Garden of the Gods (Chicago, Savanna: camping, vacation, car)

[dtcbnd03]

Took a brief road trip and stopped off in Garden of the Gods Wilderness near Herod, IL. Wow what an amazing landscape! You can park your car right near the quarter mile trail and walk out on the rocks to peer over the cliffs. Shawnee National Forest has some really cool areas. I recommend walking some of the long trails at the base of the cliffs first and then doing the quarter mile loop of the cliffs so that way you reward yourself at the end with the amazing views.

[ChicagoMeO]

I've been there and it is beautiful! we didn't camp there. But driving thru and the drive from Chicago is nice too!

also you might like Mississippi Palisades over on the very northwest side of Illinois, south of Galena. The bluffs are amazing!!! you stand a few feet from the cliff/bluffs and you see a huge panoramic view of the area down below. also you can drive or walk up and down the bluffs. We took Route 64 all the way from Chicago, and then when you get almost to the Iowa border, you go north a bit and voila. Camping nearby in Savannah, Illinois.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by dtcbnd03

Took a brief road trip and stopped off in Garden of the Gods Wilderness near Herod, IL. Wow what an amazing landscape! You can park your car right near the quarter mile trail and walk out on the rocks to peer over the cliffs. Shawnee National Forest has some really cool areas. I recommend walking some of the long trails at the base of the cliffs first and then doing the quarter mile loop of the cliffs so that way you reward yourself at the end with the amazing views.

Glad you enjoyed, however, the bugs are absolutely brutal in most of those areas. Ticks are especially bad, for some so be prepared with all full hiking gear. I prefer to vacation in areas of the country where bugs aren't an issue most of the year, the colder the better.