Illinois · Hiking

Gum Ridge

6.5 mi
round trip
1,101 ft
climb
670 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Mar–Apr, Sep–Nov
best months

Is Gum Ridge open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Shawnee National Forest. It doesn't name Gum Ridge, so check the source for the area it covers (3 listed).

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

Gum Ridge is a hard hike in Shawnee National Forest's Mississippi Bluffs Ranger District in southern Illinois, about 6.5 miles long and roughly 1,100 feet of total climb for the round trip. The trail is natural-surfaced and open to horses, and it is managed by the Forest Service. The route is an out-and-back that starts at about 506 feet and climbs to a high point of 670 feet. The steepest stretch comes at about 1.2 miles in, with a grade of 16 percent. The trail is rated hard, so plan on about 2.5 hours for the round trip. 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 a few hundred feet lower than the trail, so temperatures on the ridge run a little cooler. Kinkaid Lake Trail starts just 0.1 mile away, and Johnson Creek Campground and Deer Run Trail are each about half a mile off. Climbers can find Cemetery Wall about 4 miles away.

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

    Best time to visit Gum Ridge

    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, 15.2 mi away at 406 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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