USDA Forest Service

Shawnee National Forest

 

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The transportation of invasive insects & diseases through firewood is destroying trees in urban, suburban & forest areas. See what you can do.

Link to Don't Move Firewood Website

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Research Natural Areas Program
Research Natural Areas (RNAs) are established by the USDA Forest Service as representative examples of minimally disturbed natural ecosystems.

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EACC monitors wildfire potential, weather, and wildland fire use within the Eastern Region.
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Other Recreation Related Links

 

 

Shawnee National Forest
50 Hwy. 145 South
Harrisburg, IL 62946
Phone: 618-253-7114 - From a TTY call 711 to be connected.
FAX: (618) 253-1060

United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service.



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Welcome

Shawnee National Forest

Seven wildernesses make up about 10% of the forest. Travel must be on foot or horseback in these special areas. Motorized and mechanized travel is not allowed here. Several of the Wildernesses have picturesque streams. All offer more solitude and less evidence of human influence than other parts of the forest. Call or visit the nearest Forest Service office for route suggestions, topographical maps and up-to-date information.

Image of a horse


All Things Equestrian - For information related to equestrian use on the forest, including trails, maps, recreation opportunity guides, outfitter/guide information, environmental assessments on related projects, permitted horse camps, etc., click here.
Trails Hotline - 618-658-1312


Volunteer with the Shawnee National Forest and help to make a difference within your community and on your public lands!

Volunteers with many different skills are needed to assist with the various programs on the Shawnee National Forest. Volunteer opportunities vary in length, type of skill required, and even where they are located (outside on the trails or in the office at a desk). >>>Read More

VolunteerMatch is a leader in the nonprofit world dedicated to helping everyone find a great place to volunteer. The organization offers a variety of online services to support a community of nonprofit, volunteer and business leaders committed to civic engagement. Our popular service welcomes millions of visitors a year and has become the preferred internet recruiting tool for more than 50,000 nonprofit organizations. Just type in the zip code to check out local volunteer opportunities

Click to View Map

**New Interactive Map**
of Recreational Sites

Just Click on Your Area of Interest!
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[image] Click to view map

Trying to Contact Us?

If attempting to contact our staff, please be aware that due to virus protection reasons, the Forest Service will block all e-mails at the SMTP mail gateway that are over a certain size or that contain certain attachment types. To see a list of attachment types that may cause e-mails to be blocked, as well as other e-mail limitations, click here.

Image of a deer head - Click for more hunting informationPlanning to Hunt the Shawnee National Forest?

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources Website has information on applying for Hunting Licenses, Permits and Applications.

View the Shawnee National Forest Hunting Recreational Opportunity Guide


**Due to server instability, service to certain webpages may be impacted. Sorry for any inconvenience.**

Climate Change, Kids, and Forests: What's the Connection?

"Since being named Chief in January, I have spent time in Washington and have traveled around the country and have talked to many different people concerned in one way or another about forests. I have been struck by their hopes and fears, and three themes in particular have stood out. I will discuss these themes one by one and show how they are connected."

Read more »

Current Items of Interest

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Southeastern Illinois Electric Cooperative
The Southeastern Illinois Electric Cooperative (SEIEC) represented by David Douglas, Engineering Technician, located at Golconda, Illinois, has applied for a term special-use permit.
Rhine Road Decision Memo
The Mississippi Bluffs Ranger District received a request from the Union County Highway Department to convey a public road easement of about 300’ in length on Rhine Road, in Union County, pursuant to the Forest Roads and Trails Act, 16 U.S.C. 532-538, in parts of Section 31, T11S, R2W in Union County, IL.  
Shawnee Volunteer Corps of the Mississippi Bluffs Ranger District Announces Spring Volunteer Opportunities
Harrisburg, IL, January 27, 2010 - The Shawnee National Forest, Mississippi Bluffs Ranger District Volunteer Corps is gearing up for their spring volunteer season.
January Shawnee Quarterly
SEASONAL CLOSURES ON THE SHAWNEE NATIONAL FOREST
Harrisburg, IL, December 14, 2009 - The Shawnee National Forest District Rangers announce the seasonal closure of recreation sites.
Seasonal Restriction on Wilderness Trails
Harrisburg, IL, November 25, 2009 - The Shawnee National Forest Hidden Springs District Ranger Tim Pohlman would like to remind the public of the seasonal trail restrictions within the Lusk Creek, Garden of the Gods and Bay Creek Wildernesses.

SHAWNEE NATIONAL FOREST VOLUNTEERS SPEND A BUSY WEEKEND ON FOREST PROJECTS
Harrisburg, IL, October 26, 2009 – Forest Supervisor Allen Nicholas, and Mississippi Bluffs District Ranger Dan Lentz recognize the importance of the work done by volunteers on the Shawnee National Forest.

SHAWNEE NATIONAL FOREST RELEASES MOTOR VEHICLE USE MAP
Harrisburg, IL, March 23, 2009Today Forest Supervisor Allen Nicholas announced the publication and release of the Motor Vehicle Use Map for the Shawnee National Forest. >>>Read More - Maps - Hidden Springs Ranger District - Mississippi Bluffs Ranger District

RECREATION FEE INCREASES
Harrisburg, IL, March 2, 2009 - Shawnee National Forest Supervisor, Allen Nicholas, announces an increase of fees for five Forest campgrounds.  This increase will become effective on March 15, 2009. >>>Read More

Order of the Forest Supervisor, Restriction of Horses or Other Saddle or Pack Animals to Designated and Interim Trails in the Eagle Creek, Big Grand Pierre Creek, Lusk Creek and Upper Bay Creek Watersheds on the Shawnee National Forest (Please allow for download time when viewing maps).

DESIGNATED TRAIL USE ONLY IN FOUR WATERSHEDS
Harrisburg, IL, January 22, 2007 –Today Forest Supervisor Allen Nicholas announced equestrian use will be limited to designated trails in the Eagle Creek, Big Grande Pierre, Lusk Creek and Upper Bay Creek watersheds in Gallatin, Hardin, Johnson, Pope and Saline counties of the Hidden Springs Ranger District. [more information]
Research Natural Areas Program
Research Natural Areas (RNAs) are established by the USDA Forest Service as representative examples of minimally disturbed natural ecosystems.
 

Horse Camps on the Shawnee More


Forest Road 345 is closed each year from March 15 to May 15 and again September 1 thru October 30 for the Snake Migration (by Mike Pingleton)
Also see our Snake Migration LaRue-Pine Hills Recreational Opportunity Guide and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources pages on Illinois Snakes for more information.

Other Recrational Opportunity Guides

 Virtual Tours

Please visit our Photo Tour of the forest.
East Side of the Forest | West Side of the Forest


Safety Alerts, Fires, Advisories, Closures, and Restrictions

Map: Shawnee  NF.
The Shawnee National Forest is located in southern Illinois and is divided into two Ranger Districts Hidden Springs - located in Vienna and Mississippi Bluffs - located in Jonesboro .

Plant a Tree Image Click for Plant A Tree Information

The U.S. Forest Service has established a Plant A Tree Program to allow people to donate money toward planting trees on the National Forests.

News

Volunteer Vibe - - Volume 1 Issue Winter 2009 - a quarterly newsletter made for the Shawnee Volunteers. Each newsletter will contain a feature trail, safety tips, Special Thanks section and Volunteer Opportunities. Also what is going on in and around the forest since the last newsletter. >>>Read More

[image] Finger Pointing at You!

Southern Illinois WeedWatch Project Needs Your Help! Invasive plant species
are invading our beautiful
natural areas. They are
aggressively overtaking or
displacing native species
causing a drastic reduction in
our native biodiversity and
natural beauty. >>>Read More

Trails Maintenance Reports
The Trails Designation Project, Phase 1, Final Environmental Impact Statement presents an analysis of four alternatives for designating, constructing and maintaining a trail system within four watersheds on The Shawnee National Forest.



USDA Forest Service - Eastern Region
Last modified: Wednesday, 03 February 2010

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