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.
Plan Your Trip
Visit the Shawnee
Visit Southern Illinois and experience the wonders the Shawnee National Forest has to offer — 286,000 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.
Pine Hills & Snake Road
Towering bluffs above the Mississippi floodplain — and the famous seasonal road closure that lets thousands of snakes and amphibians migrate safely.
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.
Pounds Hollow
A recreation area built around a scenic lake — swimming, camping, and home of our annual Shawnee Plunge every March.
Recreation & Adventure
Ziplines, horseback riding, paddling, rock climbing, and hundreds of miles of trail — including the cross-state River to River Trail.
Forest 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.
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 seasonal closures like Snake Road
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.