River to River Trail Section

This section of the River to River Trail passes through some of the most remote and wild terrain in Illinois, traversing the Shawnee Hills backcountry south of the Garden of the Gods formations through Shawnee National Forest. The River to River Trail spans 160 miles from the Ohio River to the Mississippi River across the width of southern Illinois, and the Garden of the Gods section is among its most scenic stretches. The trail passes through oak-hickory forest on the uplands, descends into sheltered hollows of beech and sugar maple, and crosses several seasonal streams draining the Shawnee Hills ridgeline. Wildflower diversity is exceptional in spring, with large colonies of wild blue phlox, mayapple, and several trillium species blooming in the hollow forests through April and May. The rolling terrain of the unglaciated Shawnee Hills produces constant small elevation changes that accumulate to 400 feet of total gain on this section. Wildlife encountered regularly includes white-tailed deer, wild turkey, and various woodland songbirds. The trail is marked with white blazes on tree trunks. No facilities or reliable water sources are available on the backcountry section — carry all water from the Garden of the Gods trailhead. This trail is best suited for experienced hikers comfortable with trail navigation.