Shawnee National Forest, Mantle Rock Nature Preserve and Cave-In-Rock State Park

Let's hope for some early fall color and spend the weekend in western Kentucky and southern Illinois. We'll meet Friday morning at the Mantle Rock Nature Preserve and hike the 2.75 mile loop where we'll see Mantle Rock which is 30' tall and spans approximately 190'. The Trail of Tears National Historic Trail is also part of the preserve.
After the hike we'll drive to the ferry and cross the Ohio River into Illinois at Cave-In-Rock where we can visit the cave that pirates once operated out of and episodes of the tv show Davy Crockett starring Fess Parker were filmed.

Saturday morning we'll meet/carpool at 9:00am CST at Rim Rock National Trail trailhead in Shawnee National Forest and hike appropriately 3.5 miles doing both the upper and lower trails. Next we'll drive a few miles to High Knob Trailhead and hike appropriately 3.5 miles along the River to River Trail to Garden of the Gods. When we arrive at Garden of the Gods we'll finish with the 1/4 mile observation trail which is what 99.9999999% of the people who visit come to see.

You're more than welcome to join me camping at Tower Rock Campground in Shawnee National Forest which sits along the Ohio River. It is a primitive campground with only four sites and a pit toilet. There is plenty of room for tents and perfect spacing for hammocks. I'll be there Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. The other nearby National Forest campgrounds DON'T have bathouses and are on a first come basis. I'm not sure about the campground at Cave-In-Rock State Park.

Post comments or questions or message me and I'll answer any questions.

Sorry but no pets.

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