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Recreation -- West
Bald Knob is one of the seven designated wilderness areas within Shawnee National Forest. Bald Knob Mountain is home to the Bald Knob Cross. At 1,034 feet above sea level, the illuminated cross can be seen over an area of 7,500 square miles. There is a wealth of scenic views that can be found while hiking or horseback riding on the trails at Bald Knob.
There are three dedicated nature preserves within the Cache River State Natural Area: Little Black Slough, Heron Pond/Wildcat Bluff, and Section 8 Woods. Much of this area is cypress swampland containing trees that are believed to be nearly 1,700 years old. This area offers 18 miles of hiking trails, canoeing, and an opportunity to see at least 50 state-threatened or endangered plant and animal species.
Clear Springs is one of the seven designated wilderness areas in the Shawnee National Forest. While hiking or horseback riding, you will be able to enjoy a wealth of scenic views of the Mississippi River Valley.
With nearly half a million visitors annually, Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge can be considered a popular attraction in Southern Illinois. Hiking, boating, fishing, hunting, and camping are popular activities as well as wildlife observation. The 43,000 acre refuge is home to 120,000 Canada geese during their winter migration.
Giant City State Park is a 4,000 acre park famous for its huge rock formation and its wealth of vegetation, wildlife and scenery. It hosts a stable and a recently restored lodge. There are 18 miles of hiking trails, equestrian trails, historic sites, fishing and plenty of picnic areas.
Horseshoe Lake is another opportunity to check out the cypress swampland with Bald Cypress, Tupelo Gum and Swamp Cottonwood trees found in the southernmost part of Illinois. The conservation area also includes a 2,400 acre lake with picnic areas, camping, boating, fishing, and hunting. There’s a variety of bird species that reside near the lake for those who enjoy birdwatching.
The Mermet
Lake Conservation Area is a waterfowl hunting and fishing
area that was formerly a cypress swamp transformed into a duck hunter’s
dream lake. The water in the lake is dropped 2 feet every fall for duck
hunting season and duck blinds are available free of charge. This area
hosts thousands of geese during their winter migration.
Panther
Den is one of the seven designated wilderness areas in the
Shawnee National Forest. The name Panther Den is derived from the name
of a rock formation found within the wilderness area. With 1,195 acres,
Panther Den offers ample hiking, canoeing, several equestrian trails,
a variety of unique rock formations, and a scenic view of Devil's Kitchen
Lake.
Ripple Hollow is an area that has been recommended to become a designated wilderness area under the United States Forest Service. With nearly 4,000 acres of land, Ripple Hollow offers scenic wildlife opportunities while hiking throughout its rugged terrain.
Trail of Tears State Forest is named after the tragic event of 1838-39 where Native Americans were forced by the United States Army to move from their homelands to reservations in Oklahoma. With more than 5,000 acres, this state forest hosts a wealth of wildlife and plant life that can be enjoyed while hiking, camping, hunting or picnicking.
The Union County Conservation Area is the ideal location for wildlife sightseeing and photography. More than 50,000 geese can be found there during the winter months. More than 2,000 acres of the conservation area are farmed for the purpose of feeding the wildlife. This area also includes two lakes that provide excellent fishing March 1st to October 15th.
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