Walk all the way down to the bottom tip of Illinois, right where the town of Cairo sits, and you'll run straight into Fort Defiance. It is a wild spot. You stand on a bank and watch two gigantic rivers slam together. The muddy Mississippi crashes directly into the greener Ohio River, and for a few hundred yards, you can actually see a clear line where their waters collide before finally mixing. Pretty cool, right Plus, at 279 feet above sea level, you are standing at the lowest point in the entire state.

History buffs love this place for a totally different reason. Back in 1861, General Ulysses S. Grant set up a military post right on this dirt to control river traffic during the Civil War. The original wooden fort is gone. So, you won't see cannons or barracks, but you can climb the observation tower to look across three states while massive steel barges push past below. Bring your binoculars. Bald eagles love hunting along this stretch of water, especially in the winter, so keep your eyes peeled.

Fort Defiance State Park has 16 campsites. The camping area is non-modern. No flush toilets or showers are present. However, electrical hookups are available at eight sites. All camping permits are obtained through self-registration at the campground. Camping Fees can be paid at the site.