Illinois · Hiking

Fountain Bluff

2.2 mi
loop
374 ft
climb
689 ft
high point
Loop
route
Mar–Apr, Sep–Nov
best months

Is Fountain Bluff open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Shawnee National Forest. It doesn't name Fountain Bluff, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Shawnee National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Fountain Bluff is a 2.2-mile loop hike in the Mississippi Bluffs Ranger District of Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois, managed by the Forest Service. The trail rises to a high point of 689 feet, with a total elevation gain of 374 feet, and the climb is front-loaded, with the steepest stretch at about 0.25 miles in. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Carbondale show October highs around 70°F with lows near 45°F, and May highs around 77°F. That station sits about 280 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures on the bluff run a little cooler. The route is rated easy and takes about an hour. Horses are allowed, and the trail surface is natural. Bikes are not. The climb is short and the loop makes it easy to turn around. Climbers will find The Beach and E: The Wasteland about 0.2 miles away, and C: Picnic Boulders about half a mile off. For more hiking, River to River Segment 7 - Alto Pass to Devil's Backbone lies about 2.3 miles away.

  • Best time to go · Mar–Apr, Sep–Nov

    Best time to visit Fountain Bluff

    Best months: March–April and September–November. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      42° / 25°

      9 wet

    2. Feb

      47° / 28°

      9 wet

    3. Mar

      57° / 36°

      11 wet

    4. Apr

      68° / 45°

      12 wet

    5. May

      77° / 55°

      14 wet

    6. Jun

      86° / 64°

      12 wet

    7. Jul

      88° / 67°

      12 wet

    8. Aug

      87° / 65°

      12 wet

    9. Sep

      81° / 56°

      11 wet

    10. Oct

      70° / 45°

      10 wet

    11. Nov

      56° / 35°

      10 wet

    12. Dec

      46° / 28°

      10 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Carbondale Southern Il Ap, IL, 16 mi away at 406 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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HIKE

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