Illinois is a very long state – about 9 hours from top to tip. When choosing an outdoor adventure destination, many Illinois travelers head west to the Rocky Mountains, or north to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, leaving Southern Illinois as a hidden gem of the Midwest. The heart of outdoor adventure in Southern Illinois is Shawnee National Forest, with over 280,000 acres of protected land to explore. If you are looking for things to do in Shawnee National Forest, hotels near Shawnee National Forest, or camping in Southern Illinois, keep reading!

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Shawnee National Forest Camping

Shawnee National Forest campsites range from primitive backpacking sites to developed campgrounds with electric sites, as well as camping cabins offered at several campgrounds in Southern Illinois. Many of these campgrounds are seasonal and may have different reservation policies depending on the time of year, so be sure to plan ahead and know which sites are reservable and which are first come, first served.

Garden of the Gods Recreation Area

The most popular destination in the Shawnee National Forest is the Garden of the Gods Recreation Area. The campground at Garden of the Gods has 12 primitive campsites that are open year-round

• Fees: $10 per night
• Reservations: no reservations; first come, first served
• Restrooms: vault toilets
• Electric Sites: no

Cave in Rock State Park

For campers wanting more amenities, Cave in Rock State Park is an excellent choice along the eastern edge of Shawnee National Forest. Set on the Ohio River, there are many places to relax and enjoy the view. The campground here has a total of 59 campsites with a variety of amenities.

• 34 Class A electric sites that can accommodate campers up to 60′ long. Prices range from $20-$30 per night ($30 for holiday weekends)
• 25 tent sites for $10 per night
• Showers, restrooms, and dumping stations are available to all campers

Cave in Rock State Park also has a lodging concessionaire and restaurant for those who don’t feel like roughing it. Cave in Rock Lodging offers duplex cabins that sleep up to four people, and they also have two private homes for rent on-site.

Giant City State Park

Like Cave in Rock, Giant City offers a variety of overnight accommodations, including Shawnee National Forest cabins and campsites. The campground here has a total of 99 campsites and 34 cabins with a variety of amenities.

• 85 sites at the Class A campground include water, electricity, and showers. (Showers are closed in winter) Reservations are available at Explore More IL.
• 14 walk-in sites are available at the Class C campground, with access to vault toilets and fire rings.
• Giant City Lodge has 34 cabins with modern amenities, including a/c and heat, and full bathrooms. The lodge also has an outdoor swimming pool and the very popular Bald Knob dining room.

Trail of Tears State Forest

Trail of Tears State Forest has rustic campsites for $8 per night. The sites are remotely located on two rutted dirt road loops. Each site has an outhouse, fire pit, and picnic table, but otherwise, it feels a lot like backcountry camping as you don’t have any neighbors. Reservations are available at Explore More IL. – open year-round, although the roads are closed in winter

Other Shawnee National Forest Campsites

The list above is by no means inclusive of all the camping in Southern Illinois. Here are a few more Shawnee National Forest campsites to check out when planning your trip.

• Dixon Springs State Park has electric sites, tent sites, and cabins that are available by reservation
• The Forest Service manages 9 campgrounds that are split into two ranger districts:
  • Mississippi Bluffs Ranger District includes camping at Johnson Creek Recreation Area, Pine Hills Campground, and Kinkaid Lake.
  • Hidden Springs Ranger District includes camping at Bell Smith Springs State Park, Camp Cadiz, Garden of the Gods, Oak Point Campground at Lake Glendale Recreation Area, Pounds Hollow/Pine Ridge Campground, and Tower Rock.

Things to Do in Shawnee National Forest

Southern Illinois is a hiker’s paradise. Choosing hiking trails within the 280,000 acres of Shawnee National Forest can be overwhelming. Fortunately, the forest is divided into many wilderness areas and state parks. Backpackers will be pleased to learn that there is even a long-distance trail in the region. The River to River trail spans 160 miles from the Ohio River in the East to the Mississippi River in the West. Photographers will also love hiking in Shawnee National Forest, thanks to the unique landscapes and dozens of waterfalls to capture.

Read: What to Bring Hiking for a list of hiking essentials.

Other options for hiking in Shawnee National Forest include:

• Garden of the Gods (IL) – not to be confused with the Garden of the Gods in Colorado, this State Park is one of the most popular places for hiking in Shawnee National Forest. It can be crowded, but the rock formations here are worth it, and the crowds are generally concentrated at just a few overlook areas near the picnic tables and parking lot.
• Giant City State Park – another popular place to hike in Shawnee National Forest, Giant City State Park has hiking, fishing, hunting, horseback riding, and rock climbing.
• Ferne Clyffe State Park – a beautiful hiking spot with waterfalls and ferns. There are 18 trails here; from 0.25-mile nature trails to an 8-mile equestrian trail.
• Little Grand Canyon – beautiful 3-mile loop through a forested canyon. Hiking out of the canyon is steep and rocky, so wear good shoes.
• Bell Smith Springs Recreation Area – Eight miles of trails wind through scenic canyons and rocky streams.
• Lusk Creek Wilderness – a historic area popular with hikers, equestrians, and paddlers.
• Burden Falls Wilderness – with just a 1-mile loop trail to reach the falls, this is a great place to splash in the water on a hot day.
• Pomona Natural Bridge – a short hike leads you to a natural rock bridge, which is pretty cool. This is a great, easy hike for kids and non-hikers who want a bit of nature.
• Pounds Hollow Recreation Area – a great spot with a swimming beach and campground on Pounds Lake.
• Jackson Falls is popular with climbers and offers free primitive camping.

Cache River Wetlands

Another really cool area near Shawnee National Forest is the Cache River Wetlands. This spot is totally different from the other wilderness areas nearby. You will think you took a wrong turn and ended up in the Bayou of Louisiana! We visited in the spring, so the water was pretty high in many places. We waded in a bit to get some photos before moving on. (I don’t recommend this, as we saw a copperhead rattlesnake at the next place we stopped! Had I known these were here, we definitely would not have been wading around in murky water.) The Heron Pond is another cool spot in the wetlands and a nice place for a shorter hike in the shade.

Hotels Near Shawnee National Forest

If you prefer hotels over camping in Southern Illinois, there are still some options beyond the Shawnee National Forest cabins listed above. There are a few towns nearby with lodging options if you like a more standard hotel experience. Click the Booking.com links below to browse hotels near the Shawnee National Forest.

• Browse Carbondale, IL hotels – Carbondale is home to Southern Illinois University, so beware of special event weekends, such as graduation, parent’s weekend, etc. This is the town closest to Giant City State Park.
• Browse Marion, IL hotels – this is a good central location if you plan to explore both sides of the national forest, and is a halfway point between Garden of the Gods and Giant City.
• Browse Mount Vernon hotels – for an option on the east side of Southern Illinois, this is a historic town with cute shops and cafes if you prefer a less outdoorsy visit to the area.

I would highly recommend Southern Illinois for a long weekend of exploring. Garden of the Gods and Giant City State Parks seem to be really convenient, central locations to all the attractions, as well as offering different types of lodging like lodges, cabins, and camping.

Marietta Ohio is another fantastic Midwest destination for outdoor adventure!