Red Cedar Hiking Trail
check with the trail manager for updated details before visiting.
Red Cedar Hiking Trail
State
Backcountry Trail
Frontcountry Trail
- Length
11.2 miles
- Elevation Gain
--
- Route Type
Loop
(1 review)
- Length
11.2 miles - Elevation Gain
-- - Route Type
Loop
You'll experience a little of everything Giant City has to offer on this trail, including oak-hickory forests, rocky creeks, and sandstone bluffs and shelters.
The trail provides a backcountry experience with scenic stops along the way. Photo by Donna Kridelbaugh.
The trail passes by giant sandstone boulders, which are the namesake of the park. Photo by Donna Kridelbaugh.
A primitive group campground is located on the trail at 5.5 miles (counterclockwise). A permit is required. Photo by Donna Kridelbaugh.
The trail blaze is a white diamond with red dot. Photo by Donna Kridelbaugh.
Red Cedar Hiking Trail entrance located in Giant City Campground. Photo by Donna Kridelbaugh.
Giant City State Park. Photo by Trip/wiki.
Location: At Giant City State Park, SE of Carbondale on S 51. (recertified 1993)
- States: Illinois
- Counties: Jackson
You'll experience a little of everything Giant City has to offer on this trail, including oak-hickory forests, rocky creeks, and sandstone bluffs and shelters. No water is available, so please carry enough to meet your needs for a long way. Although there are creeks crossed on this hike, most of them are intermittent or run only during or after storm events. A primitive tent camping area at 6 miles provides fire grills, picnic tables, and privies. Please stop at the Visitors Center to get a camping permit. This trail is closed during shotgun deer season.
Accessibility Information
No text provided.
Reviews
Donna Kridelbaugh
NRT Ambassador Review
The Red Cedar Hiking Trail is an approximately 11.2-mile loop trail that provides a more primitive, backcountry experience in Giant City State Park. Parking and access to the trail is located at the walk-in tent camping area of the developed Giant City Campground. No parking pass is required, but hikers can alert the visitor center or leave a note on their dashboards with travel plans for safety reasons. The trail passes through the Red Cedar Campground site at approximately 5.5 miles in when traveling counterclockwise from the trailhead. This is a group campsite with fire pits, picnic tables and privies, which would be ideal for scouting or other backpacking groups. A permit is required to camp here, and no other camping is allowed along the trail. Overall, this trail frequently overlaps with road beds, a horse trail and the long-distance River-to-River hiking trail and there was at least one observed re-route being planned, so diligently following the trail blazes (white diamonds with red dots) is a must. Be sure to check in with the visitor center for any other trail updates or seasonal closures. Please remember to leave no trace while out on the trail.
Allowed Uses:
Hiking/WalkingOther Activities
- Camping
Public Contact
Giant City State ParkIllinois Department of Natural Resources
Makanda, IL 62958
(618) 457-4836
Contact the trail manager for current maps and visiting details.
More Details
- Elevation (low): 400
- Elevation (high): 778
- Elevation (cumulative): --
- Part of a Trail System? No
- Surface (primary): Soil
- Surfaces (additional): Rock, crushed
- Tread Width (average): 0"
- Tread Width (minimum): --
- Running length (minimum): --
- Tread Grade (average, percent): --
- Tread Grade (maximum): 66
- Running length (maximum): --
- Cross-slope (average, percent): --
- Cross-slope (maximum): --
- Running length (maximum): --
- Certified as an NRT
Jun 7, 1981