Giant City Lake
- Dogs
- Allowed
Entry fee: No Illinois state park entrance fee stated on the park page. Giant City Lake is a lake cove on Little Grassy Lake in Jackson County, Illinois.
01
Closures and warnings
You can't swim here The land manager does not allow swimming at Giant City Lake.
02
Before you swim
| Swimming allowed | No |
|---|---|
| Water type | Lake cove |
| Water clarity | No designated natural lake beach at the park; swimming listed for the lodge pool, not Little Grassy Lake. |
03
Access
| Parking | Giant City State Park visitor area at 235 Giant City Road, Makanda. |
|---|---|
| Fee | No Illinois state park entrance fee stated on the park page |
| Hours | Park open roughly sunrise to dusk; lodge amenities have separate hours |
| Managed by | Illinois Department of Natural Resources (Giant City State Park) |
| Restrooms | Yes |
|---|---|
| Picnic sites | Yes |
| Note | Outdoor swimming pool at Giant City Lodge; Little Grassy Lake on the east side is fishing/boating (10 hp limit), managed with Crab Orchard NWR. |
04
Rules
| Dogs | Allowed |
|---|
05
Common questions
Common questions
Is Giant City Lake open?
Hours: Park open roughly sunrise to dusk; lodge amenities have separate hours.
Can you swim at Giant City Lake?
No, swimming is not allowed at Giant City Lake.
How do you get to Giant City Lake?
Parking: Giant City State Park visitor area at 235 Giant City Road, Makanda.
Is there a fee at Giant City Lake?
The fee is No Illinois state park entrance fee stated on the park page.
What facilities are at Giant City Lake?
Restrooms and picnic sites. Outdoor swimming pool at Giant City Lodge; Little Grassy Lake on the east side is fishing/boating (10 hp limit), managed with Crab Orchard NWR.
What are the rules at Giant City Lake?
Dogs are allowed.
Sources
3
- https://dnr.illinois.gov/parks/park.giantcity.html (accessed September 28, 2026; backs manager, access.parking, access.fee, rules.dogs)
- https://dnr.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/dnr/publications/documents/00000065.pdf (accessed September 28, 2026; backs waterbodyName, access.amenities, swimmerNotes.waterClarityNote, swimmerNotes.waterType)
- https://aethrio.co/parks/giant-city-state-park (accessed September 28, 2026; backs access.hours, swimmerNotes.swimmingAllowed)
More: Illinois swimming holes