The 280,000-acre Shawnee National Forest is a unique ecological crossroads. Nowhere else in the United States can hikers trek through six different ecosystems in one day, including lush oak-hickory forests, flourishing wetlands, wide-open prairie, windswept bluffs, and deep canyons.

With over four hundred miles of trails, there is a hike for every type of outdoor enthusiast, one of the biggest draws is the moderately challenging River to River Trail, leading from the Ohio River to the Mississippi, this 160-mile trail traverses' wetlands, upland forests, grasslands, and bluffs. Wildlife enthusiasts should also keep an eye out for armadillos, bald eagles, bobcats, red-tailed hawks, red foxes and over 250 bird species that can be seen in the national forest. Visitors can also witness the biannual snake migration along the 2.7-mile Snake Road. In spring, thousands of snakes and amphibians move from the forest's limestone bluffs into the LaRue Swamp and in autumn they head in the opposite direction, as they hibernate for the winter.

For the outdoor enthusiasts who want to pair fine wines with a scenic hike, the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail features 11 award-winning wineries located along a 35-mile scenic drive along highway 127 and highway 51 in the Shawnee National Forest and loops through the rolling hills of Illinois's first designated grape-growing region. The region's high elevation and location between two major rivers creates an ideal weather-resistant climate that produces some of the highest-quality grapes in the United States.

Garden of the Gods gives hikers amazing insight into the geologic structure of Southern Illinois and a view that stretches for miles high over the pristine hills of Shawnee Forest. Visitors can also explore Cave in Rock, the late 18th-century hideout of many outlaws and river pirates, climb inside the Iron Furnace, a massive stone furnace that produced around nine tons of iron a day, and visit the Native American village site situated atop Millstone Bluff, the archaeological site dates to between 600 to 900 CE.

The Shawnee National Forest spans the southernmost part of Illinois and is over 300 miles south of Chicago but is still easy to get to. Amtrak rail services run three times a day from Chicago to Carbondale, the largest town within easy reach of the forest, or hire a car and travel down historic Route 66, turning off just before crossing state lines to discover this hidden gem.

For more information, or to plan your trip, visit www.enjoyillinois.co.uk

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