There’s A Canyon In Illinois That Resembles Antelope Canyon, But Hardly Anyone Knows It Exists
Most folks would not expect to find a slot canyon in Illinois, where the corn grows tall and the wind, generally speaking, whips unimpeded across the state. But there happens to be a narrow gorge in the Land of Lincoln that’s a dead ringer for Arizona’s Antelope Canyon.
To find it, you need to head to the Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois.
About halfway around the 0.8-mile upper trail loop, you'll come across a steep set of wooden stairs that appear to descend into a hole in the rocky ground.
From there, you can return back through the canyon, or you can follow the lower trail through the valley, along the base of the escarpment, back to the trailhead.
The round trip total for this moderate hike is only about 1.5 miles. The upper portion of Rim Rock National Recreation Trail is accessible, but the lower trail through the slot canyon is not. While in the area, don’t forget to pay a visit to the beautifully rugged Ferne Clyffe State Park, which is adjacent to Shawnee National Forest. Have you hiked the Rim Rock trail? Can you think of any other slot canyons in Illinois?
Address: Rim Rock National Recreation Trail, Eagle Creek, RR 1 Box 198B, Findlay, IL 62534, USA
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Trent Jonas came to Minnesota to attend college - and never left. He's a Twin Cities-based writer and proud father of two adult children. Rhubarb is Trent's favorite kind of pie.
