Cedar Lake Halloween and Toy Trail

In the heart of the Shawnee National Forest is an amazing camp that provides many adventures for those with all skill levels. When camp is out, anyone is allowed to visit Camp Ondessonk as a guest and explore. There are over 10 miles of trails through pristine forests,  sandstone canyons, and several ponds and lakes.  A couple of the best trails include a mile loop trail through Phantom's Canyo...

Trusting in the iron supporting the stairs is difficult until you step on the wood, which soon become your main concern. A fun test for a fear of heights.

Enjoy the seclusion of this 118-acre lake. After a few miles of unimproved rough road, you will arrive at the spill way of Millstone Lake. The remoteness alone is worth the trip. Kayak, Canoe, or SUP the lake and even extend it up a couple of miles into Bay Creek. Fishing is also enjoyed on the lake and all Illinois fishing regulations apply here. Another exciting feature of this lake is the wa...

The road into Jackson Falls is rough and sometimes has washouts. A high clearance or 4x4 vehicle are almost required. Once you reach the parking or primitive camping area, take the short path to the top of the falls. It is close to only a 0.25 miles. This will give you a visual of the rest of the hike.  There are two really nice waterfalls. The biggest one is just down the trail from the parkin...

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this mile loop trail leads you along a bluff line to the ruins of a historic village of Woodland and Mississippian Native Americans.   Mississippian Natives established a village here between 1000 and 500 years ago. The older Woodland Indians built a stone wall on top of the bluff), and you can still see the depressions marking the sites of th...

The 9.3 (one way) section of the 44.5 mile that begins at the Tunnel Hill access point and travels south to Vienna, Illinois is one of the most picturesque stretches of Southern Illinois.  The former Norfolk Southern Railroad line connects to many other popular trails like the River to River Trail and the Trail of Tears.  As you start out southward from the site office at Vienna you get a view ...