Garden Of The Gods Wilderness is located in 
Saline, Pope, and Hardin Counties. 
The wilderness features an outstanding 
scenic views along with very unusual rock formations. 
Trails for hiking and equestrian use will 
take you by some indications of past use by people 
including homestead, fruit trees, cemeteries 
and abandoned roads. Being adjacent to the 
Garden of the Gods Observation Site, this 
wilderness is the most popular of Shawnee's 
Wilderness area's. Eagle Creek Special 
Land Management area (adjacent to Garden of the Gods) 
is designated to become a wilderness all its own. 
The Illinois Wilderness bill has designated Eagle 
Creek to become a Wilderness area in late November, 1998.

Size and History:

Garden of the Gods Wilderness was designated as a wilderness area 
by the Illinois Wilderness Act of 1990 (PL101-633)

3318 Total Acres. 3293 acres is National Forest System Land.
Eagle Creek Special Land Management Area, 722 acres.

Ranger Station:

Elizabethtown Ranger District
Rt. 2, P.O. Box 4
Elizabethtown, IL 62931
(618) 287-2201

Closest Medical Facility:

Harrisburg Medical Center
100 Hospital Dr. (P.O. Box 428)
Harrisburg, IL 62946
(618) 253-7671

Parking, Trail Heads and Directions:

Abundant parking at Pharoah Campground and Garden of the Gods Observation Site: 


State Hwy. 34 to Karbers Ridge Rd.. Then follow signs east.

Topo Maps Recommended:

Herod, Karbers Ridge