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Pere Marquette
Pere Marquette State Park is a state park located in Grafton, Illinois. It is the largest state park in Illinois, covering 8,000 acres (32 km2) of land along the Mississippi River. The park is named after Father Jacques Marquette, a French Jesuit missionary who explored the area in the late 17th century. The park offers a variety of activities, including camping, fishing, boating, hiking, biking, horseback riding, and picnicking. The park also features a lodge, cabins, and a conference center. Pere Marquette State Park is a popular destination for bird watching, as it is home to a variety of species, including bald eagles, ospreys, and great blue herons.
Amenities
- Recreational Facilities
- Policies
- Other Amenities & Services
- Recreation Nearby (within 10 miles)
- Facility
- Hunting Nearby (within 20 miles)
- On-Site Rentals
- Sites
User Reviews
Celeste Lewis-Bradley
We stayed for 3 days when we arrived n the weekend campground was full. Sunday like most parks , empties out. We did the inner loop hike of 4 mile. Does have some incline but doable. The overlooks are good until the leaves are out. Wildflowers are starting. We also did the bike path, very bumpy. Not a fan. They have a nice campground host that’s quite helpful. We did have a situation they couldn’t help with but sent us to the right people. The supervisor and staff were more than helpful, can’t thank them enough. Did the scenic drive, lodge and visitor center. Enjoyed it.
Emily H.
I love how much the park offers, there's a variety of trails and all differing milage with well marked trails. The scenic overlooks are best in spring when all the trees are bright green or in fall with the changing foliage but are still breathtaking no matter the season. There's a lot to learn in the visitor center and the lodge offers a great place to sit and eat after your hike but you'll have to bring your own food.
Jeff Hoover
Hiked about three miles in early March. Lucky with the weather, so that helped. Multiple bluff vistas with benches. The hike difficulties listed on their trail map skew harder than they really are. You don't have to be in very good shape to hike any of them. Nice visitor center with clean restrooms.
Flamingo Girl
The lodge and cabins here are top-notch. I love the huge chess pieces near the fireplace in the lodge. Years ago, I enjoyed hiking trails here. The views are breathtaking as the Illinois River is basically across the street. The limestone bluffs add to the attraction. The restaurant has affordable, quality selections. There's a gift shop and Visitors Center. This park is definitely one of our treasures in Illinois.
Trent Ferguson
This is such a beautiful state park. It is free to enter and to drive around the scenic loop to see all the beautiful overlooks. The Inn is very impressive as far as state park standards go. Next to the inn is the beautiful Illinois River, and if you come in late winter, you may have an opportunity to see the migrating eagles.