Turkey Bayou
Campground
Campground · 4.8 mi from the trail
Illinois · Bouldering · Pomona · Near Goreville
The Fridge
- V5-6
- grade
- Bouldering Pads
- style
- Mar–Apr, Sep–Nov
- best months
Is The Fridge open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Shawnee National Forest. It doesn't name The Fridge, 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.
One of the harder problems at Shawnee Solitaire, where the catalogued climbs span from V3-4 to V6.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after Havisham Bourbon Bar
Bar
On your way back · 5 miIf it rains
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors
More in Goreville- Nearby · Pomona Bottoms / potential · A: Gill Roof · Devils Standtable Area
Best time to go · Mar–Apr, Sep–Nov
Best time to visit The Fridge
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.
Jan
42° / 25°
9 wet
Feb
47° / 28°
9 wet
Mar
57° / 36°
11 wet
Apr
68° / 45°
12 wet
May
77° / 55°
14 wet
Jun
86° / 64°
12 wet
Jul
88° / 67°
12 wet
Aug
87° / 65°
12 wet
Sep
81° / 56°
11 wet
Oct
70° / 45°
10 wet
Nov
56° / 35°
10 wet
Dec
46° / 28°
10 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Carbondale Southern Il Ap, IL, 10.4 mi away at 406 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Photo of the crag
Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive
Photo: Mrostrichman, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Pomona Bottoms / potential
Next door
Pomona Bottoms / potential in Illinois has 8 climbing routes on 6 difficulty grades.
Photo: Kbh3rd, CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)A: Gill Roof
~15 min drive
19-route climbing area in Illinois with bouldering, sport, and trad options.
Photo: Kbh3rd, CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Devils Standtable Area
~15 min drive
Devils Standtable Area is a climbing crag in Illinois with 2 routes.
Photo: Kbh3rd, CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)C: Amphitheater Boulders
~15 min drive
7 bouldering routes with pads in Illinois.
CLIMB
Main Amphitheater
~4 min drive
Main Amphitheater in Illinois has 7 mixed climbing routes.
CLIMB
The Dugout
~4 min drive
Crag in Illinois with 5 routes spanning 5 difficulty grades.
CLIMB
Moon Rock
~4 min drive
Moon Rock in Illinois has 5 climbing routes ranging across 4 difficulty grades.
CLIMB
Cove Hollow
~4 min drive
Cove Hollow in Illinois has 3 climbing routes with bouldering and sport options.
CLIMB
Y: The Sinkhole
~7 min drive
Y: The Sinkhole is a bouldering area in Illinois with 11 routes.
CLIMB
U: Vultures Nest Boulders
~8 min drive
6 bouldering routes in Illinois, 5 difficulty grades.
