Illinois · Rock climbing · Golconda

One Horse Gap

11 routes
V0 – V7
Bouldering
Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov
best months

Is One Horse Gap open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Shawnee National Forest. It doesn't name One Horse Gap, 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.

One Horse Gap is a bouldering area in Shawnee National Forest, within the Hidden Springs Ranger District in southern Illinois. The Forest Service manages the land, and the climbing here is all bouldering, with 11 routes ranging from V0 to V7. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Rosiclare run from highs around 68°F in April to about 69°F in October. Midsummer highs typically reach the mid-80s. Several other short hikes sit within a mile of the area, including Upper Gap and West Camp, and One Horse Gap Lake is about 0.7 miles away. Pharoah Campground, Garden of the Gods, is roughly 7 miles off.

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

    Best time to visit One Horse Gap

    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

      41° / 22°

      10 wet

    2. Feb

      46° / 25°

      9 wet

    3. Mar

      56° / 33°

      11 wet

    4. Apr

      68° / 43°

      11 wet

    5. May

      75° / 53°

      11 wet

    6. Jun

      83° / 62°

      9 wet

    7. Jul

      86° / 65°

      9 wet

    8. Aug

      86° / 63°

      8 wet

    9. Sep

      80° / 55°

      7 wet

    10. Oct

      69° / 43°

      8 wet

    11. Nov

      56° / 33°

      9 wet

    12. Dec

      45° / 26°

      10 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Rosiclare 5nw, IL, 4 mi away at 400 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (11)