
Hunting:
Squirrel, dove, woodcock, quail and rabbit are plentiful in season. Archery deer hunting is also permitted. There is a check station where all hunters must check in and out. Consult the park staff for specific information about shooting times and opening dates. |
| History of the Area: |
| The park is an important historical crossroad, the western most edge of the first land in Illinois ceded by Native Americans to the United States. The borderline runs through the park from southwest to northeast, and was set by a treaty made in 1795 at Greenville, Ohio, by General Anthony Wayne whereby Native Americans relinquished all claims to the land northwest of the Ohio River and east of a specified line. The area was called Vincennes Tract. The western boundary running through the park was known as the Indian boundary line and is marked by decided jogs which corresponded to the original survey line.
The area was bisected by the Old Cahokia Trace, commonly known as the "Trace Road," which ran east and west just north of what is now U.S. 50, and was for many years the principal route from historic Vincennes, IN, to St. Louis and the west.
A dam constructed across Muddy Creek, a tributary of the Embarras (pronounced "Ambraw") River in 1953 created the 40-acre lake with a maximum depth of 30 feet and 2.5 miles of shoreline.
Since then, the park has grown to its present size, and development and improvement of its recreational facilities has been continuous. |
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| | Note to Park related businesses:
List your vacation cabin, weekend getaway, log cabin rental, romantic cottage, vacation home, resort, hotel, motel, bed and breakfast, country inn, campground, RV park, horseback riding stable, canoe livery, river rafting, outfitting, sporting goods store, guide service, RV rental or any other park related activity, park related attraction or park related service on Google or StateParks.com. (more).... |
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| Related Links: |
| DNR - DNR ... Rec Parks & Recreation Publications Research/Surveys State Museums Search DNR Illinois [IL Search Tips] Red Hills - State Park South Region 1100 N. & 400 E. R.R. 2, Box 252A Sumner, IL 62466 ... | | http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/PARKS/R5/SETTLER/ - ... on Saturday and Sunday, April 27 - 28, at Red Hills State Park in Lawrence County. The Red Hills Settlers Association and the ... on the festival grounds. Red Hills State Park, offering fishing ... | | Red Hills State Park - ... Maps Tips Training/Fitness Repair/Maintenance Skills/Techniques Red Hills State Park State: Illinois County: Lawrence Trail Notes: Red Hills State Park is located in southeastern Illinois between ... | | "OLD SETTLER DAYS" PIONEER FESTIVAL APRIL 26-27 AT RED HILLS STATE PARK - ... SETTLER DAYS" PIONEER FESTIVAL APRIL 26-27 AT RED HILLS STATE PARK SUMNER, ILL. -- Pioneer-era craft demonstrations, activities ... April 26-27, at Red Hills State Park in Lawrence County in ... | | Lawrence County Day Trip - ... Bed & Breakfast Recreation Eight miles west of Lawrenceville is Red Hills State Park. This 948-acre park has a 40-acre lake and ... and hunting at Red Hills State Park. For details call (618 ... | | Sodemann and Associates, Inc - WASTEWATER SYSTEMS Wastewater System Improvements, Red Hills State Park The project included demolishing the park's existing sewage treatment plant and constructing a new aerated two-cell lagoon ... |
| Directions: |
| Red Hills State Park is located in Lawrence County on US Rt #50 between Olney and Lawrenceville near the town of Sumner.
From US Rt #41 at Vincennes, Indiana, the park is located 18 miles west on Rt. 50.
From the junction of I-57 and Rt. 50 at Salem the park is located 65 miles east.
From the junction of IL Rt 1 and Rt. 50 at Lawrenceville the park is 8 miles west.
From Chicago take I-57 to Mattoon. Go east on Rt. 16 to Charleston, then take Rt. 130 south to Olney, and travel east on Rt. 50 to the park. |
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