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Shawnee National Forest _____________
Driving Directions
From Quincy, take I-172 south for 15 miles to I- 36. Go about 7 miles
then turn right and go south on Hwy 96 for about 20 miles. Take Route
54 west for 6 miles to State Route 79 in Louisiana, Missouri. Follow Route
79 south for 55 miles to I-70. Take I-70 east 30 miles to I-64 east and
travel 70 miles to I-57 south for 42 miles to Marion. Approximately 245
miles.
Calendar of Events
Visit Shawnee Tourism for
a listing of events in Saline County, or Shawnee
Heartland for additional events listings in the area of Shanee National
Forest.
History
About 11,500 years ago, Native Americans settled in the area now known as
the Shawnee National Forest. This area was an ideal location for the Native
Americans due to the abundant wildlife and the numerous lakes, streams,
and rivers. There are several locations in the forest that have been preserved
from this period.
The Trail of Tears route passes through Shawnee National Forest near Golconda and across the southern edge of Illinois. The Trail of Tears is the route in which the Cherokee Indians were forcibly marched from their ancestral lands in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee to Oklahoma between June 1838 and March 1839. Thousands died of cold, hunger and exhaustion along this trail.
In 1930, people in southern Illinois began to unite and promote the idea of establishing a national forest in what was known as Little Egypt or the Illinois Ozarks. The area had been farmed for more than 100 years. The soil was worn out, the timber areas were in need of reforestation, and the wild game in the area had been severely depleted.
In 1933, the Forest Service began to acquire the land known as the Shawnee and Illini Purchase Units. The Forest Service would spend the remainder of the decade working on the forest. Road and bridge construction, building improvements, planting, fire fighting, lookout towers, ranger stations, and maintenance work were just a few of the tasks accomplished. In September 1939 President Franklin D. Roosevelt named the Shawnee and Illini Purchase Units the Shawnee National Forest.
The Shawnee National Forest includes nearly 300,000 acres of vegetation, wildlife and recreation. In 1990, Congress designated seven wilderness areas within the forest. They include: Bald Knob, Bay Creek, Burden Falls, Clear Springs, Garden of the Gods, Lusk Creek and Panther Den. The intent of the wilderness areas is to preserve the natural ecosystems and to protect the wilderness environment for future generations. East Fork, Eagle Creek and Ripple Hollow are areas that may receive federal wilderness status in the future.
Shawnee National Forest is teeming with wildlife. Whitetail deer, vulture, quail, wild turkey, beaver, opossum, raccoon, fox, bobcat, woodchuck, and muskrat are a few of the creatures you might find in the forest. Copperheads and rattlesnake are also residents worthy of mention.
Camping is permitted within the forest. There are 13 developed campgrounds and a minimal fee is applicable. Besides camping, the forest offers several activities such as birdwatching, horseback riding, fishing, hunting, hiking, bicycling, boating, swimming, canoeing and picnicking.
Headquarters
Shawnee National Forest
50 Hwy 145 South
Harrisburg, IL 62946
(618) 253-7114
(800) MY-WOODS
Ranger Stations
Elizabethtown Ranger District
RR 2 Box 4
Elizabethtown, IL 62931
(618) 287-2201
Jonesboro Ranger District
521 North Main
Jonesboro, IL 62952
(618) 833-8576
Murphysboro Ranger District
2221 Walnut Street
Murphysboro, IL 62966
(618) 687-1731
Vienna Ranger District
PO Box 37 Hwy 45 North
Vienna, IL 62995
(618) 658-2111
For more detailed information about attractions, famous residents, and recreation within the Shanee National Forest, visit the links that appear on the upper left corner of this page. There is a wealth of information that highlights only a small portion of what the area offers. For your convenience, we have split the information into two categories. Shawnee National Forest - West covers the area west of Interstate 24 and Shawnee National Forest - East covers the area east of the Interstate.