Pine Hills Campground
Closed — Closed for the season. Shawnee National Forest campgrounds typically operate from April 1 through December 15. Reopens April 1, 2026.
Failing Culvert on Oakwood Bottoms Road FSR # 786
Be aware there is a failing culvert on Oakwood Bottoms Road FSR # 786. The culvert is approximately 0.6 miles off of Route 3, just before the railroad tracks.
Oakwood Bottoms Waterfowl Hunting 2025-2026
Flooding of Oakwood Bottom Units is underway. Due to storm damage to power lines, the units in the southern portion of Oakwood Bottoms will not be filled this year. To offset this loss of floodable units, we plan to flood as many of the northern units as possible.
Public Health and Safety Closure Within the V-Plow Timber Sale Area
This order aims to protect the public health and safety of users recreating on National Forest System (NFS) lands within Township 11S, Range 5E, Sections 21 & 22 of Pope County, Illinois, as depicted in
Water temporarily unavailable at Garden of the Gods
Water is temporarily off at Pharaoh Campground in the Garden of the Gods Recreation Area. Please plan accordingly. We apologize for the inconvenience and will provide updates to our social media pages and the website when it is available again.
09-08-25-03 Shawnee Wilderness and Watersheds
This order aims to protect the public health and safety of users recreating on National Forest System (NFS) lands by outlining restrictions in wilderness and watershed areas, including stock use.
09-08-25-02 Occupancy and Use
This order aims to protect the public health and safety of users recreating on National Forest System (NFS) lands by outlining conditions of occupancy and use.
09-08-25-04 Restrictions for the Use of Natural Areas
This order aims to protect the public health and safety of users recreating on National Forest System (NFS) lands by outlining restrictions in natural areas.
McClure Road Closed
McClure Road (Forest Service Road 772) is closed at the low-water crossing approximately 0.1 mile past the Forest Service boundary (0.8 mile from Little Kinkaid Road). We apologize for the inconvenience, but the road will remain closed to all vehicular traffic until a culvert can be replace
Road Conditions
Current area road conditions can be found at the Illinois Department of Transportation.
Reporting Trail Conditions
Call (618) 658-1312 to report trail conditions, give feedback about the trails, and ask questions about the forest trail system.
Trail Segment Closed - Lincoln Memorial
The walking path at Lincoln Memorial Day-use site has been affected by heavy rainfall, which has caused soil erosion and subsidence at the spillway of the Lincoln Memorial pond.
Cave and Mine Closure Order
This order aims to protect the public health and safety of users recreating on National Forest System (NFS) lands by outlining cave and mine closures.
About
Pine Hills Campground is a primitive camping destination in the Shawnee National Forest, situated adjacent to the scenic LaRue-Pine Hills/Otter Pond Research Natural Area. The campground offers 13 level campsites with open grassy areas between sites, providing a peaceful setting for tent camping and small trailers. Each site includes a picnic table, fire ring, and lantern post, with a group picnic shelter also available. The campground is particularly popular with hunters during spring and fall seasons, as well as nature enthusiasts who come to explore the nearby LaRue-Pine Hills area, known for its dramatic limestone bluffs, scenic overlooks, and unique ecology. The area is famous for the seasonal snake migration along Snake Road (Forest Road 345), making it a destination for wildlife viewing. This is a primitive facility with vault toilets but no potable water, electricity, or hookups of any kind. Campers must bring their own water and be prepared for basic amenities. The campground operates first-come, first-served with no advance reservations. Sites accommodate tents and trailers, though there are no pull-through sites. The maximum stay is 14 consecutive days, with sites limited to 8 people and 2 vehicles.
Directions
From Illinois Route 3 in Wolf Lake, turn east onto State Forest Road and drive 0.5 miles. Turn left (north) onto Pine Hills Road (Forest Road 236). The campground is on the right approximately 1 mile down the road.
Nearby Campgrounds
Amenities
| Water | No |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | No |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | Yes |
| Showers | No |
| Electric Hookups | No |
| Water Hookups | No |
| Sewer Hookups | No |
| Camp Store | No |
| Price | $10 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | — |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | No |
| Pull Through Sites | No |
Contact
| Phone | +1 (618) 253-7114 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | Yes |
| Verizon | None |
| T-Mobile | None |
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