The Shawnee National Forest is made up of 289,000 acres of vast forests and wilderness areas, filled with impressive rock formations, lakes and rivers perfect for recreation, and a diverse range of plants and animals. Located between the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, and only a short drive from St. Louis, the Shawnee is easily accessible to a wide range of people all over the Midwest.
Over 10% of the forest is made up of designated wilderness areas, including Lusk Creek Wilderness, Burden Falls Wilderness, and Bald Knob Wilderness. These areas offer a more remote and rugged way to experience the Shawnee, perfect for backcountry camping or backpacking. Other activities enjoyed in the forest include horseback riding, biking, hunting, and scenic drives, which allow visitors to enjoy the views of the forest from the Ohio River National Scenic Byway.
Due to its unique landscapes and abundance of recreation opportunities, it is imperative that the Shawnee National Forest is protected and conservation efforts continue to be implemented, to allow visitors to enjoy the forest and all that it has to offer for years to come.
Garden of the Gods
Formed over 320 million years ago, the Garden of the Gods is the most popular hiking and recreation area in Shawnee National Forest, and it is not difficult to see why. The sandstone formations, created by years of exposure to wind and rain, offer scenic views unlike anything else in the forest. Some of the most famous formations include Camel Rock, Table Rock, and Devil’s Smokestack.
The ¼ mile observation trail leads to a historical vantage point, giving visitors a view of the Shawnee Hills and Garden of the Gods Wilderness.
Little Grand Canyon
Despite its modest name, Little Grand Canyon boasts a 365 foot climb from the bottom of the canyon to a view of the Big Muddy River and the Mississippi floodplain. Little Grand Canyon is known as a box canyon, which means that there are bluffs on three sides, allowing visitors to climb down into the canyon using one of its unique features, a natural rock staircase.
The 2.9 mile hike not only features picturesque views, this area of the forest is also home to many different species of wildlife, including deer, turkeys, and red-tailed hawks.
Pomona Natural Bridge
This formation is 90 feet long and a little over 8 feet wide at its widest point. This natural bridge is formed entirely out of sandstone, indicating that it was created by water rushing through the area long ago. While the trail is only about 0.3 miles long, it is family friendly and a great hike for anyone who wants to easily experience the beauty of Shawnee National Forest.
Wildlife in the Forest
More than 500 species of wildlife can be found in the forest, including five federally-listed threatened or endangered animals, and one possible candidate for listing. These include the Eastern massasauga rattlesnake (candidate for listing), the least tern, the Indiana bat, the gray bat, and the American burying beetle which are all endangered, and the bald eagle, which is threatened. Some more common species found in the forest include white-tailed deer, Northern bobwhite quail, and bobcats.
Threats to the Forest: Bell Smith Springs
According to the Shawnee Park & Climate Alliance, “much of the Shawnee is still being managed for the benefit of the timber industry.” This includes Bell Smith Springs and the surrounding area, a designated National Natural Landmark. Bell Smith Springs is a popular destination for hiking and birding. The trail system in this area, which consists of 8 miles of paths, takes visitors past rock formations such as Devil’s Backbone and Boulder Falls, and leads to creeks and pools perfect for swimming or cliff diving.
Even though this area is extremely important to the forest ecosystem and beloved by visitors, the Forest Service has proposed a logging project that includes 70 acres of land near Bell Smith Springs. This project would be implemented under Categorical Exclusion, which would allow up to 70 acres of land to be cleared without proper environmental analysis of the effects. A lawsuit has been filed by Friends of Bell Smith Springs (FOBSS) and Regional Association of Concerned Environmentalists (RACE), stating that Categorical Exclusion is not appropriate or necessary in this circumstance.
Thirty years ago, a similar project was introduced by the Forest Service, announcing 3,400 acres of logging in the area. This project was eventually shut down due to the efforts of RACE and a temporary restraining order, which then led to federal court order. This order shut down the project for 17 years.
Lusk Creek Wilderness and Illegal ATV Use
The Lusk Creek Wilderness Area, which is the largest wilderness area in the forest, is made up primarily of second-growth forest and is home to many hiking and equestrian trails. Although this area has been almost entirely roadless since 1990 when it was designated as a wilderness area, the Forest Service has proposed to reconstruct roads in the area, as well as construct new roads in place of illegal motorized vehicle paths that lead to private property in the area.
While these private property owners have been granted permits that allow them to use motorized vehicles to access their land, the gate that is supposed to keep unpermitted users out has remained unlocked, and an unnecessary network of ORV paths has been created.
When it is not monitored, ORV and ATV use can damage wildlife habitats and cause extensive erosion.
Authors
Ellen runs campaigns to protect America’s beautiful places, from local beachfronts to remote mountain peaks. She sits on the Steering Committee of the Arctic Defense Campaign and co-coordinates the Climate Forests Campaign. Ellen previously worked as the organizing director for Environment America’s Climate Defenders campaign and managed grassroots campaign offices across the country. Ellen lives in Denver, where she likes to hike in Colorado’s mountains.
Emily manages the marketing and public engagement strategy for Environment Illinois’s campaigns, including our campaign to protect the Great Lakes from plastic pollution. Emily lives in Chicago where she enjoys knitting and biking.
