Hike The Garden Of The Gods In Illinois And Get Treated To A Breathtaking View

Once you get to the borders of Illinois the rolling hills suddenly turn into breathtaking bluffs that offer breathtaking views of the Land of Lincoln.

The Garden Of The Gods in the Shawnee National Forest is one of those spots. You have to travel to the southern tip of the state to enjoy this view, one of the most photographed in the state, but it's worth the drive.

The Garden of the Gods covers over 3,000 acres of land across the Shawnee Forest and is home to some of the most unique rock formations you'll ever see.

The Observation Trail isn't very long, only about a quarter mile. You'll travel over dirt trails, sandy beds, man-made stair cases, and natural rock formations along the way. The hike should take you about an hour.

Make sure you bring your phone along because you'll undoubtedly need to capture some of the spectacular views you'll come across to share on social media. These will get you at least 100 likes.

There are signs along the interpretative trail to explain to you what you're seeing along the trail.

One of the highlights of The Garden of the Gods Observation Trail is the Devil's Smokestack. A rock formation that resembles a plume of smoke rising up from the forest floor.

Just imagine what this will look like in the fall with the changing colors. Time to plan the trip.