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

Cedar Sunset Cabin - Buncombe, IL

Cottages and Cabins

Top notch accommodations on the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail and on the edge of the Shawnee National Forest.

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

Rim Rock's Dogwood Cabins - Elizabethtown, IL

Cottages and Cabins

Southern Illinois Cabins with all amenities, surrounded by The Shawnee National Forest in Southern Illinois. All cabins have air conditioning, heat, kitchen including stove, frig, microwave, coffee maker, toaster bathroom with shower, screened in porch, electric fireplace, satellite tv with HBO and DVD, all linens, cookware, plates, utensil, outside grill and picnic table.

Web Site: http://www.rimrocksdogwoodcabins.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

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

Willowbrook Cabin Rental - Golconda, IL

Cottages and Cabins

LARGE 2 and 3 bedroom private CABINS located near many of the major ATTRACTIONS of the Shawnee National FOREST and the surrounding Southern ILLINOIS area. All cabins offer incredible VALUE as they are fully furnished with everything needed including full kitchens with cookware, microwave, liens, fire pits and wood, outdoor grill, satellite TV and even FREE internet. Open all seasons

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

CLICK HERE for even more local accommodations

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.

Park Visitor Online Reviews

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.