This Heavenly 6-Mile Trail in Illinois’ National Forest Is Worth the Effort

There’s no doubt about it; Illinois hiking trails can be seriously epic. And perhaps the first clue that one is a blue-ribbon winner is in the name. The first time I heard about “Garden of the Gods,” my ears perked up. A place with such a heavenly moniker must exhibit something worthy of it.

Despite my embarrassing unawareness of it, I quickly learned that Garden of the Gods is not a new destination. It was established in 1990 as a unique wilderness area designation within the Shawnee National Forest, which was created in 1939. As someone with an incredible passion for trees and forest conservation, it seemed completely unacceptable that I had never been to Shawnee—and an utter travesty that I’d never heard of it, so the only acceptable resolution was to make it a top-priority road trip. 

Shawnee National Forest is snuggled between the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers in the southern tip of Illinois—an astounding half a million acres of federally-protected woodlands with impressive 800-foot elevation variations. It was clear that a few days exploring these Illinois hiking trails would be necessary. 

I knew that a few days in the woods would be essential for a full appreciation of the Shawnee National Forest and its surrounding Illinois hiking trails. I looked for family-friendly lodging options near the Garden of the Gods and booked our stay at Timber Ridge Outpost and Cabins. This adorable and unique stay near Elizabethtown, Illinois, put us just 5 miles from the trails. We were so close that we managed to visit the Garden of the Gods twice for golden hour.

Our favorite family trail was the Garden of the Gods Loop, as it provided the kids with plenty of space to run and climb the rocks on the trail without fear of them falling over the cliff edges. Late afternoon in the spring or fall is the best time to hike here, as the light perfectly glows across both the forested canyon and the rock formations towering high above them. It’s a 6-mile hike that feels like much less. We completed the loop in under 2 hours, enjoying the varied trails that dipped under tree canopies and rose above the rocks for epic overlooks. The trail includes plenty of opportunities for scrambling and pauses for mountain-like vistas, plus streams and tiny waterfalls to splash in if it’s wet.

Since we stayed so close by, there was no rush to be out before nightfall, allowing us to fully appreciate the evening's golden hour at the best Illinois hiking trail we’ve found yet.  We left just before the light started to shift towards dark, leaving time to stop for ice cream, Bigfoot tchotchkes, and Shawnee National Forest memorabilia at The Garden of the Gods Outpost. The old-fashioned souvenir store is a must-visit before you leave the area, offering a charming interaction with locals and the perfect opportunity to take home a unique Illinois memento. I highly recommend booking a treehouse, too, which you can also do here at The Outpost. Spending a night in the trees really adds an immersive touch to visiting Shawnee National Forest. 

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