Giant City State Park

Recently refurbished, the sandstone lodge at Giant City State Park was built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps.

Balanced Rock.

Surrounded by the Shawnee National Forest, this park is named for its huge formations of Pennsylvanian sandstone.

Twenty-one miles of hiking trails, many designated as rugged, include shady "streets" running between the stone formations.

The 4,050-acre park harbors a wealth of plant life, including ferns, mosses, more than 75 species of trees and a variety of wildflowers. The park's bird list numbers 150 species.

A nature preserve of 110 acres is integral to the park. There are also sites of significant archaeological interest, including a clifftop "stone fort" dating back 1,000 years or more and smoke-blackened shelters worn into the cliffsides.

The park is adjacent to 1,000-acre Little Grassy Lake, which offers boating, canoeing and fishing.

Camping facilities include developed and hike-in sites and a dedicated equestrian campground on a 12-mile trail.