We all love a view from the top — and a spectacular view is what you’ll get at the observation tower at Giant City State Park in Makanda, Illinois. Located close to the Giant City Lodge, climb just 123 stairs to the viewing platform of the Giant City State Park Observation Tower for an epic bird’s eye view of the park below.
Giant City State Park covers an area of more than 4,000 acres within the Shawnee National Forest. Filled with towering sandstone bluffs and otherworldly rock formations, it’s one of the most fascinating parks to explore in Illinois.
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Built in 1970 at the park’s highest elevation, the Giant City State Park Observation Tower is an 82-foot tall water tower that can hold up to 100,000 gallons.
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Its space-age design with a sphere is held up by three legs on the perimeter and one in the center just below the observation deck. It looks like something straight out of a sci-fi movie!
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A spiral staircase of 123 steps heads up the tower’s middle leg leading straight to the 50-foot observation platform.
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From the 50-foot observation deck, you can enjoy incredible 360-degree panoramic views of Giant City State Park below.
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You’ll be able to see miles of forest all around you from this vantage point. Take it all in and don’t forget to bring a camera.
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This observation tower can be found close to the Giant City Lodge. Grab a bite to eat at the lodge’s restaurant or rent a cabin and spend more time exploring the breathtaking Giant City State Park!
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Have you climbed up the steps of the Giant City State Park Observation Tower for panoramic views of the park below? If you have, please tell us about the experience in the comments. Visit the Illinois State Parks website to learn more about Giant City State Park and the observation tower.
If you find yourself in Hartford, Illinois, stop by the Lewis & Clark Confluence Tower. Make your way to one of its three observation platforms for views of the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers.
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Address: 235 Giant City Rd, Makanda, IL 62958, USA
