Shawnee National Forest Reviews

It is amazing to discover that the vast Shawnee National Forest with its dense forest, steep bluffs and rushing rivers are located in the state of Illinois. The glaciers never quite made it this far south and the result is more Ozarks or Appalachian foothills than the typically flat terrain of Illinois. We hiked the 5-mile loop through the canyon which was moderately strenuous and required some rock scrambling in a few areas. The trail is marked but if you're not aware it is easy to get lost. This park also has easier hikes and stunning vistas. Truly a treasure.

After years of driving through southern Illinois on our way south or our way north we decided to take a Spring break within a days drive of our home in northern Wisconsin. We left late March and stayed 11 days in that area into early April. Tress were just starting to bud and some of the bushes were turning green and wildflowers coming up. The scenery and scenic roads in this area were absolutely beautiful. They call this area the Illinois Ozarks and with the rock outcrops, valleys, canyons, waterfalls, cliffs and lakes it is truly worth exploring. We have a van camper and there are State Parks, City Parks, County parks, National Forest Campgrounds, Fish and Wildlife Campgrounds all over. Some still did not have showers open, others were just opening up but we are reasonably self contained so really don't need anything. With the trees not in bloom yet we were able to see through to the bluffs and valleys better than if everything was leafed in. We ended up staying all 11 days in this area and could have even stayed longer. So many parks and scenic areas to see not to mention the Ohio River on the east side of the forest and Mississippi River on the west side.

We've spend two days in the park this October, we were lucky to have the last warm weekend or the year (sunny, mid 70). All the trees were already full of color, but still with the leaves on, the views were amazing. The rock formations are nice as well.

We stayed in Pounds Hollow campground, very nice place, spacious sports for camping. We've hiked in Garden of the Gods, Rim Rock Trail and around the Pounds Lake.

Hope to come back again next year.

Shawnee National Forest is gorgeous. It has with quaint towns, farmland, old farms, beautiful trees, rolling hills, great trails and plenty of deer. Drive through or stay and play. It is a wonderful display of nature

This 3 day trip down south in Illinois was very much worth the journey! The nature there was something I would not expect Illinois to have. It is a must see solo, with someone, kids, etc.

We wanted to get off the interstate for awhile on our way to Nashville from northern Illinois. Jumped on 34/145 and enjoyed the drive through the forest. Made one stop at Garden of the Gods. A short path to follow with spectacular views. Easy to walk but there are some steep areas. Was a very HOT day so glad path was short. Took us about 30 minutes to walk the 1/4 mile path. Ample parking. Then took Rt 1 south all the way down to end and surprised to find a ferry there to take us over the river. Quick and easy to use to get into KY.

This trail was very difficult but wonderful. The rocks are very slippery so care in needed, but the walk across the canyon floor is wonderfully serene. And a HUGE thank you for the fantastic trail markings. We had gotten lost on the trail the previous day and would not have wanted to repeat that experience, especially since this was more difficult. So thank you very much to the trail markers

My husband and I just returned from spending 5 wonderful days in Southern Illinois. We are walkers, but not experienced hikers who thoroughly enjoyed every trail we followed. The only reason I didn't give a high rating was because it wasn't easy to find our way around on the roads. Before entering the forest I saw an information headquarters on the highway, but we didn't stop. I thought there would be a visitor center inside the forest. Garden of the Gods was beautiful and trail easy to follow. It's only 1/3 mile and can be done in 20-45 mins depending on how much time you want to spend at each scenic overlook. Also, the roads are narrow and winding so use caution while driving.

I’m hooked on this place! Not at all what I had expected to find in Illinois. Love the hiking, rock formations, and waterfalls. It’s also great for watching the sunset and offers an amazing view of the night sky. I live in a big city where the light pollution drowns out the night sky so I really enjoy it here once it gets dark. There are so many stars, even when the moon is full, that’s one of the many reasons I keep going back!

Well, it's difficult to tell you all the different activities available in the Shawnee National Forest, but here are some of the highlights. There are hundreds of miles of hiking trails, hundreds of camping sites, acres upon acres of fishing. But it doesn't end there, there are also many special events all year long at different locations all across Southern Illinois. If you've never visited a Shawnee National Forest site, stop waiting!

Ignore the reviews from people who came from the eclipse. It was only that crowded once in its history (2017) and wont be that crowded until the next eclipse in 2024. Reviews from the eclipse are misleading because its from a situation that was never expected in the first place. The Shawnee Forest has many areas to see like Giant City State Park (Probably has the most people because of how close it is to the city of Carbondale), The little Grand Canyon, The natural bridge in Pomona Il, Garden Of The Gods, Inspiration Point (One of the best views in the state outside of Chicago Skyscrapers and probably the best sunset in the state), and Bell smith Springs (Which is like a tase of the Ozark's in Southern Illinois and my personal favorite spot). I recommend for anyone in the Midwest looking to check out an area they have never seen before. The small hippie town of Makanda is a must visit with a nice strip of small shops and an annual festival called vulture fest with music and vendors.

Rim Rock trail was great. MUST go down the stairs. That’s where the cool rocks are. See the cave and then go back up. Couldn’t see much of the canyon but still a beautiful walk and going down the stairs through the rocks was so cool!

Garden of the Gods was fantastic! Short distance but take your time and climb around on the rocks.

Indian Point trail - past the pond, the trail gets very narrow. Too risky since lots of poison ivy and probably ticks. We and two other couples turned around. Lots of frogs in the pond and nice forest though.

Beautiful place!! We took our 10 yr old son and he loved it too. Spectacular views and great hiking. Loved watching the sunset!

Hiking Trails: the markings are barely there-the trails are not well kept. In other words, venture on your own and try to keep track of where you go. If you go on the loops-you will be fine. But the loops aren't really hiking--they are just an everyday stroll.

There are two locations (east and west) of Shawnee National Forest attractions, and you really need a minimum of two days to see just a small portion of them. We stayed in Marion, IL as a base because it is almost equal driving distance to both locations...about a 45 minute/35 mile drive. I would highly recommend before heading out to either side of the forest to get some maps. If you head east of Marion on Rt. 13 and go into Harrisburg, take Rt. 34 south and there you will find the main supervisor office for the Shawnee National Forest (both sides) and lots of maps/ brochures/and real people to talk to and get information and directions from.

From Harrisburg, you can easily drive to the Garden of the Gods (the east side of the forest), which is the star attraction of the forest. Paved steps take you to a series of rock formations (sand stone outcroppings) that are perched atop a vista high above miles of wooded hills. This is an easy walk. From here you can also drive down Karber Ridge Road to Rim Rock that
takes you for an easy walk through the forest and a narrow stone pass. Also, worth seeing on the east side is Millstone Bluff with Indian petroglyphs and Bell Smith Springs and Burden Falls, which due to lack of rain, is somewhat of a trickle. Both of these sites do require hiking and the crossing of streams.

The west side of the forest can be accessed by taking Rt. 13 west to Rt. 127 south out of Murphysboro, or as we did by taking Rt. 13 west to Carbondale and Rt. 51 south to Anna. Out of Anna, we took Rt. 3 north to the La Rue Pine Hills Ecological Center. We chose this route because we wanted to check out a place called Snake Road. Twice a year...from March 15-May 15 and from September 1-October 30...the road closes to allow 56 species of cottonmouth snakes, skinks and salamanders to migrate from the cliffs on the east side to the marsh on the west side. Snake Road is not paved and even when closed you are allowed to hike it. There is also a trail up into the cliffs. We were there mid October and although we saw no amphibians or reptiles we did see fresh snake holes with a diameter the size of a pop can! That's no small snake.

Two other attractions worth seeing on the west side of the forest are the Pamona Natural Bridge and the Little Grand Canyon, which be forewarned is at least a 2-hour hike to do the entire ridge and canyon and has some very strenuous uphill hikes. The bridge and the canyon can be accessed off of Rt. 127 south and Hickory Ridge Road. This is also an area wine trail with the Pamona Winery and several others along the route and all have wine tastings.

The Shawnee National Forest is a geological gem, but few people seem to frequent it like they do other national areas. We experienced no crowds and sometimes were the only ones on trails. There are no concessions, so bring food and water. There are only non-flushing toilets, so bring hand sanitizer. Gas up before you go. And be sure to get some maps.

Illinois might have an edge over Indiana and Iowa when it comes to beautiful landscape. We've been to Galena and Northwest Illinois and we've been to Starved Rock State Park. And some stretches of the River Road along the Mississippi River have picture postcard quality. But nothing compares to Shawnee National Forest, which is located in the Ozark and Shawnee Hills of southern Illinois. It consists of about 280,000 acres of federally managed lands. Of course, unless you're driving on little-traveled I-24 between Carbondale and Paducah, Kentucky, you hardly know it exists. This is the least populated area in the state. It also is the single largest publicly owned body of land in Illinois. It was declared one of the nation's 155 national forests in 1939. It is hard to imagine that any of them boasts of such a natural wonder as Garden of the Gods. It alone makes a trip to the Shawnee National Forest worthwhile. Garden of the Gods is one of seven officially designated wilderness areas within the park. Others are Bald Knob, Bay Creek, Burden Falls, Clear Springs, Lusk Creek and Panther Den. Backpackers and hikers also are encouraged to visit other sites such as the wetlands nature center, Heron pond, Little Grand Canyon, Cedar Lake and Hicks Dome. At the wetlands nature center, all of the poisonous snakes who inhabit the park are exhibited. One universal complaint: The hiking trails aren't marked as well as they should be. And more maps and information should be available for tourists. A trip to nearby Cave-In Rock, a historical site on the Ohio River, also is worth your time.

We drove over from Evansville. About a 1:45 minute drive. It was a nice day. We first stopped in Pounds Hollow because we needed a restroom. There were only two poeple at this park. There is a lake and a sand beach. It looks like it would be fun for small kids in summer. We were parents with two teenagers in October. The girls took pictures with the lake in the background. It was quiet and pretty.

We then drove a couple of minutes to Rim Rocks. There is a trail that is 1/2 a mile between the two locations. Rim Rocks is a very neat area with some nice rock formations along two trails that interconnect. One trail circles above while the other is below the rocks. we found some neat places to take pictures.

From here we drove about 15 minutes to Garden of the Gods. We ate lunch in the picnic area and then toured the rock formations. They are amazing. We spent about 1 hour here and then drove 2 minutes to the trail head of Indian point. This is a .7 mile hike to a beautiful rock formation that over looks Southern Illinois. The best thing about it is no one else was there. The hike back ack be the same trail or you can make it a loop which i would recommend and it is one mile on the return. There are some neat rock formations to explore if you take the long way back.

All trails were very easy to hike.

I decided to hike in Shawnee National Forest after reading a piece in Backpacker magazine. I was not disappointed. Although the hikes were not challenging, they provided excellent views. The Garden of the Gods is a short walking path, rather than a hike, but a must see due to the beauty of the land.

Camping at Pounds Hollow costs 10$ a night and includes picnic table, fire enclosure, and standard electrical/RV hookups (not water for RV).

*no cell reception for phone addicts

Pounds Hollow connects to Rim Rock, which is a moderate trail that has a scenic view throughout one half of the trail. Exercise and experience.

A jog away Pounds Hollow camp is a pavillion with restrooms and a beach. Kayaking and fishing happens in some areas.

Last, but not least, 12 miles from Pounds Hollow is IL'S Garden of the Gods. Great scenes, easy main path, moderate forest trails, primitive camping, and picnicing.

This place is difficult to find. But its worth the extra fuel. Near Simpson, Il. Take Cedar Grove rd north off of rt 147. about 3 miles east of simpson. If you pass Cedar Grove Cemetary then youve gone to far. Take Sand Cave road on the left. Youll come to a dead end where you think the illinois chainsaw massacre will take place. :) Thats it. Take the trail and enjoy.

Dixon Springs State Park is within the Shawnee National Forest. There is no charge to enter. The facilities include a pool, picnic area, children’s play area, and camping. It is located on hwy 146 which one picks up from Interstate 24 at Vienna, Illinois. If this was it, I wouldn’t have bothered to write this review, but there is a hidden gem in this review. Along highway 146 there are no restaurants or food establishments of any kind. However, directly across from the entrance to Dixon State Park is a chocolate factory all by itself. Literally, it is named the Chocolate Factory. Before hitting the park pick up their incredible, on-sight produced chocolate of every kind. Not only is it fantastic but it is crazy cheap. Additionally, they charge the same per-pound price for everything, so you can mix and match all you want. They also have ice cream available. Once you’re loaded up, drive across the street into the park. I guarantee if you have read this far, you are headed for a really good time. Indeed, I am writing this review having just finished our chocolate dinner and riding out a vicious thunderstorm in the park.

The forest here is beyond compare... large stands of primordial pines, lots of native deciduous growth... swamps, ponds, rock formations... you name it. This forest also includes the Garden of the Gods. Worth a day trip, for sure!

A hidden gem for sure! I was beyond thrilled to learn about this place and go see it. Beautiful views, very unique to say the least. Loved climbing on the rocks to take different pictures. I'm coming back to see this place in the Spring for sure!

We had a great time camping at Turkey Bayou Campground. The campground was completely full with campers celebrating the 2017 solar eclipse, a rare event that drew thousands from around the world to southern Illinois. We found the campground clean and the staff were very friendly, especially Norm. We got to star gaze, fish and fellowship with other campers. Thanks Norm for a fantastic experience. We plan on returning to the campground next summer!

June 26, 2015 While driving along the interstate from Mo headed towards TN, we decided to exit and explore the Shawnee national Park. Turns out it is the only one in Illinois. What an unexpected treat! There was so much to explore and do that we ended up spending the whole day in the forest! I will tell you that the local cop is Johnny on the spot when he notices strangers in the park. He came right over to us as soon as we stopped at the Chocolate Factory to use the restrooms. He just inquired a little and satisfied that we were just enjoying the beauty of the Forest, he went on about his business., We did ask him where a good place to eat lunch was and he told us to try the Dari-Barr just down the road in Golconda. After getting our chocolate fix, we went across the road to Dixion Springs Park and spent some time there before moving on to the Trail Of Tears Monument. It was down and up a dirt & gravel road located to our left. The one stone says Field Trovilliuon Cemetery a.k.a. Fields Cemetery. Among the graves there are two stones that pay tribute to the 9,500 Cherokee Indians who passed through this cemetery on their way to Indian Territory in 1838. Sadly, many did not make it. Locals murdered several and they are buried here. There is much to tell about what happened to the Cherokee while passing through here and how they died waiting on the ferry huddled at Mantle Rock and being charged $1.00 when it only costs 12 and a half cents! It was but one of many "trail Of Tears" the Cherokee were forced to march until they finaly arrived on land set aside for them. Not far from the cemetery is a pretty little while church that according to the bulletin board outside, Serving God over 150 years! See pic below. Ahem, I got side-tracked by the plight of the Cherokee on the Trail Of Tears. Back to the Forest. Thee are many great opportunities to hike the various trail like Cave in Rock, The Little Grand Canyon, Heron pond, Pomona Natural Bridge, etc. but we made our way to the area where the Garden Of The Gods is located. Along the way we stopped to look at the fine cabins for rent and almost did . You can't miss the statue of "Sassy" the squatch on the right before the cabins that you can get out and take your pic with. This was funny and corny but what the heck, we will never be in this neck of the woods again. That was on our right and we followed the sign and turned to our left following the winding road through the forest passing many hikers along the way. Be careful here, they just pop out of the woods all along the trails. We enjoyed seeing the different rock formations. The parking Lot was ample and not over crowded. You do have to climb a dew stairs before the trail but it really is a short trail and not very bad even for me and I am 53 years old. The hike was pleasant and you can see much if stop and listen and look with your heart. P.S. Don't forget to eat at the Dari-barr when you have worked up that appetite, they have daily specials like the fried fish dinner we enjoyed! Happy Trails!

We mainly drove through the are. It was wet so we didn't want to do much walking. Looked at several over looks. Had to believe Illinois has this tip of rugged ground.

Great for the whole family we shad all ranges of ages and everyone had a great time! neat and clean tables and benches for the older folks to watch the kids.

Over 250,000 acres of beauty in Southern Illinois that many people don't even know exists. Biking, walking, horseback trails galore. Awesome rock formations and hidden waterfalls. Though in July/August it is Hot and Humid! Leave from Chicago at 6:00 AM and you're there by noon. Late October the foliage colors are awesome!

Many great hikes in Shawnee National Forrest. Our only issue was that we had 4 days and there wasn't enough time to hit all those that we wanted. One thing to make sure is to gas up before going into the forest as there aren't many gas stations. There is a lot of driving to do since it is such a large place.

My boyfriend & I just returned from a hiking weekend in Shawnee National Forest. The first day we went to Garden of the Gods. GG has interesting rock formations. There are two trails. The first trail is short & takes you to an overlook. There you can see Camel Rock, Table Rock and Standing Rock. The second trail is 5.5 mile & takes you past interesting rock formations like Anvil Rock, Mushroom Rock and Big H. There were many wildflowers in bloom. I saw a lot of Jack in the Pulpits which I had never seen before. In the afternoon we went to Rimrock which has many interesting Rock formations and a campground with a beach!

The second day we went to Bell Smith Springs & Burden Falls. Both of these are stunningly beautiful. If you ever get to southern Illinois these are not to be missed! It had been raining & the falls were spectacular! I think if you went when there had not been rain the falls might be a little disappointing. We also went to Indian Kitchen on the second afternoon. The Indian Kitchen is lovely but I was unprepared for the long grueling hike. It was along a very muddy churned up horse trail.

Be sure to bring hiking poles, binoculars, and lots of water!

Lived in Illinois all my life, but had no idea the stunning, rich landscapes available in Southern Illinois. Yes, there's land SOUTH of Carbondale, and it's GORGEOUS!! Our favorites were Hawk's Cave in Ferne Clyffe, Fat Man's Squeeze, the Pomona Land Bridge, and Garden of the Gods. Check photos to see how beautiful it is down here.

Went hiking with my wife and 2 kids (11 and 8) and wife's parents. The Ferne Clyffe trails were easy enough for everybody. There's a lake for fishing and lots of picnic areas. Some trails seemed like they would accommodate strollers. Many of the trails were wide and easy to walk. But some got rather narrow with lots of poison ivy, so prepare for that.

This is a beautiful area to visit. Since my mother was born and raised near here is Harrisburg, IL, I have been here many times. There is always a different place to explore, no matter how many times a person visits. I think that the best place is Garden of the Gods, although it is getting harder for me to get to the top of Camel Rock to look over the vast landscape. I hope to get back to visit again this fall as the leaves are turning, but spring is as enjoyable to see the earth waking up. Cave-in-Rock is also a very interesting site.

we stopped here on our way home from Fla. We drove through a few places and stopped at one or two. Very large area to cover/ When we go back we will drive to places one day, and scout out the best hiking for the next day/days. It is definitely not a one day trip, unless you live close and can easily go back. I was amazed by the cleanliness of the park, and the pit/outhouses were so clean. We were there at end of January--so that may be one reason. Totally impressed by the facilities!!! you can tell they take pride in their park. I am always dismayed by how disrespectful people are about nature, by throwing garbage down--even with a receptacle nearby. There are signs posted telling you no drinks/bottles/etc... on trails. I wish people would pay attention. Not sure on camping near there, but will check it out next visit.

This is a beautiful area with many interesting little hikes around rock formations. The forest is broken up by many small farms and homes. I would recommend Garden of the Gods, Rimrock, Giant city state park and the Heron pond walk in the bald cyprus swamp. Disappointed by the "little grand canyon" - the trail was washed out where the most scenic views are, so it was not worth the long drive to get there. A local hiker told me that it was washed out frequently. We went in early June and had few mosquitoes, but many wood ticks. The Giant city state park visitor center was closed on the Monday that we went; fortunately trail descriptions were online (thank goodness for smart phones!) and the trails clearly marked. We also stopped at Dixon springs and went into Marion, Kentucky riding on the free ferry; not sure if I would recommend either of those, not much to see. DO NOT go to Cairo, IL - a dump with state troopers all over on the Interstate and small roads looking to hand out tickets.

This was a getaway weekend with my three adult sons. We rented a cabin (clean, tiny, no cooking but not worth mentioning) and hiked. The campgrounds in the forest we saw were well spaced and clean. Go for hiking. Horse-friendly trails and RV parks seemed plentiful. We did not see indications for mountain biking or off-road vehicles but the road cycling would be spectacular. The towns don't seem to have embraced tourism and I can't say we fully explored options for restaurants. It's a bit odd, rural, poor with this great national forest and its amenities.

I liked this much more than I imagined. If you're up for a challenge, go west and hike The Little Grand Canyon south of Murphysboro. Be careful - it gets rough. If you don't want to have a hard hike trough creek beds and in the canyon, you can walk to a lookout point and turn back the same way. You will have a great time regardless.

We loved hiking the trails, but had difficulty finding many of the places. That being said, The Garden of the Gods made the entire trip worth it. If that was the only thing we did it would have been worth the trip. Heron pond was also a neat hike, made us feel like we were in Florida. We visited the wetlands nature center and took a nice hike there. The lady working recommended several places and was very helpful. They also have all the poisonous snakes on exhibit there. When hiking do be careful, we did come across a copperhead. Cave in Rock is another place I would highly recommend going to. Like I said the only complaint was the trails not being marked very well and finding the places would have been easier if they would put out more signs.

There are so many different parks and trails that you could spend several weeks hiking them all. There is a nice variety from easy to challenging trails, long and short.
Hint 1: Stop at the ranger station first to get maps of all the parks and trails.
Hint 2: You can also call the station - the person we talked to was very helpful. We wanted to see the water falls, but fortunately called first. It turned out that due to the dry weather, the falls were dry too. We went on a different hike.
Hint 3: Driving at night can be like playing dodge ball with the wild life. The come out in numbers and you don't see them until the last minute.
Hint 4: There are so many trails to see that it is really a good idea to do some planning. Add an extra hour at each place to be safe - you will probably stay longer than you expected.
Hint 5: Bring a good camera besides your cell phone. Actually a camera with a good video is best. It is hard to get good photos that bring out the beauty and depth of the forests. Most of your pics will look very 2D. I found that my videos bring out the 3D aspect much better.
Hint 6: Bring plenty of water and snacks and watch the trails carefully. We were there in October and there were times where we didn't see another human being for an hour or so. Be safe and respect nature.

We did several hikes while in the Shawnee National Forest, including Garden of the Gods. One of the last hikes we did was Burden Falls, which we had read is the highest waterfall in Illinois. The road getting to the falls is rough, so take your time on the dirt road leading to the falls. Once you arrive at the parking lot, the falls are right there. Many people do not take the time to search for a trail to take you to the bottom of the falls, and instead risk life and limb climbing down the big rocks to get to the bottom. However, while you're looking at the falls, take a hard left turn and start walking. There's a trail there that takes you all along the bluff and then down to the basin that the falls dump into. You can then walk back towards the falls and take it in. It is so pretty! We did climb up the rocks to get back out, which was fun, but we were glad we didn't try to climb down them!

Wow! Despite being an Illinois native this was my first visit to Shawnee. We rented a cabin for two nights and had two and a half days to explore some of the sights! You could easily spend more time there! We visited Garden of the Gods, Rim Rock, and Belle Smith Springs. All beautiful and full of wonderful hiking trails and unique rock formations. We focused primarily on natural areas but there are quite a few historic points of interest near and around Shawnee and the Ohio River. Some paths are difficult to navigate, but worth the hike! There are many camping sites and rental properties to choose from.

I live 30 miles east of St Louis and have been investigating Southern Illinois and Shawnee Nat Forest. Last Friday I hiked Little Grand Canyon in Pomona, then the Pomona Natural Bridge and started on the Cove Hollow Trail at Cedar Lake all in rural Pomona Il.

The trip was 90 miles and in less than 2 hrs I was there and back home before dark. Most people would never guess that Illinois has Cliffs, Waterfalls, Caves and phenomenal natural wonders. I spent $25 in gas for the trip. After 4 great trips to Shawnee areas I have about 4 more so that I can experience Cache River National Wildlife Refuge, Dixon Springs State Park, Burden Falls, One Horse Gap, Luck Creek Canyon w Waterfall, Rimrock, Ferne Clyffe State Park w Waterfall, Bell Smith Springs State Park.

Little Grand Canyon was a 3 mile loop from bluff to bottoms past caves, cliffs, rock formations, streams and through the forest. Most people will never know such areas exist in Illinois. In previous trips I enjoyed Garden of Gods, Giant City State Park, Cave in Rock and Pounds Hollow among others.

Turkey Bayou in southern Illinois just out of Grand Tower has free camping. Friends Of The Bayou are a volunteer group that helps keep this diamond in the rough open for use. It has 17 sites to use. All primitive sites but have tables and fire rings. Also very good fishing and hiking areas.

We stayed at the High Knob horse campground. The park is great. Another reviewer wrote, "traveling by vehicle to go to different locations." Wow, mother nature made a spectacular area for our visual enjoyment. Yes, you may have to travel to see many of the special sites; however, the entire area is beautiful. I don't think it would be as beautiful if mother nature had put everything in one spot. We rode our horses and visited several different areas. I highly recommend this beautiful area for anyone.

I was impressed by what Shawnee National Forest has to offer. I live in Chicago for more than 20 years however there was never enough time in my mind to drive for 6 hours to see it. If I had time to travel I always chose other locations over Southern Illinois. I was wrong. There is a lot here! But the most I enjoyed remoteness and no crowded trails.
One also has to realize that going to this Forest you actually need to think that you have to go to different state parks which are located in this forest. Also I see this forest as divided into two major parts East Side ( along Ohio River and its tributaries ) and West Side along Mississippi River. In addition between those two parts there is a Cashe River Wetland area which is not associated with Shawnee but it is equally impressive if not more ( since wetland wildlife unique qualities and attractions).
Anyway, there is so much here that I will be back soon and for sure more than once).

The Shawnee National Forest occupies a huge area in Southern Illinois, with many attractions. Check the website for information. Here are some highlights of what we saw:
1. Garden of the Gods - what a place! Rock formations and cliffs galore. The loop trail is lined with flagstones and takes you to all sorts of grand viewpoints.
2. Indian Point trail - you'll see this on the way to Garden of the Gods - it's essentially part of the same area. The trail is longer, more rustic and less crowded, but contains some of the same lovely vistas. The outer loop trail is routed below the top escarpment so that you can view many of the caves that exist in the rock face.
3. Jackson Falls trail - for this one you'll want a high clearance vehicle. The road is rocky, steep, and rutted. But it's worth the drive! There's a short trail from the parking area that approaches the falls from above, and you can keep going if you want to see more. We suspected that there's a fine swimming hole there, given the attire of some fellow visitors.
4. Trigg Observation Tower - an old fire lookout. Just a short stop along the road - climb to the top and admire the view.
5. Little Grand Canyon trail - this one is located on the west side of the national forest, near Murphysboro. You can hike out to the bluff in two different ways, or do both (the trails actually connect into a loop by descending into the canyon and back). Make sure to bring insect repellent!
6. Pomona Natural Bridge - near the Little Grand Canyon, this one has its own Tripadvisor listing for some reason...check it out! Well worth a short visit.

My friends and I were very luck to be able to hike in the Shawnee National Forest. Cave in the Rock was very interesting, including the history of the cave. Hiking Garden of the Gods, Rim Rock Trail and seeing the swamp in the southern part of Illinois were exciting, with beautiful fall colors.

Garden of the Gods was necessary to see,
but if you like to hike and can do a vigorous 1 and a half to two hours, the must sees: Little Grand Canyon on the west side of the park and Rim Rock on the east side.
Little Grand Canyon takes you down a water- formed path into a valley that has the same type of rock cliffs on both sides. The walk is beautiful and invigorating, as it is as much uphill as it is downhill.
Rim Rock brings you through the woods to the edge of a cliff, then steers you downward through massive rock formations to a valley surrounded by beauty: rock walls on all sides, moss-covered everything, tall trees, filtered rays of light and trickling water. And quiet.

We haven't seen everything, but plan on going back.

We hiked at Garden of the Gods, Rim Rock and Panthers Den. All were very nice areas, but Panthers Den was probably our favorite. Very cool rock mazes and features.

We visited Garden of the Gods, in the Shawnee National Forest this November. It was a beautiful park. We did see a lot of fall color, but probably should have gone a few weeks earlier. The trails were great and one was even easy enough for someone in our group using a cane. The grand-kids loved climbing on the rock and scenery was wonderful. We had such a good time, we plan to go back in the summer when it's warmer and spend more time there.

After few years we came back for another visit. Most of the leaves were already on the ground but still full of colors. First we hiked in Jackson Falls area. Beautiful place with nice trails above and below the rock cliffs. After that quick drive to Burden Fall and finished with Bell Smith Springs: amazing place with great natural bridge and couple of trails in the canyon.

My husband and I are avid hikers from central IL but had never ventured down to Shawnee, so we planned a three-day trip in mid-April. First of all, we could not have lucked into any better weather. It was sunny and 80 every single day.

This area of the state is absolutely gorgeous! You don't even feel like you are in IL anymore. On our first day, we explored the observation trail at Garden of the Gods, which had amazing views, but was definitely the busiest trail we went on. We also hiked the Indian Loop Trail, which I would highly recommend. It was beautiful and we only saw one other couple the entire time we were out there! There are also many backcountry trails you can hike on at GoG--we had time to do about a mile or so on one in the evening.

One day, we hiked the Rim Rock Trail--definitely take the stairs going down when you get to them! This was very possibly our favorite trail we did. We took it out to the beach at Pounds Hollow, hung out on the sand for a bit (we were the only ones there!) and then hiked back and finished the loop. We also drove out to Bell Smith Springs that afternoon and did some hiking. The trails are not super well-marked and be prepared to ford a river! But it was gorgeous there.

It was b-e-a-utiful!!!!!! I've went many times and the best time to go is during the fall. I went with a group from college and we had a great time in the outdoors.

Shelter was nice...not enough tables for a family reunion though. Bathroom was nothing more than an outhouse. There were no doors or a sink to wash hands and the odor was horrible.

We started our visit in Garden of the Gods Wilderness area and of course it’s celebrated camel Rock! It’s not disappointing! I loved the views and the formations are amazing! I loved the history and geology of the area! We also got the pleasure of meeting some local wildlife being there on a light traffic day. We stopped by Garden of the Gods outpost To visit the Shawnee Bigfoot statue and to grab some souvenirs! Then onto rim rock which we discovered links into pounds hollow. We spent the afternoon at Pounds Hollow lake beach, swimming and beach sitting. Then to Pine Ridge camp ground located above the lake on a ridge. The camp is ran on the honor system and they us the income to keep the areas folks use in shape. The vault toilets were very well kept! Once again we were there in low traffic time and there were very few others camping. It’s gets very dark and you hear lots and lots of wildlife. Cell service is very spotty. We are hammock campers and while the brazen insects left us alone they are brazen and have no problems getting in your space. We continued on to Millstone Bluff. The park service claims the hike while take two hours. We felt we spent 45 minutes at best hiking to the site and exploring. While we couldn’t locate the petroglyphs maybe looking in the wrong spots or flora had the covered. Then from there to Giant City which is a state park and not sure if it’s considered in the Shawnee.

We spent two days here and mostly enjoyed the visit. As others have noted, there is not a lot in the park in the way of amenities so get what you need before you come. Some trails are well maintained and easy to traverse (Jackson Falls, Garden of the Gods) and others are in terrible condition (the last 75% of the smugglers cave trail). You might find nice stone paths, nice wide paths, or trails torn to shreds by horses that are mud pits. Garden of the Gods is neat for Illinois- but is not spectacular compared to other locations with similar rock formations. Smugglers cave was a large disappointment. Head to The Hawking Hills in OH for much better caves. It is remote and quiet and peaceful, so there is a lot going for it in that regard. Entry is free.

Beautiful area with lots to see and do. We hit some highlights across the SNF including Garden of the Gods, The Little Grand Canyon and the Natural Bridge. We also visited the nearby Giant City State Park which we enjoyed a few pretty trails. Off SNF, my favorite was The Little Grand Canyon and my husbands favorite was Garden of the Gods. We were disappointed that the visitor center and access was limited to the Crab Orchard Wildlife Reserve due to the government shutdown but everything else was open and maintained. Nice long weekend trip covering the area and beautiful fall weather and colors to take in.

I loved all of it but Stone Face was probably my favorite is was about a 30 min. hike I brought my 3 yr old so its was an easy hike.

We stayed here 3 days and 2 nights. This is an excellent place with so many scenic hiking trails . Loved every moment of our stay. But one word of caution.. most cell phone services don't work here. If you want to go around the place, it is better to download the directions before you go. Otherwise, you will be wasting a lot of your time driving around. With barely any traffic, you won't find much help from others either.

This was a great vacation during Covid - we spent our days hiking and the trails were not crowded at all. Our favorites were little Grand Canyon, Garden of the Gods Rim Rock, Giant City and Fern Clyffe. Be prepared to do a lot of driving on country roads as these spots are very spread apart but worth it! We stayed on Lake of Egypt as a central spot and it was nice to swim in the lake when we got back from hiking. We went in July and it was HOT with heat indices over 100 but the trails we took were mostly shaded so it was ok. If you come in spring the waterfalls might be more spectacular but I would still come again in summer. Wished we had more time as there is a lot to do!

A group of eight family members of diverse age and fitness did the trail in three hours yesterday. The route was a bit over three miles. Terrain challenging for less fit members in steep down ward climbing thru canyon creek bed. Eventually upward climb was inevitable thru a waterfall-like chute that was not flowing at the time. Warning signs indicated to watch for weather changes.

We started around three fifteen pm so by our late afternoon completion Mosquitos were thick.

All in all, there was great beauty, but a person needs to be fit and with good balance, shoes/boots, water and accompaniment to be safe. As the eldest of the group I was assisted A LOT by my family.


Tip: strongly recommend clockwise direction if you intend to complete the loop

There is so much to see in the Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois that my wife and I decided it was best to see various parts of the giant landscape during each of our trips on I-24 going to and coming back from our annual vacation visits to Florida. You can't see it all at once unless you are a camper, which we aren't. Garden of the Gods is the gem of the park, the focal point, the first thing visitors want to see. It features wonderful hiking trails and panoramic views, lots of places to climb rock formations if that's your wish. There also is Pounds Hollow and Rim Rocks, if you are ambitious hikers. There is no other place like it in Illinois. In fact, you can't believe you are in Illinois. Another place we enjoy visiting is the Burden Falls Wilderness, a 3,775-acre parcel of the Shawnee National Forest. Located near the small town of Carrier Mills in northwestern Pope County and southwestern Saline County, it is characterized by roadless second-growth hardwood forest punctuated by a small, seasonal waterfall on Burden Creek. Burden Falls falls 20 feet over a sandstone ledge and the falling creek then descends another 80 feet in a series of cascades and cataracts. Although it is a very small waterfall by national standards, it is one of the highest waterfalls in Illinois. To reach the falls, hikers use the 3.5-mile Burden Falls Trail. The tract was listed as a wilderness under the Illinois Wilderness Act in 1990.

Great views. Adventure driving on winding roads and blind hills thru a beautiful forest.
Remember to fill the gas tank before your trip.
Bring snacks and drinks because not much in the area.
Of course wineries and beer tasting spots. Some do a lite lunch.
Fresh air galor.
Yes would do again.

Love hiking in the different locations of this National Forest in America's Heartland Lots of History, great trails, picnic areas! If it is a nice day and you love to hike, you need to check it out! Beautiful!

Me and my wife went. It was awesome if you like viewing the beauty our country has to offer within Ilinois. We visited Garden of the Gods and unfortunately it rained but we got rain suits and still went. It was awesome. We are going to go back and check out other locations in the Shawnee National Forest as soon as we can.

We spent 3 days hiking in Shawnee National Forest and had a great time.

We hiked various trails in the Garden of the Gods Wilderness, including a lot of 001A, 108d,e,k and the Indian Point loop. The rock formations were truly awesome and we fell in love with the weird liesegang rings. Our only complaint was that trail markers were somewhat sparse, making the hiking confusing and we ended up not doing our original planned hike (and never did figure out where we went wrong). But we were very happy with the hike we did so no loss.

We hiked over from Pounds Hollow to the Ox-Lot Cave and then did the Rim Rock trail(s). This was a lot of fun. Going through the narrow joints in Rim Rock was a nice reminder of hiking out in Canyonlands (especially The Joint in Chesler Park).

Finally we did Bell Smith Springs. What a delight! Lovely creeks, interesting rock formations, and handsome woods. The color-coded blazes made the trails easier to follow than in Garden of the Gods but using the Hiking Illinois book made sure we followed the trails. The Hill Branch trail was our favorite -- like Rim Rock, it made us think of hiking in Utah (well a Utah with forests and lots of water).

Love the area always an adventure around the corner. From hiking and really getting in touch with all the marvels left behind from the Ice age. Looking for fossils along the river beds and just relaxing. There is a lot to do in the Shawnee!

We visited the Shawnee National Forest during the Memorial Day weekend this year and had an awesome time. The Forest is a very huge area in itself and has several State Parks within.

Amazing Cabins in the woods, loads of hiking trails, camping and wine tasting are some of the highlights! The only thing that we found disappointing was that the Dixon Springs and Ferne Clyffe Waterfalls had no water, possibly because it was peak summer!

All in all, we had a wonderful time! A definite yes for people who love to hike and stay in the woods!

Our two day trip to Shawnee National Forest (with daughters ages 7 and 9) were so much fun. We hiked Garden of the Gods and then Rim Rock which is nearby. Rim Rock was absolutely amazing - take the left-hand or center trail which lead to a staircase going through the rock and down to a beautiful canyon. The next days we hiked at Bell Smith Springs. The yellow trail is a good length for kids this age (7 and 9). They loved throwing stones in the steam and eating a snack on top of a huge bolder. We then had a picnic lunch at Lake Glendale and went horseback riding (trail ride) at Lake Glendale Stables. The area is beautiful.

We hiked Rim Rock and Garden of the Gods on the same day.

Rim Rock:
As the name suggests, the path goes around the rock. After you park, there are about 3 paths that lead away from the parking lot. 2 of the paths originate at the same point and are both paved. We took the paved path that goes straight (not the paved path that angles off the left). The straight path took us up some rock steps then curved around to a modern deck that looked out over the landscape.

When you leave the overlook, there are two paths from which to choose (the one on the left I believe takes you back to the parking lot). Take the path on the right from the overlook and it will lead you down to the most incredible rock staircase. The staircase winds through cutouts of the tall bluffs. The bluffs extend upward approximately 50' on each side of you. The staircase is so narrow that the bluffs almost touch your shoulders on both sides. It is an incredible experience!

Once exiting out of the staircase through the bluffs, there were two paths. One path went upwards and we did not take it so I do not know where it goes. The other path continued downwards with more rock steps. We followed that path down to the base of the bluffs.

We followed that dirt path around until we came to a "Y" in the path. The path to the left will take you to another 1/2 mile to Pounds Hollow (has a designated swimming area, covered picnic tables, and decent restroom facilities). The path to the right will continue taking you around the bluffs and back to the parking lot.

Know before you go to Rim Rock:
* The signs taking you to Rim Rock were well marked and we had no problems finding the location.
* The parking lot is paved.
* The only restroom facilities at this location was an outhouse that smelled horrible.
* There are some picnic tables around the parking lot.
* Although there are two paved paths leading from the parking lot, they do not stay paved for very long. This area would probably not be a good choice for somebody with mobility issues.
* If you choose to also walk to Pounds Hollow, the swimming beach is nice to take your swimsuits with you. They also have a covered pavilion with several picnic tables and good restroom facilities.
* We probably spent about 2 hours at Rim Rock and Pounds Hollow (that does not include any swimming or picnicking time).

Garden of the Gods:
If you think of a playground with large equipment to climb all over, then Garden of the Gods is the playground and the boulders are the playground equipment. This is a very popular spot and for good reason. It has a short flagstone trail, but nobody goes there to walk on the trail. Everybody climbs all over the boulders all along the trail.

This is not the place you go to for a nice quiet stroll through nature. It is busy and noisy (just like a playground). Nevertheless, there are enough boulders strewn all throughout and everybody is moving around enough that we had no problems finding our own areas to enjoy as we walked. And that was going on one of the most beautiful early August Saturday afternoons you could ask for.

Know before you go to Garden of the Gods:
* Rim Rock and Garden of the Gods are approximately 10 minute drive from each other. The signage for Garden of the Gods is well marked and we had no problems finding it.
* Because this is such a popular location to go to, they have a very large paved parking lot (a lower side and an upper side). Even with as big as the parking lot is, there were only a few empty parking spaces.
* There are restroom facilities in the middle of the parking lot. We did not use them, so I cannot say if they are the outhouse type or the modern type. However, given the popularity of this location and the fact I saw people coming and going from the restrooms, I would say they are most likely modern restrooms.
* While the boulders are fun to climb on, there is no fall protection. So if you are taking children there, make sure they are old enough, mature enough, and responsible enough to stay away from the edges of the boulders.
* Although the path is flagstone, it is not completely smooth. There is one area where you have to walk up a few steps, go single file between some boulders, and walk back down a few steps on the other side. I did see one lady with a cane there. But if somebody had to use a walker or wheelchair, I think it would be very difficult and I don't think they would get very far.
* The views are absolutely stunning and this is worth going to visit. But don't expect it to be quiet and peaceful because it's not. But despite all the other people there, this is definitely worth visiting!
* There is also a Garden of the Gods Wilderness area that covers 3300 acres. Unless you are planning on doing some serious hiking, the wilderness area is not what you are looking for. The entrance to the wilderness area is clearly marked on the lower half of the parking lot where it curves around to the upper half of the parking lot. The walking path you want is just above the upper half of the parking lot.
* We spent approximately 1 hour at the Garden of the Gods.

My husband and I drove from Chicago for our anniversary. I had read alot about SNF for fall colors, hiking, bird/nature viewing. We went to the Garded of the Gods. It was end of March so there were no leaves on the trees. The rock formations WERE cool but, I think I expected so much that I was a little bit underwhelmed. Could just be me. People climb all over the rocks. Not sure if that was proper etiquette. No foliage makes it a good time for birdwatching. We saw, in the general SNF, tufted titmice, mockingbirhds, red bellied woodpeckers, kinglets, yellow crowned heron, wild turkey and alot of turkey vultures. We travelled about an hour west to do a canoe tour of the Lower Cache River. This is an actual bayou/swamp in Ill. with cypress and tupelo trees and wildlife to match. We didn't see much wildlife but the ecological,, geological and zoological information is fascinating especially for a Chicagoan. I would love to go back when spring flowers are in full bloom and/or fall color are on display.

This was a peaceful drive through meandering hills adjacent to the mighty Ohio River. There are several places to stop, hike, view, take photos, and relax.

We have visited for Fall Colors and Garden of the gods has amazing rock formations. There are many choices for hiking trails in Shawnee national forest. Camel Rock at Garden of the Gods is a stunning view point. Very much accessible to parking lot.

My husband and I spent a couple of days hiking through Lusk Creek Wilderness. We probably hiked around 10 miles within a couple of days and camped overnight there. It was a great trip! We loved the way that it felt as if we were in different geographic areas. At one point we even saw cactus and we loved the pine forests. Read more about our adventure on my blog.

http://8050place.blogspot.com/2012/04/b-has-developed-newlove-for-ax.html

do the full tour if you can afford it, it's worth it...
the hikes are a little tedious but the overall experience is excellent !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My friend and I went day tripping in Shawnee. We of course hit the Garden of the Gods first thing in the morning to try to avoid the crowds. We got there about 8 AM and there weren’t many other people. It’s cool that you can climb around on the rocks but man, one bad foot placement and you could easily fall to your death. Be careful! There’s some great views

The little trail for the overlook is paved and can be done by most ages/activity levels. You can make it as easy or as hard as you want by scrambling up rocks, etc.

My friend and I also hit up Burden Falls because we wanted to do the hiking there. The road to this tiny parking lot is not paved and pockmarked with pot holes. It’s a little weird when you park there because you’re right at the top of the waterfall and it looks as if you can walk right down to it, but alas, you must do the entire out and back trail to get to the bottom of it. This trail isn’t hard per se, IF you don’t have any mobility issues. My friend has bad knees and she definitely had issues on the way back up due to the steep incline. We did do some scrambling and I did make it up to the tops of the falls but there are warning signs telling you not to go any further because the rocks are slippery and they are VERY slippery. My friend did fall several times on the slipper rocks/trail. Please be careful and take your time!!

Though I’ve lived in IL for well over 20 years the entire Shawnee National Forest region was unbeknownst to me and probably many Chicagoans. Yet these hidden treasures are enjoyed by the surrounding states for years. First off, there exist numerous spots that are spread over a wide distance and not all within the Shawnee NF. There are amazing rock formation to boulder, gigantic tress to admire, natural bridges to cross, caves to explore, and waterfalls to enjoy. On the top of the Eastside list are Garden of the Gods, Heron Pond, Burden Falls, and Panther’s Den. On the Westside are Giant City, Little Grand Canyon, Inspiration Point, Pomona Bridge, … So plenty of places for you to hike, explore, climb, and just take in the view, for sure these places requires at least a 2 to 3 days trip so makes sense to divide and group them. On suggestion if you like camping is to stay at the Giant City campground, which has better facilities and use it as a base to hit the areas within the Westside, otherwise Marion is centrally located with decent number of hotels. It’s too bad that Shawnee is not closer to Chicago or it would get much more exposure.

Shawnee is this wide area of forest with attraction that are far apart. On average you have to drive about 30 minutes between each point of interest. Please stop by the visitor center in Harrisburg and get a map to avoid driving in circles.Also be prepared to drive your vehicle off road on gravel roads to get to these points. Not all roads are paved. Places worth going to are Cave-in Rock, Garden of Gods and the waterfalls. The waterfalls were dry when we went there in summer. Though there are tons of hiking trails, I did not try any of them. The farther you go into the forest, the more the trails are deserted and you are probably the only ones there. So if you don't prefer hiking alone in a deserted place, plan your trip during peak seasons.

Nothing but nature for miles and miles. My mom grew up in this area and so i was one of the lucky ones to see this forest more often than some. Springs, creeks, all kinds of animals. Due to a storm not too long ago allot of this area was destroyed by tornados. But allot of the area was spared. If you enjoy the outdoors and hiking this is a must see.

This is a must see in this region of the country. I recommend visiting Little Grand Canyon and Garden of the Gods. Marion, IL is a perfect place to stay since it's located right in the middle of Shawnee. Great hiking and beautiful views! I will return to visit.

We do a long vacation here every year. If you like hiking don't miss Ferne Clyffe park and Bell Smith Springs. Garden of the Gods is spectacular and the trail is very easy.

We hiked the Little Grand Canyon Trail near Pomona, Illinois. A great hike. The canyon is really cool. The hike into & out of the canyon is rugged. the rock formations are interesting. We also hiked the Pomona Natural Bridge Trail. It was short and steep. The trail went across the bridge then under it. Both trails are worth your time. You can watch our videos of these hikes on YouTube (Day Hiking Duo)

Great spot to hike Southern IL - this part of the state has so much to offer as far as outdoor scenery goes. Definitely worth a trip.

We traveled about 100 miles in one day - driving through the forest and stopping at various viewpoints. We saw Burden Falls, Jackson Falls, One Horse Gap and the hidden Lake. However, what we did NOT see was anywhere to stop for a drink or something to eat. Take a picnic! And remove our litter! The lanes were littered with garbage.

I'm almost hesitant to write this review because the Shawnee National Forest is such a gem that is often not very crowded. I'm from the St. Louis area, and this is by far my favorite place to hike that isn't too far. There are so many spectacular hiking trails where you can see spectacular rocks and cliffs, waterfalls, blue-green springs and swimming holes, natural bridges, caves, and much more. The wildlife, especially the birds, is quite diverse in the area, and there are a huge variety of plants in the forest. There are also places to climb over boulders and to climb up cliffs (roped in, of course), as well as petroglyphs and old Woodland Indian homesites to see. If you are visiting the area, contact one of the ranger stations. They are incredibly helpful with planning and can send you information and maps - don't go without a map!!

You can spend lots of time in Shawnee National Forest and it’s well worth every minute if you enjoy driving around and site-seeing. Lots to see and lots to do and you will want to go back again and again.

My wife and I spent the weekend exploring Southern Illinois. We visited MANY sites/parks in 2.5 days. Our top picks were: Rim Rock, Garden of the Gods, canoeing the Lower Cache River, & Bell Smith Springs.

We went in early spring. It was warm but the leaves were still budding. Nowhere was too crowded. The most people we encountered were at the Garden of the Gods, which is awesome, but it was by no means crowded. Lots of hiking trails, some well marked, others less so ... but all scenic and not too busy.

We stayed in Marion, from there we explored to the east one day, Garden of the Gods and Rim Rock, then Fern Cliff State Park, next day did to the west, Natural Bridge, Little Grand Canyon, and Giant City State Park.

We stayed at Pounds Hollow Recreation Area. The camlgrou d was delightful with a dozen sites having electricity. The lake and beach are clean and reasonably weed free. Hiking is great. No entry fee and $10 nightly campjng fee or $5 for seniors with the pass. Just 8 miles from the very scenic Garden of the Gods Rec area.

Second time we camp at this location and it is absolutely stunning. We are planning on camping every year.

The campsites at Oak Point Campground in Shawnee National Forest are wonderful. They are large, meticulously maintained and private, with trees and vegetation between them. It is rare to find electricity and water at campsites in national parks; this park has numerous sites with both electric and water hook-ups at the site itself. Electrical is limited to 30 amp service. The park has many trails; just be careful of poison ivy. The camp hosts are friendly and very helpful. You can tell they take pride in their work. This is a gem in southern IL. One of the best campgrounds I ever camped at, and I've been camping for over 60 years! We camped in a 35' fifth wheel.

Great place to hike or picnic. Even has natural springs that you can swim in. Very relaxing! Waterfalls are awesome after a big rain.

We make a yearly trip to this area. Wonderful trails, beautiful forest. lots of rock formations, caves, etc. Roads are nice to drive and lots of neat little towns along the boundary of the forest. Great area for horseback riding and hiking.

We dropped in through "Pounds Hollow" for a picnic, it had landscape 'stones' from Home Depot, every inch covered in poison ivy, and was not clean. Not a great first impression.

After just going to the Smoky Mountains park, this park did not feel like it has the backing of the US government's checkbook.

Also saw "Rim Rock" trail head. Marginally better. Skipped the gravel road to "Knob Hill". And dropped in at "The Garden of the Gods", where we saw one person spraying parking lot weeds and another mowing the ditch. This signified the most effort we witnessed to maintain this park.

Sorry if you love these particular sites. There are many better national parks, IMO.

When driving between sites, at no time do you feel like you are in or near a national park.

It is noteworthy that we are traveling with a two year old, so a long hike on trails to a nice view is not possible. So, your mileage may vary.

Also noteworthy, this park is spread out over many miles, so you may find more beautiful parts. We struck out.

D- Huge disappointment.

There were some very beautiful parts of Shawnee National Forest, unfortunately we didn't get to see them all.

Unfortunately, things are very poorly marked, which is really important in a natural area where GPS is often not an option. There were many trail markers that were knocked down in a few places as well.

Bell Springs is a must see, though, if you do visit.

If you don't know about this little piece of heaven in Illinois, you are missing out. Spectacular scenery and beautiful hiking trails make this a great destination.

I've been all over the in SNF, and it has been such an amazing opportunity!! To name a few: garden of the gods, rimrock, devils standtable, pounds hollow, and many more. These places are nothing short of amazing!! The rocks are beautiful, the caves are huge, and the trees stand so tall they completely fill the forest in the summer (not to mention how beautiful it is in the fall with the leaves falling). Amazing way to get into hiking, camping, and taking walks. The forest is maintained immaculately, and the drive there is beautiful as well. Such a fantastic place to spend the weekend (not to mention you get some pretty neat photos)!! Love it and recommend to everyone any age!!

Trees trees trees everywhere. Acres and acres . Just 6 to 7 hours south of chicago. Worth the drive. Camping biking backpacking

Located between Eddyville and Vienna Ill is a great trail to a large cavern. It goes about 150 ft back and a large overhang. The trail is about 1/4 mile. Just park at the entrance to the trail and follow the rock as it develops into a larger bluff and eventually the cave. Continue past for a great sample of Southern Ill rock formations.

Included in this area are Cave-in-Rock and other small towns on the river. Belle Smith Springs, Lake Glendale, Dixon Springs and other areas for nature viewing and swimming. Great for camping, horse-back riding, hiking and enjoying God's world!

The Shawnee has everything from very accessible trails to wilderness areas found nowhere else in the state of Illinois. There are so many hidden gems within this hidden gem. Look up Millstone Bluff for example ... this is 1,500-year-old Indian village where you can see grave sites, homesites, and petroglyphs. Other places to explore (but not limited to!) Jackson Falls, Sand Cave, Ferne Clyffe, Cache River swamp -- you feel like you are in Cajun country, Garden of the Gods, and so many more. Please, if you visit, don't litter.

We have been to several different area in this forest all was great, fern Clyffe, garden of the gods,jackson falls, Bork falls. Great place to take family and budget friendly. Need to bring a hiking shoes .

We had a great trip to the Shawnee National Forest
We stayed in Marion. It was only about a 25 minute drive from many attractions but it has a lot of hotel and eating options. Very easy place to stay.
The first day we visited Metropolis to see Fort Massac. Loved the huge statue of Superman in Metropolis, lots of photo opts. The Fort was good, you can walk through it in less than 30 minutes with a great view of the Ohio river. The park it is in a great for picnicing.
We visited the Kincaid Mounds. The road to get to them was partially dirt and went through very rural IL. Mounds were huge and you could view them from an observation area. It was a pretty long drive for a 10 minute viewing.
We drove on the Ohio Scenic Byway which took us through several small towns, not a lot of views of the River.
The Chocolate Factory was a great place to stop for ice cream. We also stopped at Cave in the Rock which was in a nice park to walk through to check out the cave. It was nice to see.
As others have said make sure you fill up with gas before going in the National Forest- I don't know if we saw a gas station and the points of interest are spread out. Also good to bring a picnic lunch. Not many food places to stop at but plenty of great places for picnicing.
Driving through the Forest was very good. We hiked at Garden of the Gods which had great views. We liked the hiking at Rim Rock even better. Great picnic area at Rim Rock and cool hike into a sheltered glen. Take the left path and then go down the stairs. Read the educational markers and enjoy the hike of less than two miles on a good trail into the hollow by a beautiful stream.
We went to Giant City and the Stone Fort trail, both of these trails were interesting but not as impressive as the views at G of G or the quiet of Rim Rock.
We stopped at Makanda which was really only a handful of shops.
While you are in the area stop by one of the many wineries. We stopped at Feather Hills, people were nice, setting was comfortable, and wine was good. What a great way to end a day.
Great Forest, we would love to go back again in the fall to see the colors.

We hiked out to Garden of the gods, Rim Rock and Pounds Hollow. They are all gorgeous and worth it but all have something different to offer. Garden of the gods is the most primitive and, at least where we entered at Indian point, had parking but no amenities. Rim Rock is partly paved, with steps. There is a picnic area with a primitive RR. You can also get to the swimming lake at Pounds Hollow which is quite nice. There is a small beach there with picnic tables and RRs. It also has its own parking lot and you can get to the beach just by going down a flight of stairs. I highly recommend visiting Shawnee. It is clean and well maintained and absolutely beautiful!

I didn't expect this place to be so beautiful and have tons of gorgeous views but it did. it was really fun to walk the trails and climb up on rocks. I felt like a kid again. Definitely worth coming back again and again making the 6 hour drive.

Came from Carbondale with a local who had read about Snake Road closing for several weeks each spring and fall to let the reptile life cross the road from the cliffs to the water. We did see a couple small snakes but also toads, salamanders, lots of spring wildflowers, multiple logs full of turtles and a lot of birds singing. We picked the right day, sunny but not too hot and the longer we were there, the more people came. Parking could be hard, glad we were finished. We didn't make it to the other end of the road and back (road was 2.5 miles one way). No facilities around. Road was flat for the most part, only a few small hills. Take a backpack chair if you want to sit down anywhere. Wasn't too wet or muddy after all this rain, our shoes came home pretty clean.

Worth the trip down state. Garden of the Gods was my favorite area. Plenty of hiking options. Two kids tagged along and didn't mind the hike at all. There are a few cliffs which made me nervous with the kids, but they were able to meander their way through everything safely. Amazing views. Pounds Hollow Rec area was lovely, it's probably much nicer in the summer. There's a beach and picnic area to enjoy.

This national park has it all: beauty, walking/nature trails, lots of history, Indian artifact, fishing, and lots more. There are lots of brochures and online information to plan your trip...whether you have a day or several days. We've been there several times now, and I am still amazed that southern Illinois has bluffs and nature that resembles parts of Colorado

There are many different spots within the Shawnee National Forest. Bell Smith Springs is a must to hike. There are 4 different trails that are color coded. Each trail is marked along the path with arrows of the corresponding color. The yellow trail is highly recommended. This one takes you under the Natural Bridge as well as on the top of it. This is the highest natural bridge in Illinois. Make sure you bring plenty of water.

Shawnee National Forest in Southern Illinois offers a change in topography for the residents of flat Northern Illinois. First visit the park office and collect maps as trails are not well marked. The National forest has a number of easy to moderate that offer views of such sites as Garden of the Gods. If you like horseback riding, a number of stables offer guided rides. There are a number of hotels, log cabins, lodges and campgrounds in and adjacent to Shawnee.

Just returned from a family hike in Shawnee National Forest, inc. Garden of the Gods and Cache River/ Heron Pond, as well as Giant City State Park. Wow! These incredible rock formations are amazing, and easy to access via a short trail from the parking lot. You can easily climb up and around the rocks, wearing sturdy shoes (I wore Keens), with great photo ops and visitas of the rock formations and bluffs, with tree, layers of misty hills and landscape in the distance that has barely been touched. These were formed by an ancient sea and the patterns on some are magical. We headed over to the Indian Ridge trail next, which is poorly marked, but accessible from the backpacking parking lot, near the campground. This 1.7 mile trail led to gorgeous overlooks, more rock formations and then some bluffs with cool caves you could climb up to for great photos. Not a lot of accomodations in this area, unfortunately, so had to stay about 40 minutes away in Marion. Checked out Heron Pond in The Cache River preserve the day before, which is a cypress swamp with a boardwalk through it...so unusual to find something that looks like it belongs in Florida right in Illinois!! Download maps from internet (and directions on how to get there!!!) before going. Garden of the Gods is a very under-rated destination--if you love nature, check this out!!!

Great hike for the family with a wonderful natural arch. We took the yellow trail to the arch for a wonderful natural view. Nice cool creek crossing to start and end the hike. The flora of the area is nice with ferns and moss. We spent a good hour at the arch looking at rocks and the view. Trail is well marked. Trail isn't suited to those with a fear of climbing or very young children as one section has a ladder climb. Our 9 y.o. did well but I wouldn't go much younger. Ticks and poison ivy are bountiful so be sure to check and wash.

We live near the Shawnee Forest and often go riding in the cool of the evening to enjoy the scenery. Our last visit to hike was to Rim Rock Trail on a cool Friday morning in August.....which is unheard of for August. The hike is moderate, although it does contain some stairs and ups and downs. It is so nice to take a hike on good terrain, have beautiful scenery...especially the giant rock formations, meet new friends....and stop for an ice cream cone on the way back to Harrisburg!

We hiked the Little Grand Canyon trail recently. It was in the middle of the week, we only saw 1 other couple! It was a stunning hike, with impressive rock formations, beautiful colors and serene quiet surrounding us.
One thing that was puzzling was why some of the arrows were pointing down to the ground on some of the signs.
At one point it was not clear which way to go, we took the wrong path but quickly found out it did not go anywhere. The correct way to go was climbing up the rocks (not bad at all since it was dry, probably a little more treacherous when wet).
Don't miss this chance to experience a Little Canyon.

Lovely place to visit. Is very rural so lodging and eating places can be limited. Driving is required. Some do bike. Camping sites available

General Impression:
As a family of five, we absolutely love Shawnee National Forest. It's a treasure trove including rock formations, hiking trails, bluffs, state parks, waterfalls, canyons, historical sites, caves, lakes, fishing spots, wineries, and much more. After our first visit, I couldn't help but describe it as a hidden gem right in the "backyard" of Illinois.

Favorite Spots:
-Garden of the Gods
-Pomona Natural Bridge
-Rim Rock
-Giant City - Main Trail
-Bell Smith Springs
-Ferne Clyffe
-Todd Fink Herron
-Jeremy Boo Rochman Park
-The Tunnel (Tunnel Park)
-Kincaid Lake Spillway
-Marberry Arboretum
and the best part, all these spots are free to explore.

Tips for Future Visitors:
One tip for future visitors is to plan your trips by area. During our first visit, we went to the top spots, and then we continued to explore them during our second visit. I realized that many of the stops we made during our second trip were right along the route of our first trip. It's more efficient to stick with popular stops in one area to minimize backtracking.
Also, be aware that cell phone reception can be spotty in some areas, which can make it challenging to rely on apps like Google or Apple Maps for navigation. However, it seemed to improve during our second trip.
Shawnee National Forest offers a fantastic outdoor experience, and we highly recommend it to nature enthusiasts and families looking to connect with nature.

We visited Garden of the Gods via Karber Ridge, Illinois. We absolutely loved the views. It was beautiful and we had such a fun time exploring the area. I recommend the observation hike, as it was short and sweet and to the point. We didn't have much time left on our adventure, so this quick hike fit the bill. I think it was about 45 minutes, but it seemed more like 10. I highly recommend a visit to this area. We hiked about 10 a.m. in the morning late July, and we were not extremely bothered by the heat. It had rained earlier that day, so perhaps it cooled things off prior to our hike. But it was absolutely gorgeous and absolutely beautiful.

If you want to be nestled inside a forest, if you want to see giant rock formations (Garden of the Gods), if you want to have a dilemma of which wonderful hiking trail to go on, if you want to discover wild colorful turtles crossing the road in front of you, if you want to discover hills in Illinois (yes, there are such things!), if you want to be serendipitized by waterfalls, this might just be the place for you. Just go.

Great hiking terrain. I recommend having a walking stick, and don't go alone. Great areas to stop and have a picnic. Please pack out what you pack in.

We visited many sites in the Shawnee National Forest. Among our favorites were the Giant City State Park Nature trail and Rim Rock. We also visited Garden of the Gods, which is amazing but over traveled. This is a beautiful area!

Beautiful rocks and great views. The tent campgrounds were very simple, but functional. Overall a nice little place, but watch out for ticks in the woods.

Loved hiking the trails and taking puctures. The teens loved pushing the edge and their parents getting close to the edge!

Went backpacking near Garden of the Gods.... Was not impressed at all with the river to river trail in that area... We started in the backpacker's parking lot and ended up doing a 1.7 mile trail before realizing we weren't going anywhere.. Except a circle. The scenery was nice.... But was more than aggravated by the lack of signs, maps and information. And just for anyone's information.. The ticks are horrendous this year..be prepared!!!

Went to Garden of the Gods and the Iron Furnace. It was a neat trip. Like most National Forest land, trails are not well marked if you get off one of the more popular paths. You also have to deal with all the pig trails people leave. If you have days or all day to do a walk about that is fine but when you just want to go do a couple miles and you are standing at a cross roads going okay...now what...crap I don't have my map. Or...just wing it and see where we end up. It gets annoying. Would recommend downloading their map on Avenza. It has saved us so much time and guess work when we go in to the national forests but of course, I did not do it this time. I stupidly thought that the GoG would take a lot longer than it did and we would be off to our next destination. Be mindful you will pucker as small children are placed near long drops for that instagram shot. Other than that, it was beautiful and worth the stop.

Beautiful Natural Rock Formations in the heart of Southern Illinois. Free for the family. Make sure you have climbing shoes on.

Short but beautiful trails . Other reviews were accurate in that gasoline is few and far between. Points of interest are quite a drive apart. We stayed at Ferne Clyffe state park thinking we would be centrally located but still drove about an hour to see Garden of the Gods, another 35 minutes to Cave in Rock, and another hour on another day to Inspiration point and Little Grand Canyon. I'm glad I went but I won't go back. Too much driving between points of interest.

I have lived in Illinois all of my life, but first visit to southern Illinois. One of the most exquisite sites and a must visit. The Shawnee National Forest offers mutiple locations and trails of varying degrees of difficulty. Hiked the east side of the forest: Garden of the gods (easy), Indian Pointe Trail (moderate), Pounds Hollow (Beaver Trail moderate) , and Rim Rock Trails.(moderate-difficult). The hollow has a swimming area. Hiked the west side Little Grand Canyon (difficult) and Pomona Natural Bridge and cave (easy). Recommend stopping at the Forest headquarters in Harrisburg. The rangers are a wealth of information and definitely need maps for the hikes. Trails are not all marked well. Bring a compass. There also is a Wine Trail. Did not partake in this at this time, but definitely will return for this one. There are also many more sites - Egypt Lake and Giant City State Park are definite must sees. So much to see and do, I can't get it all!

Garden of the Gods, Pounds Hollow, Illinois Iron Furnace, Fort Massac, Cave-in-Rock, Metropolis, Elizabethtown...so many cool places. Shawnee National Forest is a hidden Illinois gem. I hope it stays that way as you can really get INTO nature without having to deal with fencing and things to prevent people from destroying the rawness.

We stopped here on our way to Kansas on a Saturday by accident, we missed a turn and passed it and when we turned around we pulled in. We were disappointed to find it closed on the weekends. So, when we came back through Vienna, Il on our way home we made the turn on purpose. It is one of the nicest park ranger posts we have ever stopped at. It looked brand new. Lost of information and the ranger on duty was very helpful. We have the Parks stamp book and they have a very nice stamp for the book. Wish we lived local because Shawnee National Forest looks like a great place to explore. Lots of children's activities and materials available.

My wife and I went to Shawnee as part of a Road Scholar program. We hit five amazing natural wonders: Pakentuck, Giant City, Cache River, Fern Clyff and Garden of the Gods. We were going to go to Panther's Den, but that is part of the National Park Service and the government was shut down so it wasn't open. Garden of the Gods was also shut down but the government opened on Wednesday so we went there on Thursday.

Everywhere we went, we could hardly believe our eyes. Giant stone monoliths? A bayou with cypress trees? In Illinois? Who knew?

We hiked every day. And we had an ecologist/photographer/guide named Chris Benda. He added tons of insight to everything we saw. Unfortunately, we didn't have Chris for our hike to Garden of the Gods. We had a different guy. He got lost. Then one of the hikers twisted her ankle. Our guide called for help. Help arrived in the form of a van and a different guide. Guide A drove the injured hiker to Garden of the Gods so she could see it, then drove her back to camp. Guide B took us back to where the hike began and we started over. Two hours later. The 5-1/2 mile hike ended up being 6-1/2 miles. Two other hikers fell during the hike. It was fairly rugged. But we made it. As a wise man once said, "All's well that ends well."

The rolling hills, forests, streams, rock cliffs, and overall scenic beauty of this part of southern Illinois will make you think you made a wrong turn somewhere. It is not thhe flat cornfields you might expect. On a recent hiking trip to the Little Grand Canyon trail we passed some unsurpassed scenic beauty that only whet our appetites for a hike here in the fall. And there are numerous orchard stands in the area serving fantastic peach products of infinite varieties. We only made a day trip here on a hot day in July but plan to stay longer this fall. A great, beautiful part of Illinois.

I have rode in North Carolina in the blue ridge mountains, but it is not as pretty as the wonderful piece of forest we have in southern Illinois. Shawnee offers more then just great hiking, it offers wonderful horseback riding trails. From following the bending beauty of the creeks to the Garden of the Gods there is nothing like traveling on horse back through the tall pines, and hills. Coming back to the camp grounds after being out on the trails all day and smelling the campfires, listing to stories, and music around the fire. Its a great place to go to lose your self, in the midnight sky, wondering what beauty you will find tomorrow.

Garden of The Gods is a free area in the Shawnee National Forest. It is a great place to hike while learning of the land and rock formations. Our grandkids ages 5, 12 & 13 loved it. However it can be dangerous if you wander too far into the rocks. The well worn path is rock based with benches and signs with information.

It has a public bathroom at the end of the trail. Several benches placed throughout the trail for resting. One can always find a rock to sit in as well.

It is a great place to take photos of nature. We personally did not see any snakes but were warned to look out for them.

Great destination for a long weekend coming from Chicago area. Stayed in Cave in Rock state park, saw Garden of the Gods, Rim Rock both a 5/5 for the area. Great driving through the woods and farmland. Took ferry on a Saturday morning for the Amish area. Finished with a dip in Pounds Hollow (3/5), very busy there with an interesting crowd. Seemed to be a local hangout. Next day drove to Burden falls (find the path off to the left down to the creek bed) 4/5 great hike down into the bed, beautiful boulders, moss growing boulders. A little sweaty coming back up in the heat of May! Bell Smith spring, another great place to take a swim. Hike 10 minutes into the valley, steps down. Get there earlier for a parking spot, small lot. (4/5) Last stop was the Trigg fire tower. Says it's the last fire tower in the US to be climbable. Right on 147 near Robbs, Illinois. Great view from the top. Cool stop if it's on your way.

Besides lacking the expansiveness, dramatic elevation change, and dessert vibes, the two canyons are twins. The Little Grand Canyon would be more appropriately named the Ambiguous Grand Canyon. Illinois should probably invest a few more tax dollars in trail markers. However, the search for the trail makes it more of a treasure hunt than a stroll, but what fun is a trail when you don't have to work for it? I can't say if I've been changed for the better, but because I've hiked the LGC, I've been changed for good.

I hiked garden of the gods and burden falls on the same day it was beautiful and amazing . Burden falls is kinda out in the middle of no where with no signs until u reach it but it's work it to see the water falls but is a little difficult to get to so be prepared. There are no bathrooms at burden falls either while they do have some at garden of the gods they are fifty and the smell alone is strong so bring some air freshener I plan on hiking many more trails. The views are amazing

This was a worthwhile hike. From the Indian Kitchen trailhead just east of Eddyville IL, a moderately easy 1 hour hike thru pleasant enough woods. Then you get to this bend in Lusk Creek, and - boom - you've gone from Illinois to Colorado. You're looking down at a steep limestone canyon. You can scramble down to the bottom to a cool and pretty pool at the bend of the creek. It looks like the Forest Service has recently put up new wooden signs along the trail to help you stay on the correct path to get here.

There is a lot to do in this park. The situation is everything is spread FAR apart! So make sure you have a tank full of gas, food and something to drink! Garden of the Gods is a long drive, but worth it! The beauty is amazing as well as all of the wildlife that we saw! Glendale lake is also a nice place to spend the day and swim or rent a non motorized boat. Clean water and picnic areas.

Shawnee is a lovely forest, plenty of things to do for nature lovers. We camped in Bell Smith Springs Recreational Area which was a very nice campground. The only thing I was disappointed in is that they charge to swim. But being in the national forest they take Access passes.

If you are planning on photographing waterfalls best time is in the spring. I will be heading back there the spring of 2016 for sure. Garden of the Gods is a must, very touristy so expect a crowd. We also went to Burden Falls and Bell Springs.

I drove all night from northern IL for Solar Eclipse 2017. Shawnee National Forest has numerous places to visit. Garden of the gods was semi-scenic. Check out the first eight photos below. I camped at the Pounds Hollow Recreation area for $10 a night. Some of the campsites have electricity but these were already taken. The campsites have gravel, fire pits, picnic tables and potable water is available. The restroom was essentially a permanent outhouse. It Smelled as Bad as you can Imagine. They need to use that blue port a potty sanitation solution. Pounds Hollow Lake is just a short hike down the road. It has a beachside shower, covered picnic area and restrooms. August 21st 2017. Both male/female toilets overflowed due to excessive use. Gross. The forest service should have anticipated the huge influx of people that weekend. Plumbers should have come out to inspect those toilets to make sure they could handle the increased usage. Other than that, a decent recreational area. The place was crowded with lots of people waiting to view the moon blotting out the sun for 2 minutes. It was darkness at 1:20 p.m. in the afternoon. SURREAL. You had to be there. . . . . . .

There are so many choices for hiking trails in Shawnee national forest. There is Giant city with pretty easy trails. Garden of the gods has amazing rock formations. Little grand Canyon is very challenging. Natural bridge s a short hike and the drive is on rock road, but the natural bridge is a must see at least once. Fern clyfee has many flat trails. Shawnee is truly a treasure right here in Illinois

Everything in Shawnee National Forest is beautiful. There is too much traveling by vehicle to go to different locations though. I would reccomend going once but I would not be traveling back anytime soon.

I love coming here every once in a while. It's a great escape from the everyday hustle and bustle. Nature!

Great trails for beginners and beautiful scenery. Not far from timber ridge outpost and very easy to get to.

We had a great time at Oak Point Campground on Lake Glendale at Shawnee National Park. We hiked the trail around the lake our first day there and then took on the bluff trail two days later. We had planned to see other places in the area but enjoyed the campground and lake so much we didn't venture further. The bluff trail was not very well marked at times and we didn't feel that the topographical map we were given was very accurate but we didn't get lost and saw some great sights.

Shawnee can be a wondrous outdoor experience in Spring or Fall. Avoid the heat, humidity and insect life of the summer though. Our party of five just spent the last weekend there enjoying the sites of the Garden of the Gods, easy to find, and Natural Bridge on Trail 481, near Eddyville - ask locals for directions, one of our mates was familiar, we traveled on several unmarked gravel roads. We drove and parked to visit the Garden. Natural Bridge is an easy 2.6 mile hike into a very nice site along a river. One must wade across the river to follow the trail to the Natural Bridge. Natual Bridge is a nice site. The trail was muddy (several rains the previous week), many horse tracks. Be very aware of many, many ticks. We had a friend with her dog who turned back - we had gone about a mile. She reports she eventually removed 30 ticks from the dog. I recommend Permethin pretreatment - no one who used it had one tick on them. The main reason I would not recommend bringing young children or animals are the ticks.

We visited Ferne Clyffe Falls and Burden Falls in the early spring. Ferne Clyffe Falls didn't have a lot of water but there was still enough for a nice high waterfall. I would recommend going after a rainfall. There are two paths to get to the falls, one of them starts at the campground above the falls and then you can see the top of the falls and follow the path downward to the bottom of the falls. It can be a little steep in some places, but there are some good rock formations along the way. An easier path starts in the lower parking lot. This second path is wide and flat, leading to the base of the falls.

Then we visited Burden Falls, which had a lot more water running through it. To really see Burden Falls you must cross the top of the falls and then climb down some rocks. It is a bit more treacherous than the Ferne Clyffe hike, but doable. Bring good shoes and possibly a change of clothes. Both hikes are pretty short with Burden Falls being almost next to the parking lot. The surrounding areas are lovely as well. If you like waterfalls, these are both worth the trip.

There's a number of spots to go exploring here. I was only here for one day but easily could've used three. I visited: Garden of the Gods, Pounds Hollow and Rim Rocks. All three are worth the visit. Garden of the Gods has some great hiking trails and amazing views. Lots of places to climb around the odd rock formations. They have some camping there as well. I got here about 8AM Sunday morning. There weren't a lot of people around. The parking lot had maybe 4 cars parked there. By the time I left maybe 2 hours later the parking lot was filling up. They open at 6AM and I'd suggest getting there as early as possible. You really want as few people around as you can. Next I visited Rim Rocks. I started the hike here and took it all the way out to Pounds Hollow. Seems like a good way to go to me. There's some amazing rock formations here as well. Massive ones. On the trail you'll hit a spot where there's a viewing deck and some stairs going down. TAKE THOSE STAIRS! They lead to cool spots and you can follow that trail either back up to parking lot or continue on to Pounds Hollow. Again, Sunday morning and not a lot of people around when I got here but when I left it was filling up. Pounds Hollow has a nice small lake beach. Bathroom facilities. Really amazing views of the forest. I was here in fall when leaves are changing so it was really nice. Like I said I only had time for these spots. Easily could explore more to the forest with more time and I'm sure based on these spots it's worth it.

We had a great time here. Peaceful, friendly, and just what we needed. We needed the down and away time and it was perfect in everyway. If you love nature, hiking, and adventures, this is a place to be.