Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Metropolis, Illinois

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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Dutchman Lake Trail is a short gravel road within Shawnee National Forest that leads to a quiet access point at Dutchman Lake. The route is easy to navigate with minimal obstacles, though ruts may develop…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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,…
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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…
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This route follows a gravel road within Shawnee National Forest and leads to the Hickory Point Boat Ramp at Lake of Egypt. At the Y-intersection, this route branches away from the campground access and continues…
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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…
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Whoopie Cat Lake Trail is a gravel road within Shawnee National Forest that leads to a quiet lake access point with a small gravel boat ramp and parking area. The route is easy to follow…
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Bork Falls Road, also known partly as Regent Lane and Cedar Grove Road and featuring the Goreville Waterfall, is a gravel road through Johnson County, Illinois. It provides access to the western section of Ferne…
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Nickell Branch FS 102 is a gravel forestry road through the northwest corner of the Kentucky section, Lake Barkley side, of the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. The road is graceful and a…
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Benberry Cemetery Road FS 301 is a gravel Forest Service road through the northwest corner of the Kentucky section, Lake Barkley side, of the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. The Benberry Cemetery Road…
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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…
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Twin Lakes South FS 105 is a gravel forest service road in the northwest corner of the Kentucky section, Kentucky Lake side, of the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. It features a track…
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105/106 Connector - FS 106A is a gravel forest service road in the northwest corner of the Kentucky section, Kentucky Lake side, of the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. This is one of…
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Willow Creek (FS 109) is a semi-maintained gravel forest service road located in the northwest corner, Lake Barkley side, in the Kentucky section of Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. This route serves as…
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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…
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Pisgah Point Spur FS 111A is a gravel forestry route through the northwest corner of the northern Kentucky section, Kentucky Lake side, of the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. The road consists of…
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Smith Cemetery Spur Road FS 120A/120B is a gravel spur Forest Service road at the end of the FS 120. It is located in the north Kentucky section, Lake Barkley side, of the Land Between…
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Smith Cemetery Road FS 120 is a gravel forestry road through the northern Kentucky section, Lake Barkley side, of the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. The Smith Cemetery is a gravel road coming…
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The Tornado Valley FSR 112 is a gravel road that parallels a mile inland from the north shoreline of Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area. It consists of a few 9-10% grade hills, a…
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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…
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Yale Road - FS 115, or Birmingham Ferry Road, is a half-paved and half-gravel forest service road through the center-west Kentucky section, Kentucky Lake side, of the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. Its…
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High Knob Trail is a gravel route within Shawnee National Forest that travels through an equestrian campground before climbing to a scenic overlook. Drivers should use caution when passing through the campground area, yielding to…
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The Pallet Trail is one of the main routes through the south portion of the forest, and gives riders access to many secondary and tertiary routes. At the north side, this trail is accessed from…
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