Illinois · Hiking · Near Goreville

North Bay Creek

North Bay CreekPhoto: Joe K Gage, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
4.0 mi
round trip
598 ft
climb
749 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov
best months

Caution at last check

Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is good · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 20 h ago

Is North Bay Creek open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Shawnee National Forest. It doesn't name North Bay Creek, 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.

North Bay Creek is a 4-mile out-and-back hike in the Hidden Springs Ranger District of Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois, managed by the Forest Service. The trail rises steadily from a low point of 576 feet to a high of 749 feet, with a total elevation gain of 598 feet over the round trip. The climb is steady, and the steepest stretch comes early, at about 0.2 miles in, with a grade of 9 percent. The route is on natural surface, and horses are allowed. Bikes are not. The hike is rated hard, and the trip is estimated to take about 1.5 hours. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Dixon Springs show October highs around 71°F with lows near 46°F, and May highs around 77°F. That station sits about 220 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures on the ridge run a little cooler. The Forge climbing area is less than a mile away, and the Bolton and Dog Leg hikes are within about 2 miles. Redbud Campground at Bell Smith Springs is also about 2 miles off.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Teal Pond Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 0.7 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Big Blue's BBQ

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 11 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

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

    Best time to visit North Bay Creek

    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

      43° / 25°

      8 wet

    2. Feb

      49° / 29°

      8 wet

    3. Mar

      59° / 37°

      9 wet

    4. Apr

      70° / 46°

      10 wet

    5. May

      77° / 56°

      10 wet

    6. Jun

      85° / 63°

      8 wet

    7. Jul

      88° / 66°

      7 wet

    8. Aug

      87° / 65°

      7 wet

    9. Sep

      82° / 57°

      6 wet

    10. Oct

      71° / 46°

      7 wet

    11. Nov

      57° / 37°

      8 wet

    12. Dec

      46° / 29°

      9 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Dixon Springs Agric Ctr, IL, 7.9 mi away at 527 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.