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4.8
17 votes

Ferne Clyffe State Park

Illinois Route 37, Goreville, Illinois 62939 USA

Open Now
Thu 8a-10p
  • Independent
  • Pet Friendly
  • Wheelchair
    Accessible
  • Public
    Restrooms
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“impressive waterfalls and caves”

Ferne Clyffe has been known as an outstanding natural scenic spot for nearly 100 years. An abundance of ferns, unique geological features and unusual plant communities create an atmosphere that enhances the many recreational facilities offered at the park. Trails wind through picturesque woods, allowing visitors to view fascinating rock formations and inspiring vistas. Ferne Clyffe also offers camping, picnicking, hiking, hunting and fishing.Located on Illinois Route 37, just one mile south of Goreville and 12 miles south of Marion, the 2,430-acre Johnson County park is easily accessible from both I-57 and I-24. Impressive rock formations can be seen from almost all of the park trails, but two of the best-known sights are Hawks' Cave, a 150-foot-long shelter bluff, and a 100-foot-tall intermittent waterfall on the Big Rocky Hollow trail.

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Reviews of Ferne Clyffe State Park

32 people have reviewed this location

Ratings Summary

4.7 Access
4.6 Location
4.6 Cleanliness
4.3 Site Quality
4.6 Noise

Cell Coverage

Verizon 4G

Confirmed by 2 users | Last reported on February 19, 2022

AT&T 4G/5G

Confirmed by 4 users | Last reported on March 20, 2024

T-Mobile 4G

Confirmed by 2 users | Last reported on September 09, 2020
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Reviewed by
deg1979

  • 7 Reviews
  • 11 Helpful
August 22, 2014
Rated 5.0

Gorgeous park. We were just passing through, so we didn't go on trails. I wish we'd had more time. There are lots of picnic areas with playgrounds. Beautiful area. Several miles off the interstate, but worth it when you're needing a break! Next time I pass through, I want to check out the trail with the waterfall!

3 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by
driveme

  • 2 Reviews
  • 1 Helpful
May 03, 2016
Rated 5.0

Great place for a quick hike. Very cool cliffs and rocks. Nice lake and picnic area. Don't miss it!

1 person found this review helpful

Reviewed by
Greek_nomad

  • Road Warrior
  • 401 Reviews
  • 296 Helpful
September 19, 2014
Rated 5.0

This place is a hidden treasure next to Goreville. Natural lovers like me and my whole family, will surely fall in love with this site.

The rocks are sculpted from the weather conditions and as you walk through the trails you can imagine being at an external art gallery.

A great amount of people where wandering around so we didn't feel lost for a second, although this place is massive.

The kids insisted to go fishing but it we weren't dressed appropriately for this, so we just walked and enjoyed a lunch break at the picnic areas!

Next time we visit we promised each other to go fishing and camping.
It is totally worth it.!

1 person found this review helpful

Reviewed by
jesse.m.culver

  • 1 Review
  • 0 Helpful
July 13, 2014
Rated

so much fun and very beautiful!

1 person found this review helpful

Reviewed by
Scott Wilson

  • 21 Reviews
  • 0 Helpful
March 20, 2024
Rated

It was our Spring Break and there were not many campers in the park so we really enjoyed our visit. But I can see where it might feel a little tight when the park is full. The shower facilities were not yet open for the season so we cannot comment on them. There are vault toilets that were clean and well kept while we were there. We enjoyed the hiking and the interesting sandstone topography. They have a lovely, small lake with a nice trail around it. If you are into rock climbing there are multiple opportunities here in the park ranging from basic to technical climbing. We are not climbers but noted quite a few who were taking advantage of the anchored walls. Electric only in the campground but there is potable water at the end of the dump station area. Be sure to fill up on your way to your site.

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Scott Wilson would stay here again

Nightly Rate: $20.00

Days Stayed: 3

Site Number: 57

5 Access
4 Location
5 Cleanliness
4 Site Quality
5 Noise

Cell Coverage Rating

AT&T 5G

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Reviewed by
Campendium

April 01, 2018
Rated

Great campground with several options for camping. They have electrical hookups, walk-in tent camping and backpacking sites. The showers are warm and all facilities were clean and well maintained. Nice little playground for the kids to congregate and make friends. Several amazing hikes that include waterfalls, boulders for climbing and creeks leave from campground and surrounding area.

The area drains pretty well but all the fire rings are at ground level. When we arrived it was raining so it took a day for them to dry out and be usable.

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This reviewer would stay here again

Nightly Rate: $18.00

Days Stayed: 2

Site Number: 46

5 Access
5 Location
5 Cleanliness
5 Site Quality
5 Noise

Cell Coverage Rating

AT&T 4G

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Reviewed by
Campendium

April 29, 2018
Rated

We attributed most of our negative experience to the total lack of visibility of the camphost. On the nice spring weekend that we stayed here, the campground was filled with locals, many of whom seemed to know each other, and who had lots of local friends. By Saturday afternoon the 2 vehicle per site rule was a joke, with three and sometimes four vehicles in each site. Campers parked near the "common" water spigots chose to turn them into their personal water lines with 100 foot hoses. There were dogs everywhere barking at each other constantly, kids were everywhere playing various games (and, weirdly, peeing on trees despite have a bathhouse right in the campground). Virtually every campsite had a campfire going continuously for both weekend days, making it very smoky. The camphost never bothered to check with us as to whether we were actually the people with the reservation for the site (there is no office to check in) and we heard from other campers that the hosts were letting some campers stay for free because of personal relationships. We were not impressed withe the management, obviously.

Apart from that issue, the sites are gravel and level-ish, and electricity worked fine, but the multiple loops and sites were too close together with no foliage in between even without the problem of excess vehicles. It was close to being like a private parking lot, not a state park. The bathhouses were fairly dated and grungy; my husband declined to use the shower. There are quite a few hikes in the park, but most of the trailheads are about 1-2 miles down a road from the campground, with no signage for the trails and no obvious way to get a trail map. The park felt safe and was convenient for our route, but we would not stay here again.

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Nightly Rate: $20.00

Days Stayed: 2

Site Number: 46

3 Access
3 Location
3 Cleanliness
2 Site Quality
2 Noise

Cell Coverage Rating

AT&T 4G

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Reviewed by
Campendium

April 06, 2019
Rated

We stopped here simply because we were passing through while on a long roadtrip and I was desperate for a hookup so I could use my heater for a night. I called ahead to ask about the protocol for showing up after hours and the ranger told me to pick any open spot and he’d catch up with us in the morning. It was mid March and there were only three RVs parked throughout a spacious campground. I don’t remember exactly but I think there’s around 60+ sites. All sites seemed level. The showers were closed since it was still off season but there were vault toilets. The ranger stopped by our van around 9/10am to collect payment. He offered a map of the park and recommended we check out the trails. We did one of the waterfall trails and it was really beautiful. I only wish we had been there during a better season to get the full effect of the park.

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This reviewer would stay here again

Nightly Rate: $18.00

Days Stayed: 2

Site Number: 54

5 Access
5 Location
5 Cleanliness
5 Site Quality
5 Noise

Cell Coverage Rating

T-Mobile 4G

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Reviewed by
Campendium

May 03, 2019
Rated

Was here for late April visit for 4 nights. That time of year is always iffy, and it rained. Sun was out for short periods. Too wet to explore the trails, but used this as a jumping off place to explore Southern Illinois, especially Shawnee National Forest areas, Paducah, Ky (Quilt Museum) and Land Between the Lakes area.
Nice site away from the main ring of camp sites. Very quiet until weekend, and more campers arrived.
Would definitely visit again, perhaps in fall...

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This reviewer would stay here again

Nightly Rate: $24.00

Days Stayed: 4

Site Number: 55

5 Access
5 Location
5 Cleanliness
5 Site Quality
5 Noise
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Reviewed by
Campendium

September 09, 2020
Rated

Nice park. Lots of bike trails & trailheads to walk. We arrived on a weekday just after Labor Day & there were many sites to choose from. We had 30 amp service only. They do have a water spigot near the area you can fill from. They have a dump station & clean fill water there too. The bathroom & shower building was open.

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This reviewer would stay here again

Nightly Rate: $20.00

Days Stayed: 1

Site Number: -

4 Access
4 Location
4 Cleanliness
4 Site Quality
4 Noise

Cell Coverage Rating

T-Mobile 4G

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Ferne Clyffe State Park

Illinois Route 37
Goreville, Illinois
62939 USA
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Hours

Open now until 10:00 pm
  • Sun - Sat: 8:00 am - 10:00 pm

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  • Unavailable
    Parking
  • Check
    Pets Allowed
  • Check
    Restrooms
  • Unknown
    Wifi
  • Check
    Wheelchair Accessible
  • Unknown
    Credit Cards Accepted
Affiliation
State park or forest
Last Nightly Rate
18.0
Longest Vehicle Length Reported
37.0
Lowest Nightly Rate
18.0
Max Length
40 ft
Sites Count
59
  • Unavailable
    Paved Sites
  • Check
    Fifty Amp
  • Unavailable
    Full Hookup
  • Check
    Pull Through
  • Check
    Tent Sites
  • Check
    Dump Station
  • Check
    Big Rigs
  • Unavailable
    Open Seasonally
  • Unavailable
    Age Restricted
  • Check
    Boondock
  • Unavailable
    Cabin Sites
  • Unavailable
    Dispersed Sites
  • Unavailable
    Firewood
  • Unavailable
    Fulltime Residents
  • Unavailable
    Group Tent Sites
  • Unavailable
    Laundry
  • Unavailable
    Mobile Homes
  • Unavailable
    Permit Required
  • Check
    Potable Water
  • Unavailable
    Propane
  • Check
    Public Water
  • Check
    Pull Through RV Sites
  • Check
    Reservations
  • Unavailable
    Sewer Hookup
  • Check
    Showers
  • Check
    Sites
  • Check
    Standard Tent Sites
  • Unavailable
    Water Hookup
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