Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Eddyville, Illinois

Bell Smith Springs Trailhead Access is a gravel and partially paved road within Shawnee National Forest that leads to the main hiking trailhead and campground area at Bell Smith Springs. The route is easy to navigate and suitable for most vehicles, making it a primary access point for visitors to th...
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Bell Smith Spring Rope Swing Trail is a gravel road within Shawnee National Forest that leads to a spring-fed swimming area known for its rope swings and deep water access. The route is easy to navigate and follows a typical forest gravel surface with minimal obstacles. At the end of the trail, visi...
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Burden Falls Trail is a gravel road within Shawnee National Forest that provides access to multiple hiking points leading to Burden Falls. The route is easy to follow and consists of typical forest gravel terrain with minimal obstacles. Along the trail, visitors will find several access points for h...
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Burden Falls Road is a gravel route within Shawnee National Forest that connects the small community of McCormick to Burden Falls Road (402). The road is generally easy to follow and consists of typical forest gravel terrain with occasional uneven sections. This route provides a quieter, more scenic...
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Millstone Bluffs Trailhead is accessed by a maintained gravel road within Shawnee National Forest that leads to a large parking area for hikers. The route is easy to follow and provides straightforward access to one of the area’s popular trail systems. At the end of the road, visitors will find a sp...
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Benham Hill Trail is a gravel route within Shawnee National Forest that provides access to both recreational driving and nearby equestrian and hiking trail systems. The route begins at a large parking area designed for equestrian use, offering space for trailers and staging before entering the trail...
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Glen Street Trail is a scenic main artery through this section of Shawnee National Forest, providing access to dispersed campsites, numerous side trails and the spectacular Jackson Falls area. The trail is somewhat rougher than other primary routes nearby, with deeper puddles, rainwater erosion, exp...
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Dutton Chapel Road is a gravel route within Shawnee National Forest that serves as a connector to other trails in the area, including Benham Hill Trail and One Horse Gap Lake Trail. The road is generally easy to follow and consists of typical forest gravel terrain. Along the route, drivers may encou...
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One Horse Gap Lake Trail is a gravel road within Shawnee National Forest that leads to a quiet lakeside access point with several primitive camping opportunities along the way. The route is easy to follow and suitable for most 2WD vehicles, though sections of tree overhang may limit clearance for ta...
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Shelby Cemetery Trail is a route within Shawnee National Forest that begins as a gravel road before transitioning into a narrower path with mud, grass, and increasing vegetation overgrowth. At the beginning of the trail, there is an old cemetery along with access to hiking trails and a small primiti...
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Wamble Mountain Spur Road FS 707A is a natural-improved trail in Shawnee National Forest near the Eagle Mountain area, within the Hidden Springs Sector. The FS 707A is best described as your uncle's secret hunting road; few know about it, and the entrance gives the vibe that no one uses it. However,...
Learn more about Wamble Mountain Spur Road - FS 707A

Goose Ridge Trail is a gravel route within Shawnee National Forest that offers a straightforward out-and-back drive through forest terrain. The road is generally easy to follow, with some ruts that may develop after rainfall and occasional tree limbs overhanging the route. This trail provides a rela...
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Richland Ridge Trail serves as a main north-to-south artery through this part of Shawnee National Forest, with several side trails branching off along the way that invite further exploration. The route travels through beautiful hardwood forest and is generally easygoing, making it more about enjoyin...
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The Eagle Mountain Fire Road is a gravel service road through the Eagle Mountain area in the most northern section of the Hidden Springs sector of Shawnee National Forest. The road acts as a main artery road that most of the other trails in the area are connected to or even loop back to. It is mostl...
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Stone Face Lane/Recreation Area FS 1453 is a gravel access road to the hiking trail and scenic bluff rock overlook of the same name. It is a part of the Eagle Mountain area within the Hidden Springs sector of Shawnee National Forest. The lane is short but provides a great place to stage and meet up ...
Learn more about Stone Face Lane - FS 1453

A fun, increasingly primitive forest trail that starts relatively easy with mild rock gardens, shallow muddy ruts, and occasional off-camber sections before steadily tightening as you travel deeper into the woods. Expect significant overgrowth and pinstriping throughout. About halfway in, the trail ...
Learn more about Kaskaskia Woods Trail

Golden Circle Trail is a short, relatively easy route with beautiful scenery and plenty of reasons to slow down and explore. Near the entrance, striking layers of sandstone rise alongside the trail, softened by moss and vegetation, with several small caves and rock formations that are easily accessi...
Learn more about Golden Circle - FS 1621

Taylor Ridge Road is a gravel route within Shawnee National Forest that leads to a designated trailhead parking area for nearby hiking trails. The road is generally easy to navigate, with occasional ruts that may form after heavy rainfall. At the start of the route, signage indicates a dead end, whi...
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This route leads to a primitive campground area within Shawnee National Forest overlooking Lake of Egypt. The trail follows a partially maintained gravel road with frequent tree limbs overhanging that may limit access for larger vehicles. Due to tight clearances, this route is best suited for truck ...
Learn more about Lake Of Egypt Campground Drive - FS 871A

Grandpa’s Getaway is a short gravel road that leads to a quiet access point at Little Cache Number 1 Reservoir, also known locally as Bowman Bottoms Fishing Hole. The route is easy to follow and ends at a small gravel and grass parking area near the water. The launch area consists of a natural grave...
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Glen Street Trail is a scenic main artery through this section of Shawnee National Forest, providing access to dispersed campsites, numerous side trails and the spectacular Jackson Falls area. The trail is somewhat rougher than other primary routes nearby, with deeper puddles, rainwater erosion, exp...
Learn more about Glen Street

Richland Ridge Trail serves as a main north-to-south artery through this part of Shawnee National Forest, with several side trails branching off along the way that invite further exploration. The route travels through beautiful hardwood forest and is generally easygoing, making it more about enjoyin...
Learn more about Richland Ridge Road

A fun, increasingly primitive forest trail that starts relatively easy with mild rock gardens, shallow muddy ruts, and occasional off-camber sections before steadily tightening as you travel deeper into the woods. Expect significant overgrowth and pinstriping throughout. About halfway in, the trail ...
Learn more about Kaskaskia Woods Trail

Golden Circle Trail is a short, relatively easy route with beautiful scenery and plenty of reasons to slow down and explore. Near the entrance, striking layers of sandstone rise alongside the trail, softened by moss and vegetation, with several small caves and rock formations that are easily accessi...
Learn more about Golden Circle - FS 1621

Glen Street Trail is a scenic main artery through this section of Shawnee National Forest, providing access to dispersed campsites, numerous side trails and the spectacular Jackson Falls area. The trail is somewhat rougher than other primary routes nearby, with deeper puddles, rainwater erosion, exp...
Learn more about Glen Street

Richland Ridge Trail serves as a main north-to-south artery through this part of Shawnee National Forest, with several side trails branching off along the way that invite further exploration. The route travels through beautiful hardwood forest and is generally easygoing, making it more about enjoyin...
Learn more about Richland Ridge Road

A fun, increasingly primitive forest trail that starts relatively easy with mild rock gardens, shallow muddy ruts, and occasional off-camber sections before steadily tightening as you travel deeper into the woods. Expect significant overgrowth and pinstriping throughout. About halfway in, the trail ...
Learn more about Kaskaskia Woods Trail

Golden Circle Trail is a short, relatively easy route with beautiful scenery and plenty of reasons to slow down and explore. Near the entrance, striking layers of sandstone rise alongside the trail, softened by moss and vegetation, with several small caves and rock formations that are easily accessi...
Learn more about Golden Circle - FS 1621