Shawnee National Forest

If you want to see the most beautiful place the Shawnee (basicaly all of Southern Illinois) has to offer, look for Jackson Falls. You can spend a whole day here. It offers beautiful scenery, and some of the best rock climbing in the Midwest. Primitive tent camping is allowed, and a few miles N.E. of here offers Bell Smith Springs, with amazing scenery, and sites for more advanced camping.

Need directions? just e-mail me.

So much so that I have bought a piece of preoperty nerby that shares many of its features.

Plenty of great places to go, and unlike national parks in many places, it’s usually completely free wherever you visit.