Horseshoe Lake Conservation Area (Alexander County)

This area is known for its large stands of tupelo, swamp cottonwood and cypress trees. Also known for its Canadian goose and bald eagle observation vantage point during the fall and winter.

CITY: Miller City

Ferne Clyffe State Park

Features fascinating plants and geologic formations of the scenic Shawnee Hills. Trails wind past interesting sites such as intermittent waterfalls and the largest shelter bluff in southern Illinois.

CITY: Goreville

Doctorman's Cache Core Hunting Preserve

Upland game bird hunting from Oct. 1 - April. Dogs & guide service available. Located 3 miles west of Jct. Hwy. 37 & Hwy. 169, or, 4 miles east of I-57 just off Shawnee College Road.

CITY: Ullin

Ohio River Recreational Area

RV campground with bathhouse, boat ramp and country store. Restaurant and lodge also on site.

CITY: Grand Chain

Lake Glendale Beach & Campground

Beautiful beach located on the shore of an 80 acres lake in the heart of the Shawnee National Forest. Beach open Memorial Day-Labor Day, 7 days a week. Concessions available

CITY: Glendale

Cedar Ridge Whitetails, LLC

Trophy whitetail hunts in scenic Southernmost IL. Hunts are offered September 15th through December. The farm consists of mature timber, pine and cedar thickets, thick draws and open area food plots. All hunts are with an experienced guide.

CITY: Karnak

Eagle Watching - Union County Refuge

The Union County Refuge in Union offers a popular spot for bald eagle watching. Visitors can view bald eagles and take wildlife photography off the main road, which runs down the middle of the wildlife refuge. Park rangers will be available weekdays to answer questions about the eagles and other wildlife spotted in the refuge. Admission is free. For more information on eagle watching, contact the Union County Refuge (618-833-5175).

CITY: Jonesboro

Horseshoe Lake Hiking/Biking Trail

A 5.5 mile trail that takes in the beauty of Horseshoe Lake. Bike rental is available at Melton's on East Side Dr. 618-776-5504. Horseshoe Lake is just east of IL Rt 3 in Alexander Co, 7 miles north of Cairo.

CITY: Olive Branch

Honey Bee Stables

Ride the beautiful countryside. See the back roads and enjoy the Shawnee National forest with scenic bluffs, hardwood trees, seasonal flowers, wildlife, streams, waterfalls and rock formations. Specializing in all day and 1/2 day guided trail rides with picnic lunch included. Romantic rides for couples. Equestrian Vacations. All rides are private and guided. You will find that our experienced trail guide will go out of their way to ensure that you have a pleasant and memorable experience. There is no better way to see nature then from the back of a horse. The Shawnee National Forest offers miles of equestrian trails with different terrains and spectacular scenery. Ride through creeks and streams. See magnificent rock formations, waterfalls, and bluffs where the view is awe-inspiring. Explore the Shawnee Hills. Your guide will point out interesting places and facts along the ride.

CITY: Cobden

Fragrant Fields

This 20-year-old herb and perennial plant nursery offers more than 200 varieties of common and uncommon plants. Sip a glass of lemonade as you view the gardens, feed the catfish in the pond and shop for garden items.

CITY: Dongola

Gambit Golf Course

This championship par 71 golf course, designed by Richard Osborne, snakes through meadows and woodlands. The Gambit features the area's only indoor practice center, with two state-of-the-art golf simulators and a nine-hole practice green.

CITY: Vienna

Fort Defiance Park

Fort Defiance, known as Camp Defiance during the American Civil War, is a former military fortification, located at the awesome confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. The site offers visitors the chance to view the confluence from the old observation tower.

CITY: Cairo

Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge

Visit Illinois’ bayou. Yes, the bayou in Illinois. Cypress Creek Wildlife Refuge is home to incredible cypress-filled swamps and wetlands and is unlike anything you expect to find in the Midwest. The refuge protects 15,000 acres of lush wetlands and some of the oldest living trees east of the Mississippi River.

CITY: Ullin

Ohio River Scenic Byway

The 188-mile scenic route begins at the Wabash Memorial Bridge in Gallatin County and ends at Fort Defiance Park in historic Cairo. Sights along the way include the Garden of the Gods, Cave-in-Rock, Elizabethtown, the quaint river town of Golconda, and Metropolis, the home of Superman.

CITY: Metropolis

Lincoln-Douglas Statues

Located at Lincoln Memorial Park, visitors can "Walk Where Lincoln Walked" by following the presidents footsteps from Jonesboro Square to the park.

CITY: Jonesboro

Cache River Wetlands Center

The Wetlands Center provides a one-stop shop for information about the Cache River Wetlands and its recreational and educational opportunities. The center has an extensive natural and cultural history exhibit, wildlife viewing, trails and a video.

CITY: Cypress

Southern Illinois Wine Trail

Illinois' newest wine trail connects six wineries dotted throughout the southeast corner of the state. Visitors can enjoy both breathtaking vistas and friendly rural communities, all while sampling excellent red and white wines.

CITY: Vienna

Cache River State Natural Area

Nationally renowned for its ancient cypress-tupelo swamp, this natural area contains 100 threatened or endangered plant and animal species, and 11 state champion trees. Visitors enjoy birding, hunting, wildlife watching, and hiking. Bikers can access the Cache River via the Tunnel Hill State Trail.

CITY: Belknap

Mermet Springs

Scuba dive at this unique spring-fed stone quarry and marvel at underwater treasures such as a submerged airplane (actually used in the movie U.S. Marshals) and a cement petting zoo. Mermet Springs offers on-site instruction and equipment rental.

CITY: Belknap

Tunnel Hill State Trail

This scenic 45-mile-long hiking and biking trail runs along a converted rail bed through farmland, hills/bluffs and bottomland areas.The trail passes through the Shawnee National Forest and Cache River State Natural Area, with railroad trestles and an old train tunnel as picturesque markers along the way.

CITY: Vienna