Carbondale IL, any recs for biking, hiking, dining?
 

Just like the title says, I'm looking for a couple of fun activities in Carbondale, IL. I've heard there is some good hiking in the area. Any suggestions? What about bike rentals and trails? Can anyone recommend a few good local restaurants? Also, does anyone have information about a wine trail in the area? Thanks for any input!

You will not feel like you are in IL and Shawnee National Forest is huge. My son spent two years down there and I'll ask him about some specifics. He fished all the time. I know that the area is filled with hills and creeks. I fell there on a wooden bridge (motor bike), that crossed one of the creeks but it was probably before you were born. LOL!

I'll post back with more recent information. I'm sure you can rent bikes.

I guess you're thinking of Giant City State park.

I spent the summer of '80 in Carbondale. We drank a lot.

It's kind of confusing, but Giant City State Park is located within Shawnee National Forest.

The 2 closest parks to you will be Giant City and Ferne Cliff.

http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt...R5/region5.htm

I have hiked Giant City, it is a very pretty area with interesting rock formations - it is so named because the rocks are spaced so that you feel like you are walking on streets built for a giant.
There are several wineries in the area - this is their website:

http://www.shawneewinetrail.com/

And here is a biking website:
http://www.siu.edu/~triclub/routes.html

We live in KY but spend alot of time outdoors in southern Illinois. (The state is not all a corn field :))

Years ago I really enjoyed hiking around a place called Little Grand Canyon near Murphysboro. Its not a far drive from Giant City. It was fantastic. You hike down into a small canyon.

Look to get a book called 50 Nature Walks in Southern Illinois by Alan McPherson (back of my book has Cache
River Press Rte 3 Box 239C Vienna, IL 62995)
ISBN # 0-9637422-3-6

I've seen the signs in S Illinois for Rend Lake. What is that like? Is it close to Carbondale?

My son loved Rend Lake and fished there often, so it couldn't have been too far.

Rend Lake is a big lake about 20 mile from Carbondale, there are other lakes closer.

Crab Orchard lake is definitely closer to Carbondale than Rend Lake. Not sure about the fishing there though.

You'd also asked for restaurant recs. We had lunch at a Thai restaurant on Illinois a year ago this past July. The food was very good and the lunch specials were a great deal. I don't remember the name but don't think you'd have any trouble finding it. Or you can look for my trip report.

Have a good trip!

Wow! Thanks for the quick replies and information. My husband is on his way to Carbondale for the weekend to visit family. He was bored to death the last time he was in Carbondale, so I assured him that you guys could provide some great suggestions and you came through! No surprise to me, but my husband was surprised and very pleased. Thanks so much! I think he is going to check out Giant City State Park and hopefully try the Thai restaurant.

I'll look forward to the wine trail and hiking and biking when I visit next year. Has anyone stayed at the cabins at Giant City? It looks like it would be a fun place to stay with kids.

We stayed there last year, wtm. I'm going to try to find my trip report and pull it up for you.

CAPH, thanks for topping the two Carbondale threads. I did a search earlier, but neither of those came up. I enjoy all the posts on this board, but it is so much fun learning about a new area that is a little off the beaten path.

Glad I could be of some help, wtm! And I know exactly what you mean. This board is the best for info on more obscure places. Seems like there are Fodorites from so many different areas that you can almost always find one who knows something about the place you're researching.

Just an update - my husband returned and his first comment was that it did not look like Illinois. I laughed as that is what JJ5 said. Anyway he enjoyed his trip and found time for some hiking at Giant City & the Little Grand Canyon area, wine tasting along the Shawnee wine trail and dinner at Thai Taste. Thanks again for your help!

Thanks for the update, wtm. I'm glad your husband enjoyed his trip!

One of these days, I'd like to check out that Shawnee Wine Trail myself.