Illinois · Hiking

Shoreline

1.1 mi
round trip
389 ft
climb
442 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Mar–Apr, Sep–Nov
best months

Is Shoreline open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Shawnee National Forest. It doesn't name Shoreline, so check the source for the area it covers (3 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Shawnee National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Shoreline is an easy, short hike in the Mississippi Bluffs Ranger District of Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois, about 3 miles from the town of Dry Hill. The trail is an out-and-back of about a mile, with a total elevation gain of about 12 feet. It's a low-commitment outing, and the route is natural-surfaced. The trail is rated easy, and the climb is gentle. The steepest stretch comes early, at about 0.19 miles in, with a grade of about 8 percent. The high point is around 442 feet, and the low point is about 423 feet. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Carbondale show October highs around 70°F with lows near 45°F, and May highs around 77°F. Summer runs hotter, with July highs near 88°F. Horses are allowed on the trail, and bikes are not. Kinkade Lake North is just 0.2 miles away, and Kinkaid Lake Trail and Gum Ridge are each about 0.6 miles off. Johnson Creek Campground is about a mile away.

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

    Best time to visit Shoreline

    Best months: March–April 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

      42° / 25°

      9 wet

    2. Feb

      47° / 28°

      9 wet

    3. Mar

      57° / 36°

      11 wet

    4. Apr

      68° / 45°

      12 wet

    5. May

      77° / 55°

      14 wet

    6. Jun

      86° / 64°

      12 wet

    7. Jul

      88° / 67°

      12 wet

    8. Aug

      87° / 65°

      12 wet

    9. Sep

      81° / 56°

      11 wet

    10. Oct

      70° / 45°

      10 wet

    11. Nov

      56° / 35°

      10 wet

    12. Dec

      46° / 28°

      10 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Carbondale Southern Il Ap, IL, 15.5 mi away at 406 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

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

Kinkaid Lake Trail

~10 min drive

29.44-mile out-and-back trail in Illinois with 3,607 ft elevation gain/loss.

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

Little Grand Canyon

~22 min drive

2.22-mile out-and-back trail in Illinois with 406 ft elevation gain.

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

Little Grand Canyon

~23 min drive

3.64-mile out-and-back trail in Illinois with 1,255 ft elevation gain

River to River Segment 7 - Alto Pass to Devil's BackbonePhoto: USDAgov, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)

River to River Segment 7 - Alto Pass to Devil's Backbone

~25 min drive

21.12-mile point-to-point trail from Alto Pass to Devil's Backbone in Illinois

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

Fernlands Nature Trail

~31 min drive

0.88-mile out-and-back hike in Illinois with 112 ft elevation gain.

King HollowPhoto: Curtis Abert, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

King Hollow

~32 min drive

3.92-mile out-and-back trail in Illinois with 217 ft gain.

Adt - Illinois (South) - J - Seg 3Photo: USDAgov, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)

Adt - Illinois (South) - J - Seg 3

~25 min drive

114.57-mile point-to-point trail in Illinois with 521 ft elevation gain.

Inspiration PointPhoto: Curtis Abert, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Inspiration Point

~32 min drive

0.82-mile out-and-back trail in Illinois with 235 ft elevation gain.

HIKE

Kinkade Lake North

Next door

4.54-mile out-and-back trail at Kinkade Lake North in Illinois with 1,043 ft gain/loss

HIKE

Gum Ridge

~1 min drive

6.49-mile out-and-back trail in Illinois with 734 ft elevation gain