Shawnee National Forest

Welcome

Shawnee National Forest

The preshistoric Native American occupation of southern Illinois began about 10,000 years ago. Many of the village sites have been preserved and interpreted at several forest locations. Learn about people of the Mississippian culture (ca. 900-1450 A.D.) by visiting Millstone Bluff National Register site and walking a one-mile trail leading past a stone fort, cemetery, petroglyphys (rock carvings) and the village area.

The historic period in Illinois began with the Joliet-Marquette exploration of the area in 1673. One tragic episode during the period was the forced march of the Cherokee Nation people to western reservations in Oklahoma during the winter of 1838-1839. The "Nunna-da-ul-tsun-yi" or "the place where they cried" became known as the Trail of Tears because many Cherokee people perished from cold, hunger, and exhaustion during the journey. It is now designated as a National Historic Trail and extends across the Shawnee National Forest from the Ohio River to the Mississippi River.

American westward expansion during the 18th and 19th century brought pioneer farmers seeking homesteads and good, cheap land. Many farmed lands that were not sutiable for the cultivation of row crops and erosion soon destroyed the natural fertility of the land. In 1933 the federal government began acquiring the old, worn-out land that would be designated as the Shawnee National Forest.

Forest Storm Damage Updates

Volunteer with the Shawnee National Forest and help to make a difference within your community and on your public lands!

Volunteers with many different skills are needed to assist with the various programs on the Shawnee National Forest. Volunteer opportunities vary in length, type of skill required, and even where they are located (outside on the trails or in the office at a desk). >>>Read More
For more volunteer information including a Master Trail Steward Trail Training Course - course offered through Shawnee Community College and sponsored by Shawnee National Forest and U of I Extension, please see our Volunteering page.

VolunteerMatch is a leader in the nonprofit world dedicated to helping everyone find a great place to volunteer. The organization offers a variety of online services to support a community of nonprofit, volunteer and business leaders committed to civic engagement. Our popular service welcomes millions of visitors a year and has become the preferred internet recruiting tool for more than 50,000 nonprofit organizations. Just type in the zip code to check out local volunteer opportunities

**New Interactive Map** of Recreational Sites Just Click on Your Area of Interest!

**New Areas of Interest GPS Coordinates Map**

Trying to Contact Us?

If attempting to contact our staff, please be aware that due to virus protection reasons, the Forest Service will block all e-mails at the SMTP mail gateway that are over a certain size or that contain certain attachment types. To see a list of attachment types that may cause e-mails to be blocked, as well as other e-mail limitations, click here.

Planning to Hunt the Shawnee National Forest?

Climate Change, Kids, and Forests: What's the Connection?

"Since being named Chief in January, I have spent time in Washington and have traveled around the country and have talked to many different people concerned in one way or another about forests. I have been struck by their hopes and fears, and three themes in particular have stood out. I will discuss these themes one by one and show how they are connected."

Current Items of Interest
MAINTENANCE RESULTS IN TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF ACCESS ROAD LEADING INTO THE GARDEN OF THE GODS RECREATION AREA Harrisburg, IL, August 3, 2009 – The Shawnee National Forest, Hidden Springs Ranger District is planning to conduct road maintenance along the access route into the Garden of the Gods Recreation Area. >>>Read More
FOREST ROADS REPAIR UPDATE Harrisburg, IL, July 28, 2009 – The Mississippi Bluffs Ranger District of the Shawnee National Forest would like to notify the public that road reconstruction is nearly completed on the Pine Hills Road, which is now open to through traffic, although there may be minor delays. >>>Read More
AUGUST 5 TOUR PLANNED TO SEE EFFECTS OF NON-NATIVE SPECIES ON THE SHAWNEE NATIONAL FOREST Harrisburg, IL, July 27, 2009 – The Shawnee National Forest and the River To River Cooperative Weed Management Area are hosting a tour to give the public an opportunity to see first hand the effects of non-native invasive plant species on the Forest’s natural areas. >>>Read More
SHAWNEE NATIONAL FOREST AND RIVER TO RIVER COOPERATIVE WEED MANAGEMENT AREA AUGUST 5, 2009 >>>Read More
SHAWNEE NATIONAL FOREST/SHAWNEE TRAILS CONSERVANCY PARTNERSHIP AWARDED SIGNIFICANT TRAIL IMPROVEMENT GRANT FROM ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Harrisburg, IL, July 16, 2009 – The Shawnee National Forest Hidden Springs District Ranger Tim Pohlman today announced that through the efforts of the Shawnee Trails Conservancy (STC), a $128,000 trail improvement grant has been secured that will be used to improve equestrian/hiker trails in southern Illinois. >>>Read More
FISH TALES ADDED TWO PARTNERS IN 2009 Harrisburg, IL, July 10, 2009 - The Fish Tales conservation education program hosted 198 kids, ages eight through twelve, in 2009. >>>Read More
July Shawnee Quarterly
SHAWNEE NATIONAL FOREST HOSTS ITS FIRST ENGINE ACADEMY Harrisburg, IL, June 30, 2009 – The Shawnee National Forest recently hosted the 2009 Eastern Area Fire Engine Academy. >>>Read More
TWO FOREST ROADS TO UNDERGO REPAIR DURING JULY AND AUGUST Harrisburg, IL, June 22, 2009 – The Mississippi Bluffs Ranger District of the Shawnee National Forest would like to notify the public that road reconstruction is scheduled to begin on roads that access two popular recreation areas on the district. >>>Read More
FISHING DERBY ATTENDED BY APPROXIMATELY 200 Harrisburg, IL, June 15, 2009 - The Shawnee National Forest Hidden Springs District Ranger Tim Pohlman wants to recognize the efforts of partners in the 2009 Fishing Derby. >>>Read More
Decision Notice - Harris Branch Restoration of Hardwoods in a Pine Stand. >>>Read More
Harrisburg, IL, June 3, 2009— Since the Hidden Springs Ranger District and surrounding areas felt the wrath of “Ice Storm 2009,” the Golconda Job Corps Center’s (GJCC) Urban Forestry students have been busy helping with the cleanup. >>>Read More
Harrisburg, IL, June 1, 2009 – The Shawnee National Forest, with assistance from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), acquired two surplus federal wildland fire trucks. >>>Read More
Proposed Decision Memo Atwood Ridge Research Natural Area, Ozark Hill Prairie Research Natural Area, and Opossum Trot Trail Botanical Area - >>>Read More
The Monitoring Implementation Guide provides guidance on how to implement the monitoring and evaluation requirements of the 2006 Shawnee National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan). The guide contains the methodologies and protocols to be used in implementing Chapter 6 of the Forest Plan. >>>Read More
AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL PASSES AVAILABLE AT SHAWNEE NATIONAL FOREST OFFICES Harrisburg, IL, March 24, 2009 – Is your family planning a trip to a national park, national forest or other federal land in the United States this year? >>>Read More
SHAWNEE NATIONAL FOREST ISSUES EMERGENCY CLOSURE ORDER Harrisburg, IL, March 24, 2009 - The Shawnee National Forest Supervisor Allen Nicholas signed an Emergency Closure Order prohibiting public access and use of all Forest caves or mines that support bat populations. >>>Read More
SHAWNEE NATIONAL FOREST RELEASES MOTOR VEHICLE USE MAP Harrisburg, IL, March 23, 2009 – Today Forest Supervisor Allen Nicholas announced the publication and release of the Motor Vehicle Use Map for the Shawnee National Forest. >>>Read More - Maps - Hidden Springs Ranger District - Mississippi Bluffs Ranger District
SHAWNEE NATIONAL TRAILS ARE OPEN Harrisburg, IL, March 12, 2009 - Trails in the Lusk Creek, Bay Creek and Garden of the God Wildernesses will re-open for equestrian use April 1, when the annual seasonal closure order expires. >>>Read More
Decision Notice - Buttermilk Hill - Talbott Hollow Blowdown Project The Shawnee National Forest, Mississippi Bluffs Ranger District has revised the Environmental Assessment on the Buttermilk Hill – Talbott Hollow Blowdown Project. >>>Read More
REVISED HARRIS BRANCH ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT The Shawnee National Forest proposes to remove 40-60 percent of the non-native shortleaf pine overstory in Compartment 31, Stand 24, which is about 225 acres (T11S, R8E, sections 13 and  24).  The project area is located about three miles southeast of Karbers Ridge in Hardin County, and is within the Hidden Springs Ranger District.  This action is needed because mature pines are shading out and discouraging oak and hickory regeneration while favoring shade-tolerant species (maple and elm) that could eventually dominate the stand. >>>Read More
RECREATION FEE INCREASES Harrisburg, IL, March 2, 2009 - Shawnee National Forest Supervisor, Allen Nicholas, announces an increase of fees for five Forest campgrounds.  This increase will become effective on March 15, 2009. >>>Read More
Order of the Forest Supervisor, Restriction of Horses or Other Saddle or Pack Animals to Designated and Interim Trails in the Eagle Creek, Big Grand Pierre Creek, Lusk Creek and Upper Bay Creek Watersheds on the Shawnee National Forest (Please allow for download time when viewing maps). Closure Order Map 1 Map 2 Map 3
DESIGNATED TRAIL USE ONLY IN FOUR WATERSHEDS Harrisburg, IL, January 22, 2007 –Today Forest Supervisor Allen Nicholas announced equestrian use will be limited to designated trails in the Eagle Creek, Big Grande Pierre, Lusk Creek and Upper Bay Creek watersheds in Gallatin, Hardin, Johnson, Pope and Saline counties of the Hidden Springs Ranger District.
Research Natural Areas Program Research Natural Areas (RNAs) are established by the USDA Forest Service as representative examples of minimally disturbed natural ecosystems.

Horse Camps on the Shawnee

Forest Road 345 is closed each year from March 15 to May 15 and again September 1 thru October 30 for the Snake Migration (by Mike Pingleton)
Also see our Snake Migration LaRue-Pine Hills Recreational Opportunity Guide and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources pages on Illinois Snakes for more information.

Other Recrational Opportunity Guides

 Virtual Tours

Please visit our Photo Tour of the forest.
East Side of the Forest | West Side of the Forest

Current Conditions:

The Shawnee National Forest is located in southern Illinois and is divided into two Ranger Districts Hidden Springs - located in Vienna and Mississippi Bluffs - located in Jonesboro .

News

Volunteer Vibe - Volume 1 Issue 2 - a quarterly newsletter made for the Shawnee Volunteers. Each newsletter will contain a feature trail, safety tips, Special Thanks section and Volunteer Opportunities. Also what is going on in and around the forest since the last newsletter. >>>Read More

Trails Maintenance Reports
The Trails Designation Project, Phase 1, Final Environmental Impact Statement presents an analysis of four alternatives for designating, constructing and maintaining a trail system within four watersheds on The Shawnee National Forest.