8 places to go stargazing near Marion, IL

September 16th, 2021 by

The city of Marion sits at the southern end of Illinois and has access to many outdoor places. If you want to do some stargazing, there are several great parks with dark skies around. Some things to keep in mind are how late the parks are open, and if you will need a campsite rental. But with just a little planning, you can experience the night sky in all its magical vastness. So pack some blankets and chairs, a thermos of hot chocolate, and head out to some of these amazing stargazing spots.

Giant City State Park

Giant City State Park is located about 30 minutes south and west of Marion, at 235 Giant City Road, near the small town of Makanda. The park features giant sheer-sided sandstone bluffs reminiscent of tall buildings, which is why it’s named Giant City. You can enjoy extensive hiking and horseback trails, a visitor center with interpretive displays, several campgrounds located around the park, and the historic Giant City Lodge with a gift store and dining options available. The best spots for stargazing are the large meadow on the park’s south side and the visitor center’s parking lot.

Beall Woods State Park

Beall Woods State Park is still in southern Illinois but is a bit further from Marion. It’s located over an hour and a half away from Marion at 9285 Beall Woods Avenue in Mount Carmel near the Indiana border. The park follows along the Wabash River and is home to a rare old-growth forest where you can still find trees that are over 120 feet tall. It also has a small lake near which you’ll find parking, picnic tables and shelters, a visitor center, and hiking trails. The best spot to catch the stars is near the North Shelter.

Ferne Clyffe State Park

Just 20 minutes south of Marion lies Ferne Clyffe State Park. This uniquely beautiful spot has lush ferns, rock formations and waterfalls, picturesque forest trails, and breathtaking vistas. It has several camping spots, picnic shelters, and parking spots, but the best place to go for stargazing is the parking lot at Ferne Clyffe Lake. This serene lake provides an opening in the woodlands to appreciate the sky above. The Ferne Clyffe Lake is circled by a hiking trail and can be used for fishing or just enjoying the peaceful rippling of the water at the forest’s edge.

Newton Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

Two hours north of Marion, you’ll find the Newton Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area at 3490 E. 500th Avenue in Newton. That’s a bit of a drive if you’re just going to stargaze, but why not head here for the day and spend the afternoon on the 22 miles of hiking trails around the lakeshore? Then you can have a picnic and watch the sunset from a boat on the lake before enjoying all the natural wonders of the sky at night from the parking lot. Afterward, you can drive safely home or to a nearby campsite.

Pyramid State Park

Pyramid State Park and Pyramid State Recreation Area are about an hour northwest of Marion, near the town of Pinckneyville. This state park occupies land that was once owned by a mining company, and much of the park is reclaimed sites that now include many lakes, ponds, wetlands, grasslands, and wooded hills. Pyramid State Park offers 18 miles of hiking trails, numerous small picnic areas, and campsites for tent camping. The park is divided into five management units, with the best places to watch the stars found in the Captain, Denmark, and East Conant units.

Ramsey Lake State Park

If you drive two hours directly north from Marion, you’ll find Ramsey Lake State Park. This is a great park for enjoying lakeside picnics and spending a day on the water. It has a boat dock and launch ramp on Ramsey Lake, and boat rentals are available. There are plenty of campgrounds if you’ve decided to spend the weekend here to enjoy the forested lakeside and some boating and fishing. Once it’s gotten dark, the best way to view the stars is to wander out on top of the dam near White Oak Campground for uninterrupted horizons.

Stephen A. Forbes State Park

The Stephen A. Forbes State Park is an hour and 20 minutes north of Marion at 6924 Omega Road in Kinmundy. The park consists of oak and hickory woods surrounding Forbes Lake. It was completed in the ‘60s and gives you 18 miles of shoreline and a 200-foot sandy swimming beach. The Oak Ridge Campground has over a hundred campsites with nearby lake access via two sets of stairs and a dock. There’s also a floating walkway connecting to the marina. Your best spots for stargazing are from the Circle Drive day-use area and the spillway bank fishing area.

Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park

Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park lies just 35 minutes north of Marion on Rend Lake. This arm of land is surrounded by the lake on three sides, with many coves along the shoreline. The lake is popular with sport fishers, while the shoreline and trails are a great place for camping, picnicking, hiking, and horseback riding. The west side of the park looks across the wider part of Rend Lake and offers numerous points to observe the open sky at night. Bring some friends and some warm drinks and enjoy an evening under the stars.

Whether you need some time outdoors by yourself or have planned a romantic evening with your partner, stargazing will be an unforgettable experience. You can bring a star chart to look for planets and constellations or just take in the depth of the Milky Way, a sight like no other. So bring some snacks and hot drinks and head out to see the stars. Have you been stargazing around Marion before? At VW of Marion we’d love to hear your suggestions, so contact us if you have a great stargazing spot that you’d like us to know about.

Posted in Exploring Marion