B: Bull Area
- 6 routes
- V3 – V10
- Bouldering
- Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov
- best months
Is B: Bull Area open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Shawnee National Forest. It doesn't name B: Bull Area, so check the source for the area it covers (3 listed).
Bell Smith Springs Recreation Area temporarily closed due to road work
Agency closure covering Shawnee National Forest · USFS · Shawnee National Forest
Boil Water Order at Pharaoh Campground at Garden of the Gods
Agency closure covering Shawnee National Forest · USFS · Shawnee National Forest
McClure Road Closed
Agency closure covering Shawnee National Forest · USFS · Shawnee National Forest
Lane reduction on bridge near IL Iron Furnace
Agency alert covering Shawnee National Forest · USFS · Shawnee National Forest
Failing Culvert on Oakwood Bottoms Road FSR # 786
Agency alert covering Shawnee National Forest · USFS · Shawnee National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Shawnee National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
B: Bull Area is a climbing area in the Hidden Springs Ranger District of Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among a cluster of trails and climbing spots, with the A: Main Area and the Beaver Trail both about 0.1 mile away. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. 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. Pine Ridge-Pounds Hollow campground is about 0.7 mile away, and the Pounds Ridge hike is about a mile off. Little Eagle Creek, a canoeing spot, lies about 3.3 miles away, and Camp Cadiz Campground is about 3.5 miles away.
Beaver TrailHikingPhoto: Curtis Abert, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)0.1 mi- USFS Trail #187HikingPhoto: Curtis Abert, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)0.1 mi
- A: Main AreaRock climbing0.1 mi
- Pine Ridge-Pounds HollowCamping0.7 mi
Pounds RidgeHikingPhoto: Curtis Abert, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)1 mi- Little Eagle CreekCanoeing3.3 mi
- Camp Cadiz CampgroundCamping3.5 mi
- Pharoah Campground -Garden Of The GodsCamping6.2 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
- A: Main AreaRock climbing · Next door
- One Horse GapRock climbing · ~22 min drive
- The ForgeRock climbing · ~37 min drive
- Jackson FallsRock climbing · ~41 min drive
- Manky AlcoveRock climbing · ~41 min drive
- The DoorsRock climbing · ~41 min drive
- Royal Arches WallRock climbing · ~41 min drive
- North FallsRock climbing · ~41 min drive
- Snakes RoofRock climbing · ~41 min drive
- Dolphin Rock HallwayRock climbing · ~41 min drive
Best time to visit B: Bull Area
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.
Jan
41° / 22°
10 wet
Feb
46° / 25°
9 wet
Mar
56° / 33°
11 wet
Apr
68° / 43°
11 wet
May
75° / 53°
11 wet
Jun
83° / 62°
9 wet
Jul
86° / 65°
9 wet
Aug
86° / 63°
8 wet
Sep
80° / 55°
7 wet
Oct
69° / 43°
8 wet
Nov
56° / 33°
9 wet
Dec
45° / 26°
10 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Rosiclare 5nw, IL, 12.9 mi away at 400 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
