Covering almost 300,000 acres (or about 1,000 times the size of Ellis Island) and within a half-day drive of more than 30 major U.S. cities, Shawnee National Forest makes Southern Illinois a striking contrast to much of the rest of the state. The rolling hills and woodlands stretch from the Mississippi to the Ohio rivers.
Within that range, the diversity of activities is unmatched. Water fans can put in with kayaks and canoes onto Lusk Creek, an Ohio River tributary. Its scenery (cliffs, sheer rock faces, and waterfalls) is legendary among paddlers and well-suited for the experienced. Those looking for more laid-back natural fun might choose a lazy day swimming at Pounds Hollow Lake, a 25-acre lake with nearby picnic sites, including a large shelter on the beach.
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Read More: A guide to Shawnee National Forest
Mountain bikers can take advantage of some of the state’s newest designated trails: almost 20 miles of trails within the Lake Glendale Recreation Area and Dixon Springs State Park came online for cyclist use just two years ago. Beginners might prefer to stick to the gravel trail that circles the lake, but serious cyclists can get air with jumps and stream crossings on the advanced paths.
Of course, the iconic (and Instagram gold) vistas offered while hiking Garden of the Gods are not to be missed. Hit the short observation trail, and you’ll be treated to stunning rock formations, including Devil’s Smokestack and Camel Rock (featured on the back of an “America the Beautiful” quarter issued in 2016.)
All of that exploring is bound to whet your appetite. At Giant City State Park, the main lodge (as well as the property’s original cabins, later replaced with historic replicas) dates to the early 1930s. Locally quarried sandstone and Illinois hardwood trees make up the bulk of the structures. And in the heart of the lodge, the restaurant serves award-winning fried fish, fried chicken, chicken ‘n’ dumplings, and more. In Golconda, right along the Ohio River, the in-house dining room and Levee Lounge at the Grand Riverview Mansion Hotel spotlights a couple of locavore surprises. Try a bison burger or succulent steak from Bison Bluff Farms in Cobden. And in Murphysboro, 17th Street Barbecue dishes out Memphis-style barbecue faves, from pulled pork nachos to the succulent baby-back ribs—even Vogue has written about the ribs.
