Visiting Shawnee National Forest with Your Family

Covering most of the southern tip of Illinois, Shawnee National Forest is full of terrific adventures for your family

If you are looking for hiking, horseback riding and other adventures in nature as a family, consider a road trip to Southern Illinois to visit the Shawnee National Forest

Shawnee National Forest covers a huge swath of land in Southern Illinois and we are here for enjoying it to the extreme. It is so big, you may want to spend several days there, otherwise get ready to make a lot of decisions when planning as to what you MOST want to do with the time you have. Let’s unpack some of the things we love about visiting Shawnee National Forest with our families.

Garden of the Gods

This might be the spot you’ve heard about most often when people talk about hiking in Southern Illinois. Garden of the Gods is a very popular hiking destination, as evidenced by the packed parking you’ll find on many weekends during the warmer months. It is also one of the most photographed locations in Illinois, and certainly in Southern Illinois.

The trail itself is actually quite short, just about 1/4 of a mile according to the USDA website for this location. It won’t take long before you get to the giant sandstone landscape you see in all the photos. Here is the cautionary note for Garden of the Gods: “It contains short, steep grades and steps … caution should be used due to the high cliffs in the area.”

So what does this actually mean for families going for a hike at Garden of the Gods? Shortly after leaving the parking lot, you will find yourself very close to cliffs and huge rocks. We’re talking HUGE cliffs. People of all ages can be found at Garden of the Gods but it is our recommendation this landscape is best suited for children who can listen well. No running toddlers here! We can do this hike with younger elementary aged students but older kids and teens will be best equipped to enjoy Garden of the Gods.

Rock formations at Garden of the Gods — Garden of the Gods

You may want to choose an off peak day to go to Garden of the Gods; Saturdays and Sundays will be very busy during the warmer months. Now, there are many different options to climb and explore, so all hikers won’t be in the exact same place. But you definitely don’t want to be in a situation where the rocks are crowded. The good news: Visitors are typically very respectful in waiting for people to have their “turn” before edging out themselves.

A word of caution for anyone with a fear of heights: Anyone who is anxious around heights will definitely be edged out of their comfort zone with a visit to Garden of the Gods.

How to get to Garden of the Gods in Google Maps.

Rim Rock Trail

Wooded trails at Shawnee National Forest — Trails at Rim Rock

We stumbled upon this trail by accident and it was a hidden gem. Views were expansive in a very Garden of the Gods-esque way but there were no crowds here, just a handful of friendly families enjoying their hikes on a warm summer afternoon. You can absolutely get your first taste of climbing out on a cliff, and we found the rocks here to be easier to navigate than Garden of the Gods. The bonus is that there won’t be a line behind you while you soak in the views, so sit down and enjoy.

There’s ample shade here and many great spots to picnic. There were even well-kept bathrooms near the parking lot, which we appreciated. This might be a good compromise to hiking Garden of the Gods if you have younger children. It is easier to stick to the trail, so it is probably a little more straightforward to corral younger children away from the cliffs and rocks. However, should you decide to do them, they’re a bit easier to navigate than at Garden of the Gods (where you find yourself literally hopping stone to stone to get “out there”). And the views are expansive and impressive in their own way, too!

The trail makes a nice loop, one we could do in under an hour, and that is with taking our time and enjoying the scenery. Not sure if you need to do this if you are also doing Garden of the Gods, but choosing one or the other might be a good call.

How to get to Rim Rock in Google Maps

Hike Rim Rock in Southern Illinois — View from cliff at the Rim Rock trail

Little Grand Canyon Trail

The “grand canyon”… in Illinois? The Little Grand Canyon trail in Southern Illinois might fall under the best kept secret category for beautiful places to enjoy, found off the beaten path and absolutely stunning. For families who like to meander through rugged terrain, Little Grand Canyon is for you. Your kids (and probably the adults) will be in awe of the rock formations towering overhead and you’re guaranteed to have some fun on the hikes found here.

The full trail is 3 miles long, so definitely a decent length of a hike, but if you want to shorten it, you can take different opportunities along the path. Climb out of the canyon through a creekbed, all of you creek-stomping fans. The climb out is definitely challenging so be prepared for that. This may not be a trail to navigate with very young children.

How to get to Little Grand Canyon in Google Maps

Recreation on the Water

Lakes, rivers and streams galore can be found throughout this part of Illinois. If you have kayaks, or want to rent kayaks, you can find plenty of options at Shawnee National Forest. The Cache River State Recreation Area is a truly unique place to kayak; kids and adults alike will remember enjoying these waters.

Visitor Centers, Education, Conversation

You’ll find a number of places to stop in to learn about the area while you are exploring Shawnee National Forest. One such location is the Barkhausen-Cache River Wetlands Center, which is free, air-conditioned and educational.

Other things to do at Shawnee National Forest

There are a lot of activities to choose from in Shawnee National Forest other than hiking. Here’s a short list of things families enjoy doing together when they drive to Southern Illinois, in addition to kayaking and hiking:

Horseback riding
Camping (many cabins to rent and campsites)
Fishing