Illinois · Hiking · Near Goreville

River to River Loop

1.7 mi
round trip
482 ft
climb
801 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov
best months

Is River to River Loop open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Shawnee National Forest. It doesn't name River to River Loop, 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.

The River to River Loop is a 1.65-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 is rated hard, with a total climb of about 480 feet and a steepest stretch of about 8% at roughly 0.76 miles in. The trail is natural-surface and allows horses, but not bikes. The route starts and ends at about 580 feet, rising to about 800 feet before returning. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show October highs around 71°F with lows near 46°F, and May highs around 77°F. That station sits a few hundred feet lower than the trail, so temperatures on the loop run a little cooler. The Dutchman hike starts just 0.1 mile away, and North Bear Branch is about half a mile off. Lusk Creek, a canoeing spot, is about 3 miles away, and Redbud Campground at Bell Smith Springs is about 5 miles away.

Around this trail

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

    Bear Branch Horse Resort

    Campground

    Campground · 0.8 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Big Blue's BBQ

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 16 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

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

    Best time to visit River to River Loop

    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, 8.2 mi away at 527 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.