Garden of the Gods is a stunning rock formation in Shawnee National Forest with expansive views of Southern Illinois.

While there are many more attractions in Shawnee, Garden of the Gods is the best place to start. This is thanks to the accessible hikes and excellent views.

A quarter mile paved loop takes visitors near the edges of the large sandstone formations. For the more adventurous, the stones are accessible for climbing and sightseeing. View the trail on AllTrails. C was able to hike through this when he was 5. M rode around on Cherokee’s back.

The largest rock formation is known as Camel Rock. Its one of the most photographed locations in Illinois and for good reason. Glaciers carved through much of Illinois but stopped just north of present day Shawnee National Forest. Fortunately, we were left this spectacular gray sandstone plateau.

Tips

There is plenty of parking for Garden of the Gods. Even with the camper, we parked only a short distance away (we were hiking anyway).

Other hiking and activities are nearby. Stone Face was a short drive and an easy hike. The drive to Stone Face followed mostly country roads. The parking lot was a tight squeeze for our 30′ Jayco so larger RVs and travel trailers will struggle.

A large cave facing the Ohio River was once a hideaway for smugglers or moonshiners. Backcountry camping is available for the backpacking crowd. We tried boondocking at Teal Pond instead since it was our first trip in the camper.