Shawnee National Forest and Land Between the Lakes

During our trip to Kentucky for the total solar eclipse we made stops at Shawnee National Forest and Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. We specifically visited Garden of the Gods in the Shawnee National Forest. We were scouting out both places as potential locations to watch the eclipse. While neither ended up being a great place to view the eclipse, they are good places to visit if you’re in the area.

Shawnee National Forest – Garden of the Gods

If you remember we used Bowling Green, Kentucky as our base during our solar eclipse trip. We woke up early one morning and drove approximately 2.5 hours to Herod, Illinois. Kris read about the Shawnee National Forest and an area called Garden of the Gods. Garden of the Gods is one of the most photographed locations in the state of Illinois. It is known for Camel Rock, Devil’s Smoke Stack and Anvil Rock among other rock formations. Don’t confuse this with Colorado’s Garden of the Gods.

Observation Trail

We decided to hike the Observation Trail. This trail is a 0.5 mile, fairly easy, loop trail containing sandstone rock formations and extraordinary views of the wilderness below. The Observation Trail is open from 6 a.m.-10 p.m.  It was very crowded when we visited. However, I think the crowds were mostly related to the solar eclipse. We observed many people looking for the perfect rock to come back to the following day in hopes of getting a dramatic setting to view the eclipse.

The trail becomes more difficult if you decide to leave the main trail and explore the rock formations. Also, rocks along the trail could get slippery if wet. There are benches along the trail to stop for a rest. Use extra caution near the high cliffs, especially if you’re visiting with small children.

There is no cost to visit. This would make a great place for a picnic. You can learn more about the geology of the area by reading interpretive signs located on the trail.

Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area

Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area consists of 170,000 acres of forests, wetlands, and open lands. It is located on a peninsula between Kentucky and Barkley lakes in Western Kentucky and Tennessee. This family-friendly area offers camping, hiking, fishing, boating, picnicking, and wildlife viewing. There is no charge to stop at the Visitor Center. However, there is a $5/vehicle fee to drive through the Elk and Bison Prairie.

This 3.5 mile paved loop is supposed to be a good place to see elk and bison in their native habitat. I won’t lie. The Elk and Bison Prairie was disappointing. We saw two elk and not a single bison! I think I would have rather used my $5 for five items off the McDonald’s dollar menu. Though I did enjoy all of the wildflowers and prairie grasses. The map showed another area, the South Bison Range. There is no charge to view this area, and it was full of bison!

We didn’t have enough time to visit this area in its entirety. If we had more time we would have visited the Woodlands Nature Station, Homeplace 1850s Working Farm, and Golden Pond Planetarium and Observatory. I’d probably spend a lot of my weekends at Land Between the Lakes if I lived nearby.