Shawnee National Forest
Flood Warning issued May 1 at 9:40PM CDT until May 6 at 8:42PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers in Missouri...Illinois... Mississippi River at Alton. Mississippi River near Herculaneum. Mississippi River at Chester. ...The Flood Warning is extended for the following rivers in Missouri...Illinois... Mississippi River at Mel Price LD. Mississippi River at Grafton. River forecasts are based on observed precipitation and forecast precipitation for the next 24 hours. * WHAT...Minor flooding is occurring and minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Mississippi River at Chester. * WHEN...Until Wednesday evening. * IMPACTS...At 31.5 feet, In Perry County, Highway E is closed between County Road 322 and Levee Road (County Road 354) at Bois Brule Creek. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 9:00 PM CDT Friday the stage was 31.1 feet and rising. - Recent Activity...The river most recently rose above flood stage on April 29. - Forecast...The river is expected to rise to a crest of 31.9 feet early tomorrow afternoon. It will then fall below flood stage early Tuesday afternoon. - Flood stage is 27.0 feet.
Flood Warning issued May 1 at 9:48PM EDT until May 6 at 8:45PM EDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers in Indiana... Illinois... Wabash River at Montezuma down to Riverton...and at Mount Carmel. .Minor flooding continues along portions of the Wabash River following heavy rainfall earlier this week...that totaled generally two to four inches across western central Indiana. Flooding will end at Montezuma and Terre Haute Saturday...with minor flooding continuing at most points downriver into next week. * WHAT...Minor flooding is occurring and minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Wabash River at Mount Carmel. * WHEN...Until Wednesday evening. * IMPACTS...At 20.0 feet, River is bankfull in all locations. All oil field production ceases with the exception of pumping units on substructures. Access to these are by boat only. Agricultural losses increase dramatically. Farmers move livestock to higher ground. City of Mount Carmel leaves flood gates B and C in year round. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 8:45 PM EDT Friday /7:45 PM CDT Friday/ the stage was 19.4 feet. - Recent Activity...The maximum river stage in the 24 hours ending at 8:45 PM EDT Friday /7:45 PM CDT Friday/ was 19.5 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to rise to a crest of 20.5 feet early Monday morning. It will then fall below flood stage Wednesday morning. - Flood stage is 19.0 feet. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood
Flood Warning issued May 1 at 12:15PM CDT until May 5 at 11:30PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers in Illinois...Missouri... Mississippi River at Thebes affecting Alexander and Scott Counties. ...The Flood Warning is extended for the following rivers in Illinois...Missouri... Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau affecting Perry, Scott, Cape Girardeau, Alexander, Union and Jackson Counties. For the Mississippi River...including Cape Girardeau, Thebes, Hickman, New Madrid...Minor flooding is forecast. * WHAT...Minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Mississippi River at Thebes. * WHEN...Until late Tuesday evening. * IMPACTS...At 34.0 feet, The town of Thebes begins to flood. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 12:00 PM CDT Friday the stage was 32.8 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to rise above flood stage late this afternoon to a crest of 34.5 feet early Sunday afternoon. It will then fall below flood stage Tuesday afternoon. - Flood stage is 33.0 feet.
Flood Warning issued May 1 at 12:15PM CDT until May 6 at 8:12PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers in Illinois...Missouri... Mississippi River at Thebes affecting Alexander and Scott Counties. ...The Flood Warning is extended for the following rivers in Illinois...Missouri... Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau affecting Perry, Scott, Cape Girardeau, Alexander, Union and Jackson Counties. For the Mississippi River...including Cape Girardeau, Thebes, Hickman, New Madrid...Minor flooding is forecast. * WHAT...Minor flooding is occurring and minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau. * WHEN...Until Wednesday evening. * IMPACTS...At 36.0 feet, The flood gate on Themis Street closes. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 12:00 PM CDT Friday the stage was 34.0 feet. - Recent Activity...The maximum river stage in the 24 hours ending at 12:00 PM CDT Friday was 34.0 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to rise to a crest of 35.5 feet early Sunday afternoon. It will then fall below flood stage early Wednesday afternoon. - Flood stage is 32.0 feet. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood
Flood Warning issued May 1 at 12:15PM CDT until May 6 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers in Illinois...Indiana... Wabash River at New Harmony affecting Posey, Wabash, Gallatin, White and Gibson Counties. For the Wabash River...including New Harmony...Minor flooding is forecast. * WHAT...Minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Wabash River at New Harmony. * WHEN...From Saturday evening to late Wednesday evening. * IMPACTS...At 15.0 feet, The river overflows low ground on the Illinois side. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 11:30 AM CDT Friday the stage was 14.3 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to rise above flood stage late tomorrow evening to a crest of 15.4 feet Monday evening. It will then fall below flood stage Wednesday afternoon. - Flood stage is 15.0 feet. - Flood History...This crest compares to a previous crest of 15.4 feet on 04/24/2006. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood
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…
Snake Road Temporarily Closed for Spring Movement
Forest Service Road No. 345, Snake Road, is temporarily closed beginning Friday, March 6 to ensure safe crossing for several species of snakes and amphibians during their bi-annual migration. Every spring, this 2.5-mile-long road is closed March through May to allow snakes and amphibians – some…
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…
Narrow Bridge near IL Iron Furnace
Big Creek BridgeOrange road barrels have been placed on the shoulders of the Big Creek Bridge in Hardin County, Illinois (near the IL. Iron Furnace historic site). Both lanes across the bridge are narrow due to the placement of the traffic barrels. Narrow Bridge signs are in place in both…
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.
Community Posts
No posts yet. Be the first to share your experience!