Located within the Ozark and Shawnee Hills of Illinois and between the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, Shawnee National Forest is a favourite of trailblazers and campers from throughout.
It boasts 289,000 acres of attractive hills, wildlife, vegetation, and enjoyable. But with all that house to discover, the place do you begin?
For suggestions, guides, and data to assist put together you to sort out Shawnee National Forest tenting this yr, hold studying!
Shawnee National Forest Overview
History of the Park
The Shawnee National Forest Park was established in 1933 by the US Forest Service.
In the Nineteen Eighties and 90s, Shawnee was the location of sturdy conservation efforts from native and nationwide organizations to protect the nationwide sources of the forest.
Featuring essential Underground Railroad websites, indigenous Cherokee homesteads, and possibly even a sasquatch or two, Shawnee National Forest has a wealthy cultural historical past prepared so that you can discover.
More than a million individuals go to the forest yearly and for good motive. And after this information, you’ll be prepared to hitch them!
Things to Bring
In its temperate location in southern Illinois, there is a chance to take pleasure in Shawnee National Forest year-round!
Make certain to deliver a swimsuit, good mountain climbing footwear, sunscreen, all-weather put on, and water bottle with you. That means, you’re ready to have in all various kinds of climate. Keep studying for extra concepts on What to Bring Camping.
Shawnee National Forest Camping
9 Best Spots to Camp
There are 9 totally different official tenting areas in Shawnee National Forest: Redbud Campground, Camp Cadiz, Garden of the Gods, Johnson Creek, Lake Glendale, Oakwood Bottoms and Turkey Bayou Campground, Pine Hills Campground, Pounds Hollow, and Tower Rock.
All of those campgrounds are surrounded by stunning wilderness and our bodies of water. So, one of the best spots to camp are in the end determined by what you want.
If you’re in an RV, then the tenting areas with out RV parking most likely wouldn’t be finest for you.
What Kind of Camping Is Available
All campgrounds at Shawnee National Forest are first come, first serve and don’t settle for reservations. Typically, the campgrounds open on March 1st and shut on December fifteenth.
The value vary per evening for tenting spots goes from completely free to $15.
Of the 9 tenting areas of Shawnee National Forest, 4 are designated for RV tenting: Johnson Creek, Lake Glendale, Tower Rock, and Camp Cadiz
Each campsite has totally different facilities and totally different ranges of accessibility, so be sure you do your analysis beforehand for those who’re on the lookout for particular services.
Things to Do at Shawnee National Forest
Sightseeing
If you aren’t massive on difficult hikes however are nonetheless desperate to see the sights of Shawnee National Forest, don’t fret! There are loads of alternatives to get some good views that don’t require a rigorous journey to get there.
To get to Garden of the Gods, you solely should go 1 / 4 mile off the crushed path on the commentary path.
Garden of the Gods supplies a few of the most spectacular views of the forest, that includes lush vegetation and distinctive rock formations. There’s a motive it’s known as Garden of the Gods!
Cave-In-Rock was as soon as house to pirates and a tavern to outlaws. Nowadays, it’s a stupendous nationwide park to go to and discover.
The Cave-In-Rock has been formed by centuries of wind and water to change into a shocking landmark of the Shawnee National Forest space.
The Pomona Bridge is the one pure bridge in Shawnee National Forest. It’s about 90 toes lengthy, 30 toes within the air, and fabricated from sandstone carved out by the water that after flowed under.
It’s a brief stroll from the parking space to the bridge, roughly a 3rd of a mile. The Pomona Bridge is nice for adults and older kids however not accessible for younger children and strollers.
Heron Pond is the place the wonders of Shawnee National Forest wildlife converge. It’s house to multiple hundred endangered or threatened vegetation and animals.
The floating boardwalk throughout and across the pond makes it an final viewing platform for all the varied natural world of Shawnee National Forest.
And in case you are feeling a bit adventurous, you will get a hen’s eye view of Shawnee from the cover zip traces!
Activities
Horseback Riding
There are a number of totally different areas round Shawnee National Forest which are designated for horse using and tenting.
If you do select to experience horses within the park, please follow the licensed trails and recreation areas!
Hiking
Shawnee National Forest has glorious mountain climbing alternatives to select from. No matter your ability degree, there’s a path for you!
From the 160-mile trek of the River to River path to the Bay Creek Lake stroll that’s just below a mile, there’s one thing for everybody.
If you have an interest in a multi-day backpacking journey, bear in mind to pack all of your necessities and provides technique to equestrians!
Fishing and Boating
Within Shawnee National Forest, there are 11 lakes and 52 ponds, a number of of that are actively managed by the nationwide park workers.
If you’re lake and pond fishing, you may anticipate to catch some bass, bluegill, or catfish.
In addition, there are additionally alternatives all through Shawnee National Forest for river and stream fishing.
While fishing within the forest, it’s essential to comply with Illinois Fishing tips relating to the dimensions and variety of fish you may hold.
You can launch motorized boats from Dutchman Lake, Lake Glendale, Lake of Egypt, Tower Rock, Cedar Lake, Johnson Creek, and Kinkaid Lake and Trail System.
For non-motorized boating, you may make the most of the identical websites plus Bay Creek Lake, Lake Tecumseh, Bowman Lake, Lusk Creek, One Horse Gap Lake, Whoopie Cat Lake, and Oakwood Bottoms.
Watersports
Swim, tube, waterski, kayak, and windsurf to your coronary heart’s content material at Shawnee National Park!
At Cedar Lake, Johnson Creek, Kinkaid Lake and Trail System, Lake of Egypt, and Tower Rock, you’re welcome to watersport so long as the climate permits.
Nearby Sites
One close by must-see is the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail, marked with numerous monuments and signage alongside the way in which.
This is an excellent essential website and an immersive historic expertise for kids and adults.
Little Grand Canyon is a small, hikeable field canyon – an uncommon characteristic with attractive views.
Before you permit, make sure you take a selfie with Sassy the Sasquatch!
The surrounding cities and areas have vineyards, buying, eating, recreation, and even scuba diving to take pleasure in!
Wildlife at Shawnee National Forest
Wildlife You Can Expect To See
More than 500 species of wildlife name Shawnee National Forest house, together with bears, cougars, wolves, mountain lions, salamanders, possums, and even armadillos!
However, snakes, birds, squirrels, frogs, butterflies, and beetles are sometimes what you’ll come throughout.
But for those who’re actually fortunate, you would possibly catch a look of a barred owl, a rosy maple moth, a softshell turtle, or possibly even a wild turkey.
Below the water’s floor, Shawnee National Forest has 109 species of fish, plus quite a lot of aquatic mollusks and amphibians.
A great portion of the wildlife in Shawnee is both innocent or far more terrified of you than you might be of them. But bear in mind, not all critters are associates, even when they’re cute.
There’s all the time an opportunity to would possibly end up head to head with a big predator, a venomous snake, or a toxic spider.
How to Observe the Wildlife Safely
If you do meet a less-than-friendly forest inhabitant or wish to take some preventative steps to keep away from them altogether, there are some things you are able to do.
Firstly, you may make sure you’re all the time ready to come across critters. Bug spray, bear repellant, sturdy exhibits, and a headlamp are all nice issues to hold to set you up for achievement within the face of the Shawnee wildlife.
You’re more likely to discover a harmful predator or toxic animal off the crushed path, so sticking to the marked trails is finest (for lots of causes)!
If you wish to rise up shut and private with a few of the wildlife that Shawnee has to supply, you may go to one of many many wildlife commentary areas: Bell Smith Springs, Garden of the Gods, Rim Rock Trail, Simpson Barrens Natural Area, Cedar Lake, Johnson Creek, Kinkaid Lake and Trail System, LaRue-Pine Hills-Otter Pond, Lincoln Memorial Pond, Little Grand Canyon, Oakwood Bottoms, and Pine Hills.
Vegetation and Geography of Shawnee National Forest
Vegetation
There are over one thousand totally different species of vegetation residing and thriving in Shawnee National Forest.
Six totally different pure ecological areas meet within the Shawnee National Forest, making it an exceptionally particular place to view some natural world.
These areas, known as Natural Divisions, are organic hotspots that assist to categorize and map out the biodiversity of the realm and information restoration and conservation efforts.
Of the six Natural Divisions that Shawnee encompasses, there are 9 pure communities to discover: upland forest, bottomland forest, woodland, barrens, cliff, glade, cave, swamp, and seeps and is derived.
These pure communities showcase the distinct microclimates and ecologies all through the forest. Shawnee National Forest can solely thrive if these pure communities keep secure and work collectively!
Wrapping Up Shawnee National Forest Camping
Shawnee National Forest actually has one thing for everybody. The wildlife is numerous, the mountain climbing is plentiful, the tenting is as much as scratch, and the enjoyable is infinite!
To discover much more potential spots to camp and journey, go to our information to 40 of the Best Places to go Camping in Illinois.