Shawnee National Forest in Illinois State

Shawnee National Forest

Home to the Garden of the Gods Recreation Area, the Shawnee National Forest feels much bigger than 265,000 acres.

Plan Around Shawnee National Forest

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Shawnee National Forest Details

Home to the Garden of the Gods Recreation Area, the Shawnee National Forest feels much bigger than 265,000 acres. For those of you who like to go on long drives, the Ohio River National Scenic Byway may be the best drive you've never been on. Although relatively small in size, the Shawnee National Forest has 7 different wilderness areas, and allows for dispersed camping at its best. There are too many points of interest to list here, but you can't miss checking out the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail, Bell Smith Springs, and the Pomona Natural Bridge.

Difficulty

Open

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Nearby Parks Around Shawnee National Forest

Compare nearby parks around Shawnee National Forest when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.

83.9 mi away

Gateway Arch

National Park · MO

178.8 mi away

Mammoth Cave

National Park · KY

299.7 mi away

Hot Springs

National Park · AR

302.0 mi away

Indiana Dunes

National Park · IN

346.9 mi away

Great Smoky

National Park · NC

483.8 mi away

Cuyahoga

National Park · OH

Nearby Points of Interest Around Shawnee National Forest

Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Shawnee National Forest while the map context is still fresh.

0.0 mi away

Cedar Lake Trail

This 14-mile network of trails has four individual routes each bringing you to the shores where you can soak in the views of this sparkling 1,750-acre reservoir.

2.5 mi away

The Pomona Natural Bridge

A testament to a lifetime of wind and rain erosion, this natural bridge is an architectural masterpiece.

5.9 mi away

Trillium Trail

Between the frozen waterfalls and budding wildflower fields, there is really not a bad time to go hiking along this trail in Makanda.

6.0 mi away

Little Grand Canyon Trail

If you are looking for a challenging hike with picture-postcard views and beautiful scenery, then look no further than this trail through the Shawnee National Forest.

6.5 mi away

Little Grand Canyon

Illinois has its fair share of rocky bluffs and steep canyons, but this one in the Shawnee National Forest has to be the most peaceful.