The Hiking Trail Hiding In Illinois That Will Transport You To Another World
By Elizabeth Crozier|Published July 14, 2017
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Elizabeth Crozier
Author
An Illinois transplant who grew up and went to school in Indiana for 22 years, Elizabeth holds a BFA in creative writing and has enjoyed traveling across the country and parts of Europe. She has visited half of the states, as well as parts of Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean, and regularly travels home to the Hoosier State to see friends and family. With more than five years of writing experience, Elizabeth’s articles have been featured on several websites, and her poetry and short stories have been published in multiple literary journals.
While most hikes through Illinois take you past prairies, forests, and other Midwest staples, there is a trail in the Shawnee National Forest that will make you feel like you’re in another world. The scenery is like nothing you’ve ever seen, and most do not even know the trail exists.
Discover historic relics, wildlife, and nature like you’ve never seen it before along this incredible hike. Keep scrolling to find out how to get there.
Rim Rock Recreational Trail near the town of Junction is a 1.7-mile loop trail that leads around a large rock and then down many stairs to the valley floor.
It is accessible year round and is popular for camping in addition to hiking. Spending the night anywhere in the Shawnee National Forest makes for an unforgettable experience.
Though parts of it are paved, the trail is moderately difficult to traverse due to steep areas, numerous stairs, and uneven ground. Be careful as you meander past this old Indian wall, which was once a rock shelter called Ox-Lot Cave.
As one of the most scenic trails in the whole state, Rim Rock Trail was designated a recreational area in 1980. It is located near Garden of the Gods, though, and so is often overlooked.
Those who make the effort to take this hidden trail, however, will be rewarded by lovely sights of trees, wildflowers, woodland critters, and rock formations.
