Matthiessen State Park
- Status
- Open (per official listing)Daily 7 a.m. – sunset
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- dnr.illinois.gov(815) 667-4726
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 1
Construction IMPORTANT INFORMATIONStarved Rock and Matthiessen State Parks Hunting Season 2026 & 27 Closure signs will be posted. November 20-22, & December 3-6 Shotgun Season and… (more)
Starved Rock and Matthiessen State Parks Hunting Season 2026 & 27 Closure signs will be posted. November 20-22, & December 3-6 Shotgun Season and DOO (Deer) • Starved Rock State Park hiking trails are open!! • CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC (except for hunters): • Starved Rock Campground, Starved Rock Nature Preserve, Hennepin Canyon Parking Lot, Matthiessen State Park, Sandy Ford Nature Preserve, Mitchell's Grove Nature Preserve, and Margery C. Carlson Nature Preserve. December 11-13 Muzzleloader Season (Deer) • Starved Rock State Park hiking trails are open!! • CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC (except for hunters): • Starved Rock Nature Preserve, Hennepin Canyon Parking Lot, Matthiessen State Park, Sandy Ford Nature Preserve, Mitchell's Grove Nature Preserve, and Margery C. Carlson Nature Preserve. December 31-January 3, & January 15-17, 2027 CWD Firearm (Deer) • Starved Rock State Park and Matthiessen State Park hiking trails are open!! • CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC (except for hunters): • Starved Rock Nature Preserve, Matthiessen Nature Preserve, Sandy Ford Nature Preserve, Mitchell's Grove Nature Preserve, and Margery C. Carlson Nature Preserve. Park Closures • The restroom building…
Posted by the park. Official alert
Overview
Covering about 1,915 acres, Matthiessen State Park lies in LaSalle County, about 2 miles east of Oglesby.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | Daily | 7 a.m. – sunset | — |
Official wording
7 a.m - Sunset
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Chicago).
Fees and passes
Free: 'The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) does not charge an Entrance Fee to any state owned or operated land.' Camping, cabins and shelters are fee-based.
Statewide fee rule from Illinois's park system; this park’s page doesn’t list its own fees.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- ExploreMoreIL (IDNR camping, cabins, group camps and shelters)
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
Dogs allowed
All pets must be on a leash. • All pets must be on a leash.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Camping
Camping
An equestrian campground for horseback riders and their horses is located west of Route 178 between Route 71 and the Dells Area entrance. Alcohol is prohibited on all campgrounds. The horseback riders' camping and multi-use trails are open from May 1 (weather permitting-determined by park staff) through the second weekend of November. Call 815-667-4726 to check conditions and status before coming to use these facilities.
The equestrian campground is for horseback riders only, please. Sites are first come first serve and reservations cannot be made through the park or online. Campers will complete a registration envelope at the campground and drop the information and fee for the night in the box provided at the campground. The cost per night is $8. There are 14 sites that come with a picnic table and grill. Electricity and tie lines are not available, campers will need to bring their own generators. There are restrooms, water hydrants, and a mounting station located at the campground.
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
Trails
Trails
Matthiessen State Park has 5 miles of well-marked, well-surfaced hiking trails for a relaxing walk or a vigorous hike. Large trail maps are located at all major trail intersections so visitors can choose a variety of routes. The upper area and bluff tops are easy hiking paths for the novice, but the trails into the interiors of the two dells may be difficult to negotiate, particularly during spring and early summer. Hikers must stay on marked trails, as steep cliffs and deep canyons can be dangerous. Hikers will marvel at the plant and animal life along the trails and have an unparalleled view of geological wonders as they travel through the park. Alcohol is prohibited on all trails.
Cross Country Skiing There are 6 miles of cross-country ski trails at Matthiessen State Park for those who bring their own skis or snow shoes.
Fishing
Hunting and Fishing
For details on hunting regulations, check the online hunting information for Matthiessen, Starved Rock, Sandy Ford, and Mitchell’s Grove
Bank fishing is allowed at Matthiessen Lake located on the north side of the park off Route 71. Please follow fishing regulations as stated in the Illinois Fishing Guided 2023. Valid State of Illinois fishing license is required.
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Picnic areas
- Park or camp store
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
Accessibility at Matthiessen:
•
Parking - Matthiessen Dells parking lots are asphalt with 4 accessible parking spaces. Concrete sidewalks are adjacent to the parking lots. There is a wheelchair ramp to the law enforcement office.
•
Restrooms - The Matthiessen Dells area has an accessible flush toilet, and the Matthiessen River Area has three accessible vault toilets with concrete pathways leading to them.
•
Picnicking - The large shelter near the fort is accessible and has a concrete path leading to it from the parking area.
•
Trails - There is a 1/4-mile trail at the Matthiessen Lake Shelter Area. There is a wooden ramp to the Lake Falls bridge, then a concrete path leading west. The bridge surface is weather-dependent.
•
Camping - The equestrian campground is open May 1-October 31 and offers one accessible campsite and a rider loading ramp. There are concrete sidewalks to the vault toilets.
•
Service animals are welcome in the park, and water is available in hydrants at the shelter areas.
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Rules and permits
Park Rules and Regulations
NOTICE: Alcohol is prohibited on all trails.
Additional Regulations
- PLEASE NOTE! It is a state offense to remove any archaeological or Native American material from any Illinois state park.
- No camping, rappelling, or rock or ice climbing is allowed.
- Hike only the marked trails. Unmarked areas are dangerous. Numerous people have been seriously injured or killed in this park. All users must be off of the trails by/before dark.
- All pets must be on a leash.
- In case of an accident or emergency CALL 911
Getting there
- Address
- Box 509
Utica, IL 61373 - Nearest town
- Oglesby — about 2 mi east (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 41.2860, -89.0250
- Phone
- (815) 667-4726
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Illinois State Parks (IDNR state parks and recreation areas) — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- IDNR All Parks list (AEM content-fragment list JSON) + each unit's landing page for official title, coordinates, address, phone
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology