Garden of the Gods
The Shawnee’s crown jewel. Camel Rock — featured on the America the Beautiful quarter — anchors the Observation Trail’s panoramic sandstone views.
Forest Service infoPlan Your Trip
Visit the Shawnee
Visit Southern Illinois and experience the wonders the Shawnee National Forest has to offer — 289,000 acres of bluffs, wilderness, waterways, and trails.
Areas of Interest
Go play!
Camp, paddle, hike, horseback ride, photograph, swim, run, hunt, fish, and picnic — come explore glades, barrens, prairies, streams, lakes, waterfalls, woodlands, and rocky outcrops. Spring brings blooming dogwoods, redbuds, and wildflowers; fall is saturated with color.
Bell Smith Springs
A National Natural Landmark of clear streams, natural bridges, and scenic canyons carved into sandstone — a favorite for hikers and swimmers alike.
Forest Service info
Inspiration Point and Snake Road
Towering bluffs above the Mississippi floodplain — and the famous seasonal road that lets thousands of snakes and amphibians migrate safely.
Forest Service info
Lusk Creek Wilderness
The largest of the forest’s seven wilderness areas, in Pope County — rugged canyons and quiet backcountry for those who want to get away from it all.
Forest Service infoPounds Hollow
A recreation area built around a scenic lake — swimming, camping, and home of our annual Shawnee Plunge every March.
Forest Service infoRecreation & Adventure
Ziplines, horseback riding, paddling, rock climbing, and hundreds of miles of trail — including the cross-state River to River Trail.
Forest Service infoLittle Grand Canyon
A steep sandstone canyon west of Murphysboro — a favorite day hike with seasonal waterfalls after a good rain.
Forest Service infoJackson Falls
Sandstone walls and deep woods — one of the Midwest’s best-known climbing areas, with swimming holes below the bluffs.
Forest Service infoBurden Falls
A seasonal waterfall in the eastern Shawnee. Best after rain, when the creek pours over the sandstone ledge.
Forest Service infoRim Rock
A short National Recreation Trail on a historic CCC flagstone path — bluffs, forest, and an easy walk to wide views.
Forest Service infoHigh Knob
Sandstone bluffs and a hidden slot canyon — one of the Shawnee’s quieter overlooks, with geology you can walk through.
Forest Service info
Kincaid Lake
A large Southern Illinois lake for boating, fishing, and trails — including Friends-supported trail work around the shoreline.
Forest Service infoForest Facts
A land base like no other.
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National Scenic Byways
Two great rivers The Great River Road NSB follows the Mississippi; the Ohio River NSB traces the Ohio to Cairo, where the two rivers meet.
An invisible line North of Route 13: flat farmland. South: the rolling Shawnee Hills, spared by the glaciers that flattened the rest of Illinois.
Forest Service Information
Know before you go.
The Shawnee National Forest is administered by the USDA Forest Service. Contact a ranger district for trail conditions, permits, and alerts.
Forest Headquarters
50 Highway 145 South
Harrisburg, IL 62946
618-253-7114
Open 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (closed 11:30–12:30)
Hidden Springs Ranger District
602 N. First St.
Vienna, IL 62995
618-658-2111
Open 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (closed 11:30–12:30)
Mississippi Bluffs Ranger District
521 N. Main St.
Jonesboro, IL 62952
618-833-8576
Open Tue & Thu — please call for an appointment
Plan Your Visit
Need more help planning a trip?
Check out a local chamber of commerce or tourism bureau for lodging, dining, and events across the region.
Stewardship
Leave things better on the Shawnee.
These lands belong to all of us — and they need all of us. When you visit, practice Leave No Trace: pack out what you pack in, stay on designated trails, respect wildlife, and leave what you find.
- Pack out all trash — and maybe a little extra
- Stay on designated trails to protect fragile areas
- Camp responsibly and check fire regulations
- Respect the guidelines of seasonal closures