Exploring Nature and Hiking in Matthiessen State Park

May 11, 2025

What started out as a 175 acre private park at its inception by industrialist Frederick Williem Mathiessen, property for this state park now covers nearly 2000 sprawling acres! Just a few short miles from the larger but busier Starved Rock State Park, Matthiessen is a perfect alternative for a quieter, less crowded adventure day out. While there’s no nature center, museum, or campsites, it’s perfect for daily excursions with beautiful rock gorges and sweeping canyons, and trails that cut through forests and along lakes and creeks. We recommend spending at least 2 days in the area to check out both the Upper Dells and Lower Dells/Vermillion River regions.

There are 5 miles total of hiking trails, and all are very clearly marked and fairly well surfaced, making them pretty accessible to most abilities and ages. The park also has 9 miles of multi-use trails for mountain biking and equestrian use. Note that some trails are not going to be stroller or wheelchair accessible due to rocky or challenging terrain, so check ahead of time if you will be utilizing either of those. The upper area and bluff tops are perfect for beginners and those looking for less strenuous hiking. The interior areas will be more difficult to traverse, especially during spring and summer. While it might be tempting to go “off the beaten track” we really don’t recommend it for safety sake – you’re very likely to encounter dangerous cliff edges and steep canyons, so follow all posted signs and warnings. Pets are welcomed but must be on a leash at all times, and you must clean up after them. You must be off the trails and out of the park area before dark; no overnight camping is allowed.

There are several picnic and play areas for families to enjoy a lovely day out in the fresh air. Picnic area shelters are located near each of the park entrances, making it easy to pack a lunch and a cooler for a nice afternoon meal. For those with younger kids in tow, the French Outpost Fort makes a great stop as well as letting them shake out their excess energy on the playground area.

Mattheissen offers plenty of other fun activities besides picnicking and hiking! Hunting and fishing are allowed with proper state licensing and following seasonal regulations and limits. A field archery range is available with targets for sport shooting as well. Hobbyists will also enjoy the radio-controlled model airplane field, and visitors can enjoy watching these mini aircrafts flying about as well. Canoeing and kayaking are also available at Mattheissen Lake on the north side of the park, but it’s a BYO canoe/kayak policy with no rentals on site.

Make sure to pack your good camera, as there’s many opportunities to take stunning wildlife and landscape photos! Since this area has much lower foot traffic than its sister park, Starved Rock, you’ll have a chance to get plenty of natural imagery without people. Keep your eyes peeled for seasonal wildflowers including Blue Phlox, Wild Geraniums, Bloodroot, Wild Hydrangea, Jack-In-the-Pulpit, Virginia Bluebells, and more. There are numerous species of fungi as well such as the Coral-Pink Merulius, Cedar-apple Rust, Chicken of the Woods, Orange Mycena, Turkey Tail, and Dog’s Nose Fungus, among others.

The Upper Dell area of the park is home to Cascade Falls, a 15 foot waterfall reachable at the end of a half-mile in-and-out easy to moderate hike. Lake Falls is around the 20 foot to 30 foot range, and can be accessed by a 1.5 mile in-and-out round trip hike of easy to moderate ability. Giant’s Bathtub Falls is also with visiting, and while it’s not the tallest or largest in the park, it’s really worth the visit for its beauty; accessible by a 1.2 mile round trip hike of easy to moderate ability.