Shawnee National Forest

Understand

History Shawnee National Forest was established in 1933. The land it occupies was once productive and settled farmland, but erosion and unsustainable 19th-century farming practices led farming to become less viable. In the Great Depression, Franklin Delano Roosevelt's administration established the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) to use unemployed young men to restore environmentally degraded areas such as Southern Illinois. The plan for the forest was that it would reverse environmental damage and bring in tourist dollars to the economically depressed surrounding area.

Shawnee National Forest website

Landscape

Flora and fauna The forest is at the convergence of several ecological regions, so the wildlife is quite diverse.

Geology During the Illinoisan Stage (between 352,000 to 132,000 years ago), the Laurentide ice sheet covered up to 85 percent of Illinois. The southern area of this ice sheet was located in what is now the Shawnee National Forest. Because of this, there are tons of interesting and spectacular bluffs and overlooks located throughout the entire park. The geologic processes that formed the landscape are partially responsible for the presence of important mineral resources, including some of national significance.

See

The Garden of the Gods Recreation Area has a 1/4 mile long trail that winds through a collection of rock formations perched on a Cliff.

Eat

Trail End Restaurant at Double M Campground, 5320 Thacker Hollow Rd, Junction.

Drink & nightlife

Shawnee Hills Wine Trail Alto Vineyards, ☏ +1 618-893-4898, [email protected]. April-November: M-Th 10AM - 5PM, F Sa 10AM - 6PM, Su noon-5PM. December-March: M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM. Blue Sky Vineyard, ☏ +1 618-995-9463. Open all year: M-Th 10AM-6:30PM, F 10AM-sunset, Sa 10AM-7:30PM, Su noon-7PM. Hedman Vineyard, ☏ +1 618-893-4923, [email protected]. Open April-December: M Tu closed, W Th 10AM-5PM, F Sa 10AM-9PM, Su noon-5PM. For January-March please consult vineyard website. Hickory Ridge Vineyard, ☏ +1 618-893-1700, [email protected]. Winter hours: F Su noon-6PM, Sa 10AM-6PM; spring, summer & fall: W-Su noon-6PM, Sa 10AM-6PM. Honker Hill Winery, ☏ +1 618-549-5517. F-Su noon-6PM. Kite Hill Vineyards, ☏ +1 618-684-5072. March-November: Su-Th noon-5PM, F noon-6PM, Sa 10AM-6PM; December-February: Sa Su noon-5PM. Feather Hills Vineyard and Winery, ☏ +1 618-713-1350, [email protected]. April-December: M Tu closed, W-F noon-5PM, Sa 10AM-6PM, Su noon-6PM; January-March: Sa Su noon-5PM. Owl Creek Vineyard. March-December: M-Th noon-5PM, F noon-6PM, Sa 10AM - 6PM, Su noon-6PM; January-February: F noon-5PM, Sa 10AM-6PM, Su noon-5PM, M-Th by chance. Pomona Winery, ☏ +1 618-893-2623, [email protected]. April-November: M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM; December-March: Th-Sa 10AM - 5PM, Su noon-5PM, M-W by appointment only. Rustle Hill Vineyard, ☏ +1 618-893-2700, [email protected]. M-Th 11AM-6PM, F Sa 10AM-9PM, Su noon-9PM. StarView Vineyards, ☏ +1 618-268-7434, [email protected]. May - October: M-F noon-5PM, Sa 10AM - 7PM, Su noon-7PM; November- April: Su-F noon-5PM, Sa noon-6PM. Von Jakob Vineyards, ☏ +1 618-893-4500, [email protected]. Summer hours: M-F 10AM-5PM, Sa Su 10AM-7PM. Winter hours: M-F 10AM-5PM, Sa Su 10AM-6PM.

Sleep

Lodging

Camping There are 7 campground areas in the national forest with rates from $10 to $36.

Backcountry Primitive camping is allowed year round with no fees.