Illinois · Rock climbing · Simpson · Near Goreville

Black Sheep Boulder

6 routes
5.10b – 5.12a/b
Sport
Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov
best months

Is Black Sheep Boulder open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Shawnee National Forest. It doesn't name Black Sheep Boulder, 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.

Black Sheep Boulder is a climbing area in the Hidden Springs Ranger District of Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois. The Forest Service manages the land, and the boulders sit among other climbing spots and trails, making the surrounding area a compact destination for a day of rock and walking. The area holds six sport routes, all rated between 5.10b and 5.12a/b. The easiest are The Good and The Ugly, both 5.10b, and the hardest is What John Payne Doesn't Know at 5.12a/b. Touch My Shelf and Energizer, both 5.12a, offer the stiffest tests. The routes were established from the 1990s onward, and several of the names, including The Bad, The Good and The Ugly, take a thematic approach. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to climb. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show October highs around 71°F and May highs near 77°F, while July highs reach about 88°F. Several other destinations lie within a short distance. Battle Axe Tower and The Gallery are climbing areas about 0.1 mile away, and Middle Falls is a hike just as close. Redbud Campground - Bell Smith Springs, about 2 miles off, is the closest place to camp.

Around this trail

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

    Primitive Campsite Jackson Falls

    Campground

    Campground · 0.3 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Subway

    Fast food

    Open after 6
  • If it rains

    Water Fall

    Attraction

    In town

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

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

    Best time to visit Black Sheep Boulder

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

Routes (6)