A nice state park in the area with a pretty nice trail in the Ghost Dance Canyon. Some interesting…read morestuff to see when it's raining, but the rain also makes the rocks very slick. All in all, I have no complaints it, but this shouldn't be your first or second or even third stop if you have time to roam around in the area.

Tony and I went hiking at Dixon Springs State Park and we had a nice time. The rock formations are…read moreawesome and there is a bridge across the top of the Waterfall. I was able to get some great photos from the base of the rocks and the waterfall. The park was a little dead today but it was early about 10am. There was only one other couple there. There was picnic tables and some grills..and even some grills where I guess there was some picnic tables that are now gone...hummmmm...they also have a pool for the public use but it is still pre-season so it was not open..but I was there for the stunning rock formations and the beauty of God's backyard. This park is FREE to enjoy..which is always nice and very easily located on the intersection of Rt. 146 and Rt . 145. Here is some important information from the website: Dixon Springs State Park is one of several state parks in the Illinois Shawnee Hills. The park is on a giant block of rock which was dropped 200 feet along a fault line that extends northwesterly across Pope County. The 801 acre park is about 10 miles west of Golconda on Illinois Route 146 near its junction with Illinois Route 145. The first land acquisition was in 1946. Facilities at the park include a modern swimming pool, bathhouse, and 45-foot water slide provided for swimmers' enjoyment. Lifeguard is on duty at all times. Towering oaks, elms, and birch trees shade the pool. A concession stand near the pool provides a variety of refreshments. Picnic tables and outdoor stoves are available at three shaded picnic areas. Two picnic shelters, playgrounds, parking areas, and drinking water are also available. There is a Class B trailer camping area with a sanitary dumping station and electricity available. Also available are ten sites for primitive camping, two hiking trails, two basketball courts, three horseshoe pits, two volleyball courts and an archery range Also some HISTORY OF THE AREA which I found very interesting information I wanted to share: The area around the park was occupied by various tribes of Algonquins who, after the Shawnee had been driven from Tennessee, had settled near the mouth of the Wabash River. Dixon Springs was one of their favorite camping grounds and was called "Kitchemuske-nee-be" for the Great Medicine Waters. One of the better known Indian Trails, which the early French called the "Grand Trace," passed to the west of the park and south to Fort Massac, then branched out into lesser trails. Much of the "Grand Trace" is Illinois Route 145, one of the most scenic highways in the state, running nearly all of its length south from Harrisburg through the Shawnee National Forest. This section of the state was part of an Indian Reservation occupied for a time by about 6,000 Native Americans. Like the buffalo, most of the Indians were gone by the early 1830's. Dixon Springs takes its name from William Dixon, one of the first white settlers to build a home in this section, who obtained a school land warrant in 1848 from Governor Augustus C. French. His cabin was a landmark for many years as was an old log church on the adjoining knoll. A small community grew up at Dixon Springs with a general store, post office, blacksmith shop, grist mill, and several churches.Dixon Springs Dixon Springs became a 19th century health spa which attracted hundreds to the seven springs of mineral-enriched water. A bathhouse provided mineral or soft water baths, hot or cold, available at any time. The natural beauty of the area and its interesting stone formations helped to give the park valley a more equable temperature in the summer than most of southern Illinois. This made the resort so popular that people came by steamboat excursions from as far away as Paducah, KY, Evansville, IN, and Cairo to Golconda. They then traveled by train to within a couple miles of the park. The entire county is hilly and during rainy weather rivulets cascade down the hills in the park forming waterfalls of varying sizes and heights. Bold cliffs and crags overhang a bubbling brook while large boulders, overgrown with ferns, ivy, lichens, and moss, fringe the hillside. Giant century-old trees interlock above the small creek as cliffs rise on either side and huge boulders are scattered through the valley. Equally intriguing are the names given numerous points of interest, including Album Rock, Red Man's Retreat, Wolf Pen, Lover's Leap, Ghost Dance, Pluto's Cave. Alligator Rock, the Chain of Rocks, Devil's Workshop, and Honeycomb Rock. The principle canyon has walls nearly 60 feet high with a long, narrow passageway. I found this park very nice and I would definitely go here again..so if you are in the area...enjoy some hiking and gorgeous scenery...God gives us so much to ENJOY for FREE !!! A great Park

I stopped here on a road trip. The visitor center was shut down due to COVID-19 but it was still…read moreeasy to find my way around. I went to the scenic overlook and got a great view of the muddy Mississippi River. we (me and my dogs) then hiked a mile, which wasn't bad. but it was hilly. there was also a lake where people were swimming. this a great park, if you are driving through the area be sure to stop by and enjoy the nature it has to offer.

A lot of sad but informative history at the visitors center, don't pass it by. The visitors center…read morealso features wildlife of the area, and the staff is helpful and knowledgeable. Camping, swimming, picnic areas available. Couple of nice lookout points for photos.

A great beginner trail but beware of spider webs. The trails are also pretty narrow so don't expect…read moreto walk more than 2-3 wide. The story walk is also pretty nice if you have kids with lots of rest stops across the .2 mile trail. All in all a good nature walk.

Walked this trail many times. Make sure to stay clear when it has rained. The trails can get very…read moremuddy and be to much of a hassle. Watch for deer their are lots of them.

Great National Wildlife Refugee! An oasis down the road from Marion which was awful because it is…read morefull of semi trucks and fast food and rushing cars. If you are in the area seek this place out. It is beautiful. Lots of grasslands with birds such as wild turkeys! There is a large expanse of water that can drive through on a narrow gravel road.

This is most definitely not a beginner's hiking trail!!…read more This spot is hidden away outside Carbondale, and offers a great overview of the bluffs and the Big Muddy River. The trail is rugged and is quite slippery, especially after a rain. You will have to descend down a slippery rocky waterway to get down into the canyon, but the views are amazing. To get back out, another climb up a waterway is needed, and both can be quite hard to get up and down on. However, if you are looking for an amazing but challenging trail with great views, a wonderful stroll along the bluffs, and just overall connect with nature, definitely give this trail a try. Definitely need a good pair of shoes for this. Hiking boots/shoes greatly recommend!!

Trying to milk every last possible drop of warm weather out of the fall, our friends Eric and Laura…read moreasked us to get outside and take a hike with them. Knowing that my boyfriend has been getting restless to travel amidst the pandemic, The Little Grand Canyon gave us the perfect opportunity to "get out" of St. Louis and enjoy a mini-road trip with two great friends. At just two hours outside of the city, this popular hiking spot was the perfect destination. More about the actual trail: Erosion carved this deep box canyon located in Shawnee National Forest, south of Murphysboro. It is located on east bank of the Big Muddy River across from Turkey Bayou to the west, between Swallow Rock to the north and Chalk Bluff to the south. There is about a 350-foot difference in elevation between the bottom of the canyon and the trailhead. Access to the park is gained from Hickory Ridge Road to the east. The area was designated a National Natural Landmark in February 1980. The trailhead area is well maintained. There's a small bathroom, a few picnic tables, and ample parking. We did go on a slightly busy day and the access road was a bit tough to navigate because of people trying to drive as close to the trailhead as possible. From the trailhead to the first overlook is a pretty easy hike. The trail is well worn and doesn't change elevation much. The first overlook is incredible! You truly understand why it's called the Little Grand Canyon. It had three levels so it was easy to space out away from other hikers so you could get your group photos! Once you have your good social media post, you can either take the trail back to your car or descent into the canyon. DO IT. The second half of the trail is definitely more challenging as you go through a steep and sometimes slippery sandstone side canyon to the lusher, damper habitat of the canyon floor. But getting to see the way the stone has eroded over the years is absolutely worth it. You feel like you're on a movie set or on a different planet. The beauty of the stone is beyond compare. Getting back up out of the canyon was quite a workout. You really don't realize how far you had gone down until you have to go back up. I did, however, enjoy the challenge! Worked up a sweat getting back up to the car. I was glad I didn't drive so that I could snooze on the car ride back to St. Louis!

If you're near the Shawnee National Forest and you'd like to do some rock climbing, this is the…read moreplace to go, no matter what level of climber you are. We took our family of 5 rock climbing for the day, and Kathy worked patiently with us the entire time. 3 of us had climbed before; 2 were rookies. Kathy is an avid climber herself, and she's also an excellent teacher. All equipment is covered in the cost: shoes, chalk, ropes, etc. Bring your own water, lunch and bug spray. All of the climbing will be done on Eric & Kathy's property. You'll start out on some fairly easy faces, and then work up to more difficult climbs. If you're brand new to the sport, Kathy will teach you the techniques needed to be successful. If you've climbed before, she'll move you along to the more challenging areas. A great bonus to the day was absorbing Kathy's knowledge of the area. Not everything marked on the Southern Illinois Board of Tourism map is worth seeing, and Kathy gives honest and accurate feedback on sites and activities in the area. Probably the best indicator of our wonderful experience is that at the end of our vacation to the Shawnee area, all 3 of our kids, ages 8-14, rated rock climbing with Vertical Heartland as the highlight of the trip. The web site is http://www.verticalheartland.com/VerticalHeartland.html

I had a wonderful experience with Kathy today. The advice was easy to understand and the views…read morewere beautiful. Kathy was very helpful and made me feel very comfortable. I could not believe I was climbing that high with such ease. Great fun!! Sandra Aiken Madisonville, KY 42431

We had the best time! They are closed on Tuesday and Wednesday but when asked if they would mind…read moreopening for us and they did! My son completed his 50th dive while at Mermet and they made him a sign! This is my third time at Mermet Springs and I am always blown away at how lovely their facilities are, the items under the water are well maintained, and just overall friendliness of staff. Sidenote, we saw so many paddlefish! Go to the suspended Cessna that's where they love to hang out

Instructors do a wonderful job of making first timers feel comfortable and both the gear and going…read moreinto the water

I cannot praise Carol and her bountiful land/ stables enough! I found her searching for local…read morelivery stables in the illinois area and feel so fortunate that I did! I have worked as a trail guide for a few stables near me and over time realized how awful the horses were treated and boarded that I became adamant about finding a place that advocated natural horsemanship. When I stumbled upon the website and saw the amount of land and trails through an unpaved forest she had available I immediately stopped reading and called. Carol answered and we had an almost hour conversation because she was so personable and kind-spirited. When I finally narrowed down a day to come ride, I drove 5 hours and felt every bit of it was worth it. All of her 21 horses are let out to pasture and graze the land freely. I could walk through a field with a heard of horses and be completely at peace with them and they with me. It was breath taking. She had a few saddled and ready to go when I came and we went for a 2 hour ride that took us through wild, magical woods to a waterfall and huge moss and mushroom covered bluffs. I couldn't believe I was in Illinois. I did not feel like I was on a livery horse ride either- I felt like the horse and I were on a journey together. We cantered, trotted, and walked at times that felt natural to both the horse and I. It was just beautiful- so much so the spider webs stopped bothering me and felt more like a right of passage into this sacred land. As if this experience weren't enough already, after the ride carol invited me to stay at the main Inn and I was deeply impressed. The rooms were well renovated and I truly feel like I had the best of both the culture and natural world. This is definitely my go-to place for when I need to return to nature and I look forward to the upcoming retreats she has scheduled!!!!

Family of 5 with two 8 year olds on their own horse. Everyone had a wonderful time. The ride was…read moregreat with up and down hills, mud, grassy areas and ravines. Scenery was excellent. Guided by a friendly young lady, Alexi. Definitely recommended for the family.