Backcountry Forum
Backpacking & Hiking Gear

Backcountry Forum
Our long-time Sponsor - the leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear
 
 
 

Amazon.com
Backpacking Forums
---- Our Gear Store ----
The Lightweight Gear Store
 
 WINTER CAMPING 

Shelters
Bivy Bags
Sleeping Bags
Sleeping Pads
Snow Sports
Winter Kitchen

 SNOWSPORTS 

Snowshoes
Avalanche Gear
Skins
Hats, Gloves, & Gaiters
Accessories

 ULTRA-LIGHT 

Ultralight Backpacks
Ultralight Bivy Sacks
Ultralight Shelters
Ultralight Tarps
Ultralight Tents
Ultralight Raingear
Ultralight Stoves & Cookware
Ultralight Down Sleeping Bags
Ultralight Synthetic Sleep Bags
Ultralight Apparel


the Titanium Page
WM Extremelite Sleeping Bags

 CAMPING & HIKING 

Backpacks
Tents
Sleeping Bags
Hydration
Kitchen
Accessories

 CLIMBING 

Ropes & Cordage
Protection & Hardware
Carabiners & Quickdraws
Climbing Packs & Bags
Big Wall
Rescue & Industrial

 MEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 WOMEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 FOOTWEAR 

Men's Footwear
Women's Footwear

 CLEARANCE 

Backpacks
Mens Apparel
Womens Apparel
Climbing
Footwear
Accessories

 BRANDS 

Black Diamond
Granite Gear
La Sportiva
Osprey
Smartwool

 WAYS TO SHOP 

Sale
Clearance
Top Brands
All Brands

 Backpacking Equipment 

Shelters
BackPacks
Sleeping Bags
Water Treatment
Kitchen
Hydration
Climbing


 Backcountry Gear Clearance

Topic Options
Rate This Topic
#198964 - 08/27/17 01:46 PM Shawnee national forest help
Natenite Offline
newbie

Registered: 08/27/17
Posts: 1
Hey all! New to the forums. Thought I would try and pick some brains. My wife and I are headed to Shawnee national forest in Illinois for the Labor Day weekend. Looking to do some day hikes to knock the rust off before our backpacking season begins. Trying to find info on combining the must see things in the forest together for some longer day hikes. Sites like the mini Grand Canyon or the garden of the gods etc. anyone know the area or know any resources I could tap into to build some hikes from? Thanks!

Natenite

Top
#198968 - 08/27/17 08:49 PM Re: Shawnee national forest help [Re: Natenite]
wgiles Offline
member

Registered: 05/19/14
Posts: 182
Loc: Central Illinois near Springfi...
I was at the Little Grand Canyon in April and found it pretty well overgrown. There is a tricky stretch in the trail that goes down a gully. If water is flowing, this can be slick and I don't feel comfortable doing this section without a rope. I was walking back up the trail when I met some people who asked whether I had seen any snakes. I told them that I had seen plenty of poison Ivy, but no snakes. A few hundred feet up the trail where they had been,I saw a Rattlesnake crossing the trail. I gave it plenty of room and it kept on going.

Most of the information that I had came from the Forest Service, either online or at the office in Jonesboro. I hadn't been on the west side of the Shawnee National Forest for many years. I started at the Trail of Tears State Forest and then explored my way up Pine Hills Road to Inspiration Point. After that, I took a trip to Pomona Natural Bridge and Little Grand Canyon. This trip was just a series of short day hikes. The Godwin Trail takes off from Pine Hills Road and heads into the Clear Springs Wilderness. I had printed maps from Caltopo.com.

On the East Side, Garden of the Gods and Pounds Hollow are nice trips. Garden of the Gods and Belle Smith Springs get a lot of traffic. Again, the best source of information is the Forest Service.

Top

Shout Box

Highest Quality Lightweight Down Sleeping Bags
 
Western Mountaineering Sleeping Bags
 
Lite Gear Talk - Featured Topics
Backcountry Discussion - Featured Topics
Make Your Own Gear - Featured Topics
Featured Photos
Spiderco Chaparral Pocketknife
David & Goliath
Also Testing
Trip Report with Photos
Seven Devils, Idaho
Oat Hill Mine Trail 2012
Dark Canyon - Utah
Who's Online
2 registered (), 174 Guests and 0 Spiders online.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
Noodles, McCrary, DanyBacky, Rashy Willia, WanderBison
13240 Registered Users
Forum Links
Disclaimer
Policies
Site Links
Backpacking.net
Lightweight Gear Store
Backpacking Book Store
Lightweight Zone
Hiking Essentials

Our long-time Sponsor, BackcountryGear.com - The leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear:

Backcountry Forum
 

Affiliate Disclaimer: This forum is an affiliate of BackcountryGear.com, Amazon.com, R.E.I. and others. The product links herein are linked to their sites. If you follow these links to make a purchase, we may get a small commission. This is our only source of support for these forums. Thanks.!
 
 

Since 1996 - the Original Backcountry Forum
Copyright © The Lightweight Backpacker & BackcountryForum