Visitors Guide to Attractions
Union County, Illinois
The Shawnee National Forest dominates Union County and provides visitors with a number of places to get in touch with nature including LaRue-Pine Hills Research Natural Area, Trail of Tears State Forest, and the Union County State Fish & Wildlife Area. The Bald Knob Cross of Peace sits atop Bald Knob Mountain, the highest point in Southern Illinois that offers wonderful scenic views, particularly in the fall. History can be explored at Lincoln Memorial Park in Jonesboro, the site on e of the 1859 Lincoln Douglas debates or at the Union County Museum in Cobden.
Bald Knob Cross of Peace
Alto Pass, Illinois
The Bald Knob Cross of Peace was conceived in 1937 by Southern Illinois natives who wanted to create a place where people of various faiths could come together for worship. They chose a site atop Bald Knob Mountain, in the southern Illinois Ozarks, for the cross. But over the next five decades, the once glistening cross fell into disrepair. In 2009, new life was breathed into the organization and an effort mounted to raise the funds necessary to completely refurbish Bald Knob Cross of Peace and establish appropriate tourist information on the grounds, including a visitors center and picnic areas. Bald Knob Mountain is the highest point in Southern Illinois and offers wonderful views, particularly in the fall.
LaRue-Pine Hills
Wolf Lake, Illinois
As with many places in the Shawnee National Forest, the beauty we see today is rooted in its geologic history. At LaRue-Pine Hills it took millions of years to form its bedrock before nature’s erosive forces took over and created the 150-foot limestone bluffs that now rise out of the Mississippi floodplain. These massive bluffs extend roughly 5 miles along Highway 3 are as impressive today as they were to explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark in 1803. There are two hiking trails at LaRue-Pine Hills. The Inspiration Point is a 1/4 mile trail that leads to a rock pinnacle called Inspiration Point. White Pine Trail is a T-bone trail with stretches of 2 miles and 2 1/2 miles.
Lincoln Memorial Park
Jonesboro, Illinois
Lincoln Memorial Park in Jonesboro was the site of the third of seven debates between Abraham Lincoln and Steven A. Douglas for the 1858 Illinois U.S. Senate seat. There are two historical markers in the park. The oldest consists of a plaque set in stone between statues of Lincoln and Douglas. To mark the 150th anniversary celebration of the Lincoln Douglas Debates Jonesboro, dedicated life-sized statues of Lincoln and Douglas in what is now called Lincoln Memorial Park. The site also features picnic facilities and interpretive exhibits and is located next to the Shawnee National Forest's Mississippi Bluffs Ranger Station.
Trail of Tears State Forest
Jonesboro, Illinois
Trail of Tears State Forest is one of five Illinois' state forests in a system that was established to set aside lands for the growing of timber needed in production of forest products, for watershed protection and to provide outdoor recreation. The Forest consists of just over 5,000 acres and lies within the southern section of the Illinois’ Ozark Hills region, one of the most rugged landscapes in Illinois. The name is a memorial to the winter of 1838-39 forced migration of the Cherokee, Creek, and Chickasaw nations through the area. During the 1930s a Civilian Conservation Corps camp operated in the Forest constructing many of the stonework stabilization walls and log stone shelters within the picnic area and along the Forest roads. The park offers picnicking, camping, hiking, wildlife viewing and hunting opportunities.
Union County State Fish & Wildlife Area
Jonesboro, Illinois
The Union County State Fish & Wildlife Area was acquired by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources in the late 1940s and developed a wintering goose population in excess of 50,000 birds by 1964. The area encompasses 6,202 acres in the Lower Mississippi River bottomlands division of Illinois. Public use in the refuge is limited. Sightseeing and wildlife photography are permitted and the area is one of the few places in Illinois where so many wild geese can be closely observed and photographed in their natural habitat. Fishing is permitted from March 1 to October 15 on the area’s two lakes. Approximately 2,050 acres at the south end of the main site are designated as a Public Hunting Area.
Nearby Attractions
Jackson County, Illinois
The Shawnee National Forest also dominates Jackson County and the geological landscape provides a wealth of gems for visitors to choose from. Giant City State Park with its unique Makanda sandstone features is one of Illinois’ most popular parks and offers hiking, picnicking, hunting and fishing, rock climbing and rappelling, horseback riding, camping, and lodging. Hikers and wildlife enthusiasts will enjoy the Ponoma Natural Bridge and Little Grand Canyon areas. Jackson County’s three main lakes attract anglers because of their excellent fishing opportunities. History can be found at the General John A. Logan Museum in Murphysboro and the Mississippi River Museum in Grand Tower. A good view of Tower Rock, a small landmark limestone noted by early explorers such as Marquette and Joliet and the Corps of Discovery, also can be found at Grand Tower.
Alexander County, Illinois
Alexander County is the southernmost county in Illinois and is the site of the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. The rivers played a major role in the history of Alexander County and these aspects can be explored at the Cairo Custom House Museum and Magnolia Manor. Horseshoe Lake State Fish & Wildlife Area contains a 2,400 acre shallow oxbow lake which reminds visitors of the Deep South with its abundance of bald cypress, tupelo gum, swamp cottonwood trees, and wild lotus.
For Travelers Heading Up the River
French Colonial Country
Up river of the Meeting the Ohio River region is French Colonial Country. This five county area was heavily influenced by the French fur traders who inhabited the region from 1700 to 1840. Attractions include the town of Ste. Genevieve with the largest concentration of French Colonial architecture in North America, Forts de Chartre and Kaskaskia in Randolph County, and the Cahokia complex in St. Clair County.
For Travelers Heading Down the River
The Upper Delta of the Mississippi River
The cypress swamps associated with the southern Mississippi can be experienced at Wapanocca National Wildlife Refuge and Reelfoot Lake. New Madrid’s riverfront district has several interesting museums and historical sites. Although inland, the high country along Crowley's Ridge Parkway National Scenic Byway is actually the natural western boundary of the Mississippi and features a number of state parks.
