Awe-inspiring sandstone cliffs that form different shapes with views of the surrounding Shawnee Hills are what you will find at Garden of the Gods in southern Illinois.
Driving In
Heading into the Garden of the Gods Recreation Area you can see the high cliffs along the drive. After parking, we headed to the Observation Trail.
Observation Trail
This is a quarter-mile interpretive trail that leads to areas on top of the bluffs, which features views of the Shawnee Hills and the Garden of the Gods rock formations. The trail has some steep grades and goes out to high cliffs, so be careful where you walk.
Beginning the Hike
We entered the trail by walking up the stairs from the bottom parking area trailhead. Restrooms are on the left. On the right are signs describing the area and how it was formed.
To The Rock Formations
We headed to the right where we walked around the cliffs and rock formations.
The trail goes among the intricate rock formations.
Juniper and cedar trees provide greenery when we were there in winter.
Towards the middle of the hike among the rock formations is Camel Rock. It is one with a distinctive cliff head by itself and then humps in the back.
Along the side of a large cliff wall and standing apart is Devil’s Smokestack. This huge pillar formed when softer sandstone abounds it washed away. This “smokestack” measures 30 feet from the wedged boulder to the top of the pillar.
Long ago these rock formations were buried more than a mile deep. Years of erosion washed away much of the sandstone exposing the bedrock beneath your feet.
Careful Stepping Here
My son Andrew enjoyed walking from one rock formation to another and checking out the views. I made sure to stay close to watch his steps since there were some sheer cliffs.
Heading Back
The trail wraps around the cliffs and then ends up back by the restrooms. It is a short hike, but we did a mile worth of walking checking out the area.
Final Thoughts
Garden of the Gods is well worth the drive. It is an amazing place with cliffs and rock formations. Keeping a watchful eye on my son helped to make it safe for him to wander around.
MORE TRAILS
Indian Point Trail
1.6 miles trail that allows you to see other rock formations and cliffs.
River to River Trail
This 160-mile trail passes through the area on its way across Southern Illinois from the Ohio River to the Mississippi River.
Geological History of Garden of the Gods
Shawnee Hills took millions of years to form. Sandstone rock formations and cliffs at Garden of the Gods are about 320 million years old.
Parts of Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky were covered by giant inland sea millions of years ago. Then, great rivers carried sand and mud to the sea, where it settled along the shoreline. Over time, the sediments turned into layers of rock thousands of feet thick. At Garden of the Gods, that rock is more than 20,000 feet thick or about four miles deep.
Eventually, a great uplift occurred that fractured the bedrock, exposing it to nature’s erosive forces. Since then, windblown sand, rain, and freezing and thawing actions have worn down the layers of sediment creating these rock formations here.
DETAILS:
Drive: Take Interstate 64 east from St. Louis and then south of Mount Vernon turn onto Interstate 57 South. Then take exit 71 and go left onto Illinois Highway 34. Make a left onto Church Street/Raleigh Road and continue on this route until it becomes Illinois Highway 142. In Equality, Ill., make a right onto Shawnee Forest Road until you see the entrance to the Garden of the Gods Recreation Area.
Hours: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily
Address: Herod, IL 62947
More Southern Illinois Trails
The Double Descent of Burden Creek Falls
Burden Creek falls 20 feet over a sandstone ledge and then descends another 80 feet in a series of cascades making it the highest free-falling waterfall in Illinois.
Waterfalls and Caves at Ferne Clyffe State Park
Walking along a clear stream to waterfalls and going up into the cliffs to see a cave are some of the natural treasures at Ferne Clyffe State Park. The park has a large number of trails to explore.
Hiking Into Cave-In-Rock
A wide cave along the Ohio River where bandits once were once found is Cave-In-Rock State Park.
The 55-foot wide Cave-In-Rock was carved out of the limestone rock by water thousands of years ago.
Larue-Pine Hills and Snake Road
Larue-Pine Hills bluffs have inspirational views and below it is Snake Road, known for its snake migration in the spring and fall. This area is part of the Shawnee National Forest and has a diverse habitat to explore.
Dad Hikes: Pomona Natural Bridge
A short loop hike through an oak and beech forest leads to the 90 foot Pomona Natural Bridge nestled in trees by a cliff.
Dad Hikes: Piney Creek Ravine Nature Preserve
The largest area of Native American Rock art in Illinois is found at Piney Creek Ravine Nature Preserve.
This 198-acre nature preserve also has cascading waterfalls and colorful limestone cliffs.
