50 Outdoor Spots in Southern Illinois worth checking out

Southern Illinois is overflowing with outdoor recreation, trails, caves, and so much more to explore. We have something for all skill levels; or if you’re like me, some really nice beaches and drives to check out. Below are lists in categories, most have links but in the even they do not, you can utilize the USDA Forestry, Shawnee Forest, or Illinois Tourism pages to find the exact information you’re looking for…or send me an email at jessithomas618@gmail.com, and I’ll help you plan your day!

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State Parks

Burning Star State Fish and Wildlife Area

Giant City State Park

Ferne Clyffe State Park

Cache River State Natural Area

Cave-In-Rock State Park

Fort Defiance State Park

Fort Massac State Park

Dixon Springs State Park

Mermet Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

Trail of Tears State Forest

Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area

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Shawnee National Forest

All below can be found on the website hyperlinked above

Garden of the Gods

Rim Rock National Recreation Trail

Bell Smith Springs

Jackson Falls

Jackson Hollow Wilderness

Little Grand Canyon

Heron Pond Nature Preserve

Pomona Natural Bridge

Burden Falls Wilderness

Lusk Creek Wilderness

LaRue-Pine Hills / Snake Road

Inspiration Point Trail

Pounds Hollow Recreation Area

Sand Cave

One Horse Gap

High Knob Overlook

Pharaoh Campground

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Famous Trails

Tunnel Hill State Trail

River-to-River Trail

Bald Knob Cross of Peace

Ohio River National Scenic Byway

George Rogers Clark Discovery Trail

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Refuge and Preserves

Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge

Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge

Piney Creek Ravine Nature Preserve

Section 8 Woods Nature Preserve

Barkhausen-Cache River Wetlands Center

War Bluff Valley Sanctuary

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Public Recreational Lakes

Rend Lake

Kinkaid Lake

Lake of Egypt

Devils Kitchen Lake

Little Grassy Lake (currently drained for dam repairs, but cool to drive by and see empty)

Cedar Lake

Lake Murphysboro

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A Mixture of things, or other

Devil’s Island

Panther Den Wilderness

Bulge Hole Ecological Area

Wolf Creek Causeway; part of CONWR but deserves it’s own spotlight