Illinois · Hiking · Garden of the Gods Wilderness

Lower Trail

Lower TrailPhoto: Gary Lee Todd, Ph.D., Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)
1.5 mi
round trip
228 ft
climb
654 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov
best months

Is Lower Trail open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Shawnee National Forest. It doesn't name Lower Trail, 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.

Lower Trail is a short, easy hike in the Garden of the Gods Wilderness, part of the Hidden Springs Ranger District of Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is about 1.5 miles long, with a one-way elevation gain of 47 feet. It is an out-and-back route, and the climb is gentle, with the steepest stretch at about 0.4 miles in, where the grade reaches 9 percent. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Rosiclare show May highs around 75°F and October highs near 69°F, while July and August average about 86°F. The trail sits close to several other destinations. West Bluff Trail starts just 0.1 mile away, and the R-R Garden of the Gods Loop is about 0.4 mile off. Pharoah Campground -Garden Of The Gods is roughly 0.8 mile away. Paddlers can find Little Eagle Creek about 4.4 miles from the trail.

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

    Best time to visit Lower Trail

    Best months: March–June 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

      41° / 22°

      10 wet

    2. Feb

      46° / 25°

      9 wet

    3. Mar

      56° / 33°

      11 wet

    4. Apr

      68° / 43°

      11 wet

    5. May

      75° / 53°

      11 wet

    6. Jun

      83° / 62°

      9 wet

    7. Jul

      86° / 65°

      9 wet

    8. Aug

      86° / 63°

      8 wet

    9. Sep

      80° / 55°

      7 wet

    10. Oct

      69° / 43°

      8 wet

    11. Nov

      56° / 33°

      9 wet

    12. Dec

      45° / 26°

      10 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Rosiclare 5nw, IL, 9.4 mi away at 400 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

West Bluff TrailPhoto: Gary Lee Todd, Ph.D., Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)

West Bluff Trail

Next door

0.82-mile out-and-back hike in Illinois with 116 ft of elevation gain.

Indian Pt GogPhoto: Curtis Abert, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Indian Pt Gog

~1 min drive

3.36-mile loop trail in Illinois with 345 ft elevation gain.

Grand TrailPhoto: Curtis Abert, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Grand Trail

~7 min drive

3.25-mile out-and-back hike in Illinois with 432 ft gain.

HIKE

Adt - Illinois (South) - J - Seg 2

~8 min drive

A 117-mile point-to-point trail across southern Illinois.

Observation TrailPhoto: Gary Lee Todd, Ph.D., Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)

Observation Trail

Next door

0.44-mile loop trail in Illinois with 58 ft elevation gain.

Hart CreekPhoto: Curtis Abert, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Hart Creek

~8 min drive

5.14-mile out-and-back trail in Illinois with 395 ft elevation gain.

Pounds RidgePhoto: Curtis Abert, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Pounds Ridge

~9 min drive

3.63-mile out-and-back trail in Illinois with 622 ft gain and 691 ft loss.

N a TrailPhoto: Gary Lee Todd, Ph.D., Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)

N a Trail

~1 min drive

1.75-mile out-and-back trail in Illinois with 268 ft gain.

HIKE

Grindstaff Trail

~6 min drive

4.81-mile out-and-back trail in Illinois with 765 ft elevation gain.

R-R Garden of the Gods LoopPhoto: Gary Lee Todd, Ph.D., Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)

R-R Garden of the Gods Loop

Next door

8.86-mile out-and-back out-and-back in Illinois with 851 ft gain.