Of hundreds in the U.S.A., eight special spots delight the nature lover in Southern Illinois. ,p> The National Natural Landmarks program was established in 1962 to recognize and encourage the conservation of outstanding examples of the United States’ natural history. The Secretary of the Interior designates the landmarks, and to date fewer than 600 sites have been designated. Of those 600, eight are located within or very near the Shawnee National Forest.
Jackson Falls is a natural waterfall located in the Shawnee National Forest. Throughout the year, it is a wonderful place to visit and take in all of its beauty.
Jackson Falls is located near the town of Ozark, IL, which is 40 miles east of Carbondale, IL and 40 miles north of the Kentucky border.
Michael Blank’s face becomes animated as he talks about where he has been and what he has done — especially when the stories involve a bit of mischief.
Blank, who owns a root beer saloon located in the remote hills of the Shawnee National Forest, has no shortage of mischievous tales. The Root Beer Saloon is located in Alto Pass, IL
Tucked away in the back country of southern Illinois, the Duck Inn is known to locals as a meeting place whether young or old.
Outside of taking care of patrons, Donna Cavness has a whole barnyard of animals in the back of her establishment, including a pot bellied pig and chickens that have full reign of the place.
Chocolate makes the world go round, and Linda Meherg helps one drop at a time. Traveling down Route 146 towards Golconda it is hard to pass by without stepping foot inside.
The Golconda Chocolate Factory is located on Route 146 outside Golconda, Ill. across from Dixon Spring State Park in the heart of the Shawnee National Forest.
In the fall class, filmmaker Chris Williams asked Rev. Steven McKeown to give his take on the how the 110-foot-cross will never be neglected again... and during the spring, photojournalist Suzanne Caraker visited the shelled structure to capture the 73rd Bald Knob Easter Sunrise Service.
Take a closer look at the life and elements that surround this natural structure in the Shawnee National Forest. The bridge is 25 feet above a seasonal stream, spans 90 feet, and is about 8 feet thick covered in vegetation.
This natural bridge is made of sandstone, a fairly soft and erodible bedrock. The arch was made by water erosion.
Shawnee Chief Tecumseh leaves impression, bronze sculpture in National Forest.
The Shawnee National Forest takes its name from the Shawnee Indians. Purchased as two separate units of land in the early 1930s. It was declared a natural conservation area by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in September 1939. The Shawnee tribe had a long history in southern Illinois.
Of hundreds in the U.S.A., eight special spots delight the nature lover in Southern Illinois. ,p> The National Natural Landmarks program was established in 1962 to recognize and encourage the conservation of outstanding examples of the United States’ natural history. The Secretary of the Interior designates the landmarks, and to date fewer than 600 sites have been designated. Of those 600, eight are located within or very near the Shawnee National Forest. 
Jackson Falls is a natural waterfall located in the Shawnee National Forest. Throughout the year, it is a wonderful place to visit and take in all of its beauty.
Michael Blank’s face becomes animated as he talks about where he has been and what he has done — especially when the stories involve a bit of mischief.
View a slidehow on how to learn rock climbing at the popular Draper's Bluff.
Tucked away in the back country of southern Illinois, the Duck Inn is known to locals as a meeting place whether young or old.
Chocolate makes the world go round, and Linda Meherg helps one drop at a time. Traveling down Route 146 towards Golconda it is hard to pass by without stepping foot inside. 
In the fall class, filmmaker Chris Williams asked Rev. Steven McKeown to give his take on the how the 110-foot-cross will never be neglected again... and during the spring, photojournalist Suzanne Caraker visited the shelled structure to capture the 73rd Bald Knob Easter Sunrise Service.
Take a closer look at the life and elements that surround this natural structure in the Shawnee National Forest. The bridge is 25 feet above a seasonal stream, spans 90 feet, and is about 8 feet thick covered in vegetation.
Shawnee Chief Tecumseh leaves impression, bronze sculpture in National Forest. 