Explore Shawnee Forest Country!
Surrounded by the Shawnee National Forest, and on the National Register of Historic Places, step back in time to Civil War days when “pig-iron” was smelted in the first charcoal-fired iron furnace in Illinois.
Unwind in the secluded valley where you can picnic, hike and swim in the “ole swimmin’ hole”.
A 1/2 mile trail leading from the back of the picnic area features bottomland habitat and bottomland tree species. The trail winds along Big Creek and offers 2 or 3 deep old-fashioned fishing holes.