Piney Creek Ravine State Natural Area
- Status
- Status not posted
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Not stated — check with park
- Camping
- None listed
- Official site
- dnr.illinois.gov(618) 826-2706
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
Covering about 202 acres, Piney Creek Ravine State Natural Area lies in Randolph County, about 11 miles east of Chester.
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
See the park’s wording
Paintings were created by grinding minerals, such as limestone, into a yellow or red powder, which, when mixed with animal fat, adheres to rock surfaces. The deer and bird images found within the ravine also may represent spirits rather than actual animals.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Things to do
Trails
Hiking
A hiking trail that winds along the top of a bluff overlooking the creek crosses scenic Piney Creek. The trail is especially beautiful in the autumn when fall colors abound and also in the winter, when the leafless trees allow unconstricted viewing into the ravine below.
Accessibility
Accessibility at Piney Creek:
•
Parking - All parking lots are gravel. Park does not have sidewalks.
•
Restrooms - Park does not have accessible restrooms.
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- 2280 Piney Creek Road
Campbell Hill, IL 62916 - Nearest town
- Chester — about 11 mi east (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 37.8900, -89.6380
- Phone
- (618) 826-2706
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
- 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