Illinois › Johnson County

Shawnee National Forest

Lane reduction on bridge near IL Iron Furnace

Big Creek BridgeBig Creek Bridge, which carries County Road 12 over Big Creek, near the Iron Furnace recreation site in Hardin County, is reduced to a single central lane due to deteriorating bridge conditions. Motorists should slow down when approaching and traveling over the bridge. For your…

Trigg Tower temporarily closed

Trigg Tower on the Shawnee National Forest will temporarily close this month for necessary repairs. Weather permitting, contractors will begin work May 11, temporarily closing the tower and parking area to visitors. Repairs are expected to take approximately one month, no more than 90 days.Repairs…

River Pigs timber sale area active-use caution

Contractors have begun moving equipment onto the River Pigs timber sale area on the Shawnee National Forest, located off Buttermilk Hill Road in Jackson County.For your safety and the safety of crews working in the area, please be aware of increased traffic and active logging operations.• Watch…

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.The area has been barricaded off but vehicles can still proceed through. Please use caution in the area until repairs can be made or use…

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 Exhibit A of this Order.

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 replaced. …

Road Conditions

Current area road conditions can be found at the Illinois Department of Transportation.Roads Open to Motor VehiclesDownload our Motor Vehicle Use Maps for a list of which roads are open to motor vehicle access on the Shawnee National Forest.

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. Because of the unstable soil, the loop portion of the walking path around the pond is temporarily closed.Hazard…

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.

Overview

Shawnee National Forest is the only national forest in Illinois, spanning 289,000 acres in southern Illinois between the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. The forest is currently open and accessible for recreation. Developed campgrounds typically operate from April 1 through December 15, though primitive dispersed camping is allowed year-round for up to 14 consecutive days. Current alerts include: a public health and safety closure within the V-Plow Timber Sale Area, McClure Road (FSR 772) closed due to a culvert issue, water temporarily unavailable at Pharaoh Campground in the Garden of the Gods area, and a failing culvert on Oakwood Bottoms Road. There are also flooding operations underway at Oakwood Bottom Units. Trail segments are closed at Johnson Creek (footbridge) and Lincoln Memorial due to erosion. The forest features seven wilderness areas (about 10% of the forest), diverse oak-hickory forests, wetlands, canyons, and unique rock formations. Popular areas include Garden of the Gods, Bell Smith Springs, and Jackson Falls. No fire danger restrictions are currently in effect. Dispersed primitive camping is allowed anywhere on national forest lands except in natural areas, along lake shores, near streams, or on trails.

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Campgrounds

Camp Cadiz Campground Duck Bay - Lake Glendale Johnson Creek Campground Oak Point - Lake Glendale Pharoah-Garden Of The Gods Pine Hills Campground Pine Ridge-Pounds Hollow REDBUD - BELL SMITH SPRINGS Tower Rock

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