Trail of Tears Campground
Campground
Campground · 3.5 mi from the trail
Illinois · Hiking · Near Goreville
Iron Mountain
- 2.3 mi
- round trip
- 560 ft
- climb
- 703 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Mar–May, Sep–Nov
- best months
Is Iron Mountain open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Shawnee National Forest. It doesn't name Iron Mountain, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).
Boil Water Order at Pharaoh Campground at Garden of the Gods
Agency closure covering Shawnee National Forest · USFS · Shawnee National Forest
McClure Road Closed
Agency closure covering Shawnee National Forest · USFS · Shawnee National Forest
Lane reduction on bridge near IL Iron Furnace
Agency alert covering Shawnee National Forest · USFS · Shawnee National Forest
Failing Culvert on Oakwood Bottoms Road FSR # 786
Agency alert covering Shawnee National Forest · USFS · Shawnee National Forest
Trail Segment Closed - Lincoln Memorial
Agency alert covering Shawnee National Forest · USFS · Shawnee National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Shawnee National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Iron Mountain is an easy out-and-back hike in Shawnee National Forest's Mississippi Bluffs Ranger District in southern Illinois. The trail is about 2.3 miles long, with a high point of 703 feet and a low of 586 feet, giving it a total elevation gain of about 156 feet. It is an all-natural-surface route and is managed by the Forest Service. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Anna run to highs around 71°F in April and 73°F in October, while July highs average about 90°F. The hike is open year-round, and horses are allowed. Bikes are not. The closest neighbor is Kaolin Trail, about half a mile away, with Clear Creek for canoeing about 1.4 miles off. Climbers can find Alto Pass about 3.4 miles away, and Pine Hills Campground lies about 6 miles from the trail.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after Havisham Bourbon Bar
Bar
On your way back · 4 miIf it rains
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors
More in GorevilleBest time to go · Mar–May, Sep–Nov
Best time to visit Iron Mountain
Best months: March–May 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.
Jan
45° / 25°
9 wet
Feb
50° / 29°
8 wet
Mar
61° / 37°
10 wet
Apr
71° / 46°
11 wet
May
79° / 56°
12 wet
Jun
87° / 65°
9 wet
Jul
90° / 69°
8 wet
Aug
89° / 67°
7 wet
Sep
83° / 59°
7 wet
Oct
73° / 48°
9 wet
Nov
59° / 37°
10 wet
Dec
48° / 30°
10 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Anna 2 Nne, IL, 5 mi away at 640 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
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Route details
- Distance
- 2.3 mi round trip
- Climbing
- About 560 ft
- Summit
- 709 ft
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- About 1.5 hours
Season
Season: Year-round.
Questions about this route
How long is the Iron Mountain on Iron Mountain?
About 2.3 mi round trip.
How much elevation gain is on the Iron Mountain?
About 560 ft of climbing round trip.
How hard is the Iron Mountain?
It is rated easy.
How long does the Iron Mountain take?
About 1.5 hours round trip.
When is the best time for the Iron Mountain?
Year-round.
Conditions and forecast on Iron Mountain
Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at the summit and route start for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.
