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Shawnee National Forest 2021

Garden of the Gods & the canyons of southern Illinois — May 2021

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3Days

3Places

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The Garden of the Gods

A Memorial Day weekend deep in the Shawnee National Forest of southern Illinois — the sandstone hoodoos and cliff-top vistas of the Garden of the Gods, slot canyons and time-carved rock shelters, mossy grottoes and clear creeks, and green forest trails after the spring rains. Tap any photo to enlarge it, or open the map.

Day 1

Sat 29 May

Forest Trails & Canyons

Forest Trails & Canyons — Forest Trails & CanyonsA trail through the Shawnee forest

Forest Trails & Canyons — Forest Trails & CanyonsA shaded ravine

Forest Trails & Canyons — Forest Trails & CanyonsSandstone bluffs above the creek

Forest Trails & Canyons — Forest Trails & CanyonsA quiet forest path

Forest Trails & Canyons — Forest Trails & CanyonsA slot in the rock

Forest Trails & Canyons — Forest Trails & CanyonsWater over the ledges

Forest Trails & Canyons — Forest Trails & CanyonsGreen after the spring rains

Forest Trails & Canyons — Forest Trails & CanyonsA trail through the Shawnee forest

Forest Trails & Canyons — Forest Trails & CanyonsA shaded ravine

Forest Trails & Canyons — Forest Trails & CanyonsSandstone bluffs above the creek

Forest Trails & Canyons — Forest Trails & CanyonsA quiet forest path

Forest Trails & Canyons — Forest Trails & CanyonsA slot in the rock

Forest Trails & Canyons — Forest Trails & CanyonsWater over the ledges

Forest Trails & Canyons — Forest Trails & CanyonsGreen after the spring rains

Forest Trails & Canyons — Forest Trails & CanyonsA trail through the Shawnee forest

Forest Trails & Canyons — Forest Trails & CanyonsA shaded ravine

Forest Trails & Canyons — Forest Trails & CanyonsSandstone bluffs above the creek

Forest Trails & Canyons — Forest Trails & CanyonsA quiet forest path

Forest Trails & Canyons — Forest Trails & CanyonsA slot in the rock

Forest Trails & Canyons — Forest Trails & CanyonsWater over the ledges

Forest Trails & Canyons — Forest Trails & CanyonsGreen after the spring rains

Forest Trails & Canyons — Forest Trails & CanyonsA trail through the Shawnee forest

Forest Trails & Canyons — Forest Trails & CanyonsA shaded ravine

Day 2

Sun 30 May

Garden of the Gods · Rock Shelters & Creeks

Garden of the Gods — Garden of the GodsCamel Rock at the Garden of the Gods

Garden of the Gods — Garden of the GodsThe sandstone hoodoos

Garden of the Gods — Garden of the GodsCliff-top views over the forest

Garden of the Gods — Garden of the GodsThe Observation Trail

Garden of the Gods — Garden of the GodsWeathered rock formations

Garden of the Gods — Garden of the GodsMiles of forest from the bluffs

Garden of the Gods — Garden of the GodsBalanced rocks along the ridge

Garden of the Gods — Garden of the GodsCamel Rock at the Garden of the Gods

Garden of the Gods — Garden of the GodsThe sandstone hoodoos

Garden of the Gods — Garden of the GodsCliff-top views over the forest

Garden of the Gods — Garden of the GodsThe Observation Trail

Garden of the Gods — Garden of the GodsWeathered rock formations

Garden of the Gods — Garden of the GodsMiles of forest from the bluffs

Garden of the Gods — Garden of the GodsBalanced rocks along the ridge

Garden of the Gods — Garden of the GodsCamel Rock at the Garden of the Gods

Rock Shelters & Creeks — Rock Shelters & CreeksA rock shelter carved by time

Rock Shelters & Creeks — Rock Shelters & CreeksDeep in a slot canyon

Rock Shelters & Creeks — Rock Shelters & CreeksA mossy grotto

Rock Shelters & Creeks — Rock Shelters & CreeksCascades over sandstone

Rock Shelters & Creeks — Rock Shelters & CreeksFerns on a shaded ledge

Rock Shelters & Creeks — Rock Shelters & CreeksA cave mouth in the bluff

Rock Shelters & Creeks — Rock Shelters & CreeksA clear creek among the boulders

Rock Shelters & Creeks — Rock Shelters & CreeksA rock shelter carved by time

Rock Shelters & Creeks — Rock Shelters & CreeksDeep in a slot canyon

Day 3

Mon 31 May

Rock Shelters & Creeks

Rock Shelters & Creeks — Rock Shelters & CreeksA mossy grotto

Rock Shelters & Creeks — Rock Shelters & CreeksCascades over sandstone

Rock Shelters & Creeks — Rock Shelters & CreeksFerns on a shaded ledge

Rock Shelters & Creeks — Rock Shelters & CreeksA cave mouth in the bluff

Rock Shelters & Creeks — Rock Shelters & CreeksA clear creek among the boulders

Rock Shelters & Creeks — Rock Shelters & CreeksA rock shelter carved by time

Rock Shelters & Creeks — Rock Shelters & CreeksDeep in a slot canyon

Rock Shelters & Creeks — Rock Shelters & CreeksA mossy grotto

Rock Shelters & Creeks — Rock Shelters & CreeksCascades over sandstone

Rock Shelters & Creeks — Rock Shelters & CreeksFerns on a shaded ledge

Rock Shelters & Creeks — Rock Shelters & CreeksA cave mouth in the bluff

Rock Shelters & Creeks — Rock Shelters & CreeksA clear creek among the boulders

Where we wandered