Free — you'll pick up right here.
Watch this trail
Sign up to watch it — saving subscribes you to gate, closure and report changes.
Illinois
Lusk Creek
8.3 mi
Distance
849 ft
Gain
2h 58m
Time
No verdict for this trail
We won't guess. Here is exactly what we do and don't know.
What we do know
Inside Shawnee National Forest
3 managing-area boundaries mapped — agency alerts for them feed this page automatically.
Boundary data
What's missing
No access route mapped
We don't yet know which road reaches this trailhead, so we can't tell you if it's gated.
Nobody's filed a report here yet — be the first.
Why you'll love it
Here's your day, mapped
Lusk Creek
AI-suggested draft · review before you go
Meals
Gear for the day
Elevation & route
- Distance
- 8.3 mi
- Elevation gain
- 849 ft
- Elevation loss
- 849 ft
- Highest point
- 773 ft
- Lowest point
- 464 ft
Photos
Directions & GPX
Permits & access
- Managing agency
- Forest Service
- Wilderness area
- Lusk Creek Wilderness
About this trail
Lusk Creek offers an 8.32-mile out-and-back journey through scenic creek-side terrain in southern Illinois. This moderate hike follows the creek valley with opportunities to observe the natural waterway and surrounding forest landscape. The out-and-back route allows hikers to turn back at any point while enjoying the peaceful creek environment.
Add to a trip & share
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Little Lusk Creek
~1 min drive
1.60-mile out-and-back trail at Little Lusk Creek in Illinois
Saltpeter Cave
~2 min drive
Saltpeter Cave is a 0.82-mile out-and-back trail in Illinois with 21 feet of elevation gain.
Lusk Creek Trail
~2 min drive
5.68-mile out-and-back trail in Illinois with 1,138 ft elevation gain
Little Lusk Creek
~2 min drive
3.76-mile out-and-back trail in Illinois with 694 ft elevation gain.
Bowed Tree
~2 min drive
Easy 2.11-mile out-and-back woodland walk in Illinois.
Wishing Well
~3 min drive
2.14-mile out-and-back trail in Illinois with 105 ft gain.
Indian Kitchen Trail
~4 min drive
3.02-mile out-and-back trail in Illinois with 233 ft elevation gain
Bear Branch
~3 min drive
Easy 2.78-mile out-and-back creek walk through Illinois woodland.
LUSK CREEK
~2 min drive
15.1-mile out-and-back trail in Illinois following Lusk Creek.
Barger Branch
~3 min drive
Barger Branch is a 3.78-mile out-and-back trail in Illinois with 302 feet of elevation gain.
