Follow This 2.3-Mile Trail In Illinois To A Hidden Cave And Unique Rock Formations
Located in southern Illinois, Shawnee National Forest is known for its diverse landscape that includes sandstone cliffs, bluffs, waterfalls, and some of the most intriguing rock formations you will ever see. Within this forest lies a section that is known as Pounds Hollow Ecological Area. Here you can hike along a trail to find a cave and some incredibly unique rock formations.
Within the vast 289,000 acres of the Shawnee National Forest, you'll find Pounds Hollow Recreation Area. A popular section of the forest to hike, visitors can take the Rim Rock National Recreation Trail for 2.3 miles past numerous fascinating natural features.
This loop trail is rated moderate and has a 221-foot overall elevation gain. Along the way, the trail leads through the forest, past extraordinary geological wonders, and eventually to Pounds Hollow Lake.
Ox-Lot Cave was first used by Native Americans and, eventually, European settlers. The settlers also kept their livestock in the area. You can learn more about the cave here.
Have you hiked along the Rim Rock National Recreation Trail before? If so, what did you think of the cave and rock formations? Tell us your thoughts in the comments! To learn more about the trail, head to AllTrails.
The Whiskey Cave Trail in the Garden of the Gods Wilderness is another trail that leads past fascinating rock formations. You can learn more in this post.
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I'm an east coast girl living in a west coast world. I've worked in the entertainment industry for much of my adult life and I love photography, writing, and traveling around the U.S. as well as to far-flung locations around the world! Travel is my life and writing about it is a dream.
