Shawnee National Forest
50 Hwy. 145 South
Harrisburg, IL 62946
Phone: 618-253-7114 or 1-800-MY-WOODS
(699-6637)
TTY: 618-253-1070 (TTY users may also use the toll-free number for the Illinois Relay Service: 1-800-526-0844)
FAX: (618) 253-1060
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Wilderness
Home : Recreational
Activities : Wilderness |
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The Shawnee National Forest offers a diversity of
outdoor opportunities. These lands are yours - to visit,
to care for, but most of all, to enjoy.
What are you waiting for? Pack up your family and
friends and head for adventure in America's Great Outdoors.
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Bay
Creek
Bay Creek Wilderness is located in Pope
County. The Wilderness is located adjacent
to Burden Falls Wilderness and is in a
stone's throw of Bell Smith Springs Recreation
Area. Bay Creek Wilderness is comprised
of a central hardwood ecosytem with some
pine plantations. Contained in the Wilderness
is the Bay Creek Wild and Scenic River
Study Corridor. Trails for hiking and equestrian
use will take you by some indications of
past use by people including homestead,
fruit trees, cemeteries and abandoned roads.
Size and History:
Bay Creek Wilderness was designated as
a wilderness area by the Illinois Wilderness
Act of 1990 (PL101-633)
2866 Total Acres.
Ranger Station:
Hidden Springs Ranger District
P.O. Box 37 (Hwy 45 - North).
Vienna, IL 62995
(618) 658-2214
Closest Medical Facility:
Harrisburg Medical Center
100 Hospital Dr. (P.O. Box 428)
Harrisburg, IL 62946
(618) 253-7671
Parking, Trail Heads and Directions:
Several small parking areas and trail
heads adjacent to Forest Road 447: State
Highway 145 to Eddyville, IL. North to
Forest Road 447. West on Forest Road 447
Topo Maps Recommended:
Stonefort
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Bald Knob
Located in Union County, and adjacent to
Clear Springs Wilderness, the area has generally
rugged topograghy including narrow ridgetops,
steep slopes and narrow creek bottoms. With
Elevations from 480 ft. to 980 ft., Bald
Knob Wilderness offers some great opportunities
to view the Mississippi River Valley. Trails
for hiking and equestrian use will take you
by some indications of past use by people
including homestead, fruit trees, cemeteries
and abandoned roads. Bald Knob Wilderness
also includes The Hutchins Creek Wild and
Scenic River Study Corridor. Also, for an
inspirational setting, do not forget to visit
North America's largest Christian monument,
Bald Knob Cross.
Size and History:
Bald Knob Wilderness was designated as a
wilderness area by the Illinois Wilderness
Act of 1990 (PL101-633)
5973 Total Acres. 5918 acres is National
Forest System Land.
Ranger Station:
Mississippi Bluffs Ranger District
521 N. Main St.
Jonesboro, IL 62906
(618) 833-4511
Closest Medical Facility:
Union County Hospital
517 N. Main St.
Anna, IL 62906
(618) 833-4511
Parking, Trail Heads and Directions:
Bald Knob Cross Trail Head and Parking:
State Highway 127 to the Community of Alto
Pass, Illinois. Follow signs toward Bald
Knob Cross and Wilderness.
Godwin Trail Head and Parking:
State Highway 127 to the Community of Alto
Pass, Illinois. Follow signs toward Bald
Knob Cross and Wilderness.
Topo Maps Recommended:
Cobden
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Burden Falls
Burden Falls Wilderness is located in Pope
County. The Wilderness is located adjacent
to Bay Creek Wilderness and is in a stone's
throw of Bell Smith Springs Recreation Area.Burden
Falls Wilderness is comprised of a central
hardwood ecosytem with some pine plantations.
Trails for hiking and equestrian use will
take you by some indications of past use
by people including homestead, fruit trees,
cemeteries and abandoned roads. Of course,
there is a small, but very scenic waterfall
located on the southern edge of the wilderness.
Size and History:
Burden Falls Wilderness was designated as
a wilderness area by the Illinois Wilderness
Act of 1990 (PL101-633)
3775 Total Acres. 3723 acres is National
Forest System Land
Ranger Station:
Hidden Springs Ranger District
P.O. Box 37 (Hwy 45 - North).
Vienna, IL 62995
(618) 658-2214
Closest Medical Facility:
Harrisburg Medical Center
100 Hospital Dr. (P.O. Box 428)
Harrisburg, IL 62946
(618) 253-7671
Parking, Trail Heads and Directions:
Limited parking along Forest Road 402:
State Hwy. 145 to junction with Forest Rd. 447, West to Forest Rd. 402
or
State Hwy.45 to Stone Fort, IL. Southeasterly on county roads.
Topo Maps Recommended:
Stonefort
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Clear Springs Wilderness
Located in Union and Jackson Counties, Clear
Springs Wilderness offers some great opportunities
to view the Mississippi River Valley. Elevations
range from 400 ft. to over 900 ft. The Area
is generally regarded as rough terrain, with
narrow ridgetops, steep slopes and narrow
creek bottoms. Trails for hiking and equestrian
use will take you by some indications of
past use by people including homestead, fruit
trees, cemeteries and abandoned roads. Bald
Knob Wilderness also includes The Hutchins
Creek Wild and Scenic River Study Corridor.
The Wildernsess also lies adjacent to LaRue-Pine
Hills Ecological Area.
Size and History:
Clear Springs Wilderness was designated
as a wilderness area by the Illinois Wilderness
Act of 1990 (PL101-633)
4730 Total Acres.
Ranger Station:
Mississippi Bluffs Ranger District
521 N. Main St.
Jonesboro, IL 62906
(618) 833-4511
Closest Medical Facility:
Union County Hospital
517 N. Main St.
Anna, IL 62906
(618) 833-4511
Parking, Trail Heads and Directions:
Parking and Trail heads are availabe along
Forest Road 236 (Pine Hills Road): US Hwy.
3 to Wolf Lake, IL, then East along State
Forest Road to Forest Road 236. Then North.
or
State Hwy. 127 to State Forest Road. West to Forest Road 236. Then North.
Topo Maps Recommended:
Wolf Lake
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Garden of the Gods Wilderness
Garden Of The Gods Wilderness is located
in Saline, Pope, and Hardin Counties. The
wilderness features an outstanding scenic
views along with very unusual rock formations.
Trails for hiking and equestrian use will
take you by some indications of past use
by people including homestead, fruit trees,
cemeteries and abandoned roads. Being adjacent
to the Garden of the Gods Observation Site,
this wilderness is the most popular of Shawnee's
Wilderness area's. Eagle Creek Special Land
Management area (adjacent to Garden of the
Gods) is designated to become a wilderness
all its own. The Illinois Wilderness bill
has designated Eagle Creek to become a Wilderness
area in late November, 1998.
Size and History:
Garden of the Gods Wilderness was designated
as a wilderness area by the Illinois Wilderness
Act of 1990 (PL101-633)
3318 Total Acres. 3293 acres is National
Forest System Land.
Eagle Creek Special Land Management Area, 722 acres.
Ranger Station:
Hidden Springs Ranger District
P.O. Box 37 (Hwy. 45 - North).
Vienna, IL 62995
(618) 658-2214
Closest Medical Facility:
Harrisburg Medical Center
100 Hospital Dr. (P.O. Box 428)
Harrisburg, IL 62946
(618) 253-7671
Parking, Trail Heads and Directions:
Abundant parking at Pharoah Campground and
Garden of the Gods Observation Site: State
Hwy. 34 to Karbers Ridge Rd.. Then follow
signs east.
Topo Maps Recommended:
Herod, Karbers Ridge
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Lusk Creek Wilderness
Lusk Creek Wilderness is located in Pope
County. The wilderness features an outstanding
scenic view called Indian Kitchen (Lusk Creek
Canyon Nature Preserve). Trails for hiking
and equestrian use will take you by some
indications of past use by people including
homestead, fruit trees, cemeteries and abandoned
roads. Canoeing is very a popular activity
on Lusk Creek during the spring and early
summer. Camping along the creek is discouraged
because of the probability of flash flooding.
Also, camping is not allowed in Lusk Creek
Canyon Nature Preserve. Located adjacent
to Lusk Creek Wilderness is the East Fork
Special Management Area. This area is designated
to become a wilderness all its own. The Illinois
Wilderness bill has designated East Fork
to become a Wilderness area in late November,
1998.
Size and History:
Lusk Creek Wilderness was designated as
a wilderness area by the Illinois Wilderness
Act of 1990 (PL101-633)
5126 Total Acres. 4796 acres is National
Forest System Land.
East Fork Special Management Area, 2042 acres
Ranger Station:
Hidden Springs Ranger District
P.O. Box 37 (Hwy. 45 - North).
Vienna, IL 62995
(618) 658-2214
Closest Medical Facility:
Harrisburg Medical Center
100 Hospital Dr. (P.O. Box 428)
Harrisburg, IL 62946
(618) 253-7671
Parking, Trail Heads and Directions:
New Liberty Church Parking & Trail Head:
From State Hwy. 145, West on Forest Rd. 404. Then south on Forest Rd. 488.
Indian Kitchen Parking and Trail Head:
From State Hwy. 145 Southeast on Eddyville-Golconda Blacktop. follow sign to
Indian Kitchen
Topo Maps Recommended:
Eddyville
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Panther Den
Wilderness
Located in Union and Williamson Counties,
Panther Den Wilderness offers some great
opportunities to view some lakeside panoramas.
Devils Kitchen Lake borders Panther Den Wilderness,
making it a favorite for those who love the
water. Trails for hiking and equestrian use
will take you by some indications of past
use by people including homestead, fruit
trees, cemeteries and abandoned roads. Panther
Den Wilderness received it's name from a
rock formation known as the Panther Den that
is located within the Wilderness area.
Size and History:
Panther Den Wilderness was designated as
a wilderness area by the Illinois Wilderness
Act of 1990 (PL101-633)
1195 Total Acres. 1018 acres is National
Forest System Land.
Ranger Station:
Mississippi Bluffs Ranger District
Murphysboro Work Center
2221 Walnut St.
Murphysboro, IL 62966
(618) 687-1731
*TTY (618) 687-1726
Closest Medical Facility:
Carbondale Memorial Hospital
405 W. Jackson
Carbondale, IL 62901
(618) 549- 0721
Parking, Trail Heads and Directions:
Current parking adjacent Panthers
Den Rd. Interstate 57 to Goreville exit
#40. West to Panthers Den Road and then .7 miles to trailhead.
Topo Maps Recommended:
Lick Creek
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WARNING!
Hunting is popular within
wilderness areas during designated seasons.
Backpacking and horseback
riding is not recommended during Illinois
Hunting Season.
All wilderness users should
exercise good outdoor ethics, which include;
bringing a compass, appropriate maps, drinking
water, observing adjacent private landowner rights and 'Leave no Trace' practices. Campers
are encouraged to register with the nearest
Ranger District. |
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