Nestled between Olney and Lawrenceville, Illinois, Red Hills State Park sits on 967 acres. At an elevation of 515 feet, the park offers unparalleled views of the surrounding landscape. Dotted with a diverse ecosystem the park features wetlands, deciduous woods, and a 40-acre lake. With Red Hills being the highest point all the way from Cincinnati to St. Louis visitors are rewarded with the most picturesque scenery. Located in southeastern Illinois the best way to experience the breathtaking views is to take a hike leading to the scenic viewing tower.
All kinds of visitor will find a scenic landscape for their outdoor adventure. With a paved road providing access to the lake, campers can park their motorhomes next to the lake and enjoy fishing, boating, or jogging. On land, guests can take part in horseback riding, biking, and hunting. You will love soaking in this mountainous landscape while being surrounded by prairies, wildflowers, ravines, and a variety of wildlife. During winter you can enjoy ice fishing, sledding, and ice skating.
Established in 1953, the park is big rig friendly and has over 100 campsites. Most of the RV sites are located in the woods and offer privacy. Some sites have excellent lake views. The campground provides access to water, electricity, and a sanitary dump station. The park is open all year round, with May to November being the busiest months.
Just a mile northeast of Sumner, Red Hills State Park is bisected by US Route 50, making it easily accessible from all major towns. Located approximately five minutes away from Sumner, the road leading to the park is paved and easy to navigate by cars, trailers, and RVs. Interior roads are wide and link to all major facilities including the park office, campgrounds, and trailheads. Most of the trails are in good condition and can be used by bikers, hikers, and horseback riders. There are many parking lots inside Red Hills State Park. Visitors can find parking spots at the equestrian campground, RV campground, and near the trailheads.
Red Hills State Park features 104 campsites available for tents and RVs. Amenities at this campground include electric hookups, picnic tables, grills, gravel pads, toilets, and showers. These campsites provide electric hookups and access to water. There are no sewer hookups in the campground but there is a dump station available. Located in the wooded section of the park the campsites can accommodate trailers and RVs of up to 45 feet.
Pets on a leash are welcome in the park. Reservations can be made online or via phone at least seven days before your camping date. Campers can stay up to 14 days per 30-day period. However, some designated campsites allow for a longer camping duration during specific seasons.
In addition, Red Hills State Park has one rental cabin and youth group tent camping area. For larger groups, there is a primitive tent camping area.
About a quarter of the campsites are exclusively available on a first-come, first-served basis.
If you are a fan of horseback riding during your RV adventures then you have every reason to consider camping in Red Hills State Park. Here you can ride your horse through the well maintained equestrian trails meandering through the southern side of the park’s mountainous terrain. This is a great way to enjoy birding and wildlife watching at your own pace. Occasionally, the park hosts horse shows.
Red Hills State Park has a nice lake where anglers can catch bluegill, crappie, and largemouth bass. After parking your trailer you can take your pole and line and head to one of the many docks scattered around the reservoir and enjoy your fishing. So don’t forget to pack your fishing gear in your rig so you can just grab it and head straight to the lake banks for some excellent fishing.
Red Hills State Park features eight miles of trails just waiting to be explored during your RV road trip. Most hiking trails are located on the northern section of the park and traverse through marshes, forest, and wet and dry prairies. Hiking through the wooded hills you can take great photographs of meadows and wildflower blooming during spring. Most of the park’s trails are multi-use and can be used by mountain bikers as well as hikers.
If you plan on bringing your horse to Red Hills State Park, you can stay overnight or spend a few nights in the equestrian campground. There are eight designated equestrian campsites for RV and tent campers. This horse camp offers amenities including water, picnic tables, fire pits, and toilets.
If you love hunting you will be thrilled to discover that Red Hills State Park is a seasonal treasure for hunters at designated areas. You will need to register at the park’s office and be in procession of a valid hunting license to take part in hunting. Make sure you don’t miss the opportunity to hunt for wild birds including quails, doves, and turkeys. Deer, squirrel, and rabbits are some of the mammals you can hunt here. With exception of deer which can only be hunted by bow and arrow, gun hunting is permitted for all other game. Remember to check with the park’s regulation as special rules, permits, and restrictions apply to specific species and hunting gears.
Stay here for a picnic and enjoy your lunch at the many picnic areas available within the park. Most picnic areas are nicely shaded and equipped with tables and grills. If you are planning for a group picnic you can reserve any of the three picnic pavilions. Watch the kids play on the nearby playground as you munch on your food. Once you’re done your meal you can head on over to the adjacent volleyball or basketball court for a friendly game.
If you are an avid boater, you will love the chance to paddle across the lake. If you are bringing your watercraft in your rig this state park has a small boat ramp where you can launch your boat. If you happen to boat during fall you will love the beautiful colors of trees lining the park. During the summer the park offers boat rentals.
