With hundreds of miles in hiking trails to choose from, many people may not know where to start. Many trails in the Shawnee National Forest are only seen by backpackers and not by casual day hikers. As a result many features throughout the area remain relatively unknown, and there are many shorter trails ideally laid out for the casual hiker. The five trails below were chosen for being accessible to major roads, easy to moderate difficulty, well-marked and maintained, short in length and of course letting the visitor experience a truly unique part of southern Illinois. So, if you do not have the time to 'rough it' on one the longer trails, fill up the gas tank grab some hiking shoes and take in these places. You will find directions to these areas, maps and additional information within this site. #1 Observation Trail in Garden of the Gods This extremely short trail gives visitors a glimpse of some of the best natural features in Illinois. Camel Rock, the most well-known rock formation in southern Illinois which has become a symbol for the area, can be seen on this trail. #2 Pomona Natural Bridge Chances are good that you will have this natural wonder nearly all to yourself. This short trail leads to a 90 foot natural bridge hidden away deep in the forest south of Carbondale. The walk back to the parking lot is uphill, but benches are along the trail should you need to take a breather. #3 Heron Pond in the Cache River State Natural Area Another short trail which is almost entirely flat takes visitors into a Cypress tree forest near the banks of the Cache River. A boardwalk leads out over the swamp. A wide variety of birds and reptiles can be heard and maybe seen here. Mosquito repellant is a necessity here, especially during the spring and summer months. #4 The Nature Trail at Giant City State Park This trail is very popular during the summer months for good reason. In one of the most popular state parks, it takes visitors through some of the best sandstone formations in southern Illinois. The park got its name from the 'buildings and streets' made up by the narrow passages between the sandstone boulders and bluffs.  Also not to miss are the numerous pioneer names and dates engraved on the sandstone here dating from the 1800's to the early 1900's. #5 Sand Cave Although it is off the beaten path, this relatively easy trail takes you to the largest sandstone cave in North America.