USDA Forest Service · Illinois
Pharoah Campground -Garden Of The Gods
USDA Forest Service · Illinois, United States
- Cost
- Overnight Use: Single Site: $10 per night
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Elevation
- 853 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- AT&T weak · Verizon weak · T-Mobile none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- GARDEN REC SITES RD (NFSR 163) · bituminous surface treatment · suitable for passenger cars
- Activities
- Bird Watching, Camping, Tent, Camping, Trailer, Hiking, Viewing Interpretive Signs, Viewing Scenery
About
US Forest Service campground. Pharoah Campground is within one of the most photographed locations in the state. Garden of the Gods' scenic beauty is extraordinary. In the recreation area you can hike, camp, nature watch or picnic. The nearby Observation Trail features unique sandstone rock formations and panoramic views of the surrounding Garden of the God Wilderness. Interpretive signs explain the geological history. The 1/4-mile trail is made of natural sandstone and takes about an hour to walk. It contains short, steep grades and steps; benches are located along the trail and as a whole the trail is not tiring. Caution should be used due to the high cliffs in the area. Campground is first come- first serve. No reservations. Amenities include: sites for small camping trailer: pop-up trailers and tents, Picnic tables, vault toilets, Drinking water centrally located in campground. Open season: year-round. Not reservable through Recreation.gov, so plan on first-come, first-served; check with the ranger district for current conditions and fees.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 40° | 27° | 3° | 67° | 10 of 11 |
| February | 46° | 29° | 1° | 70° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 58° | 39° | 18° | 79° | 7 of 11 |
| April | 67° | 49° | 30° | 84° | 2 of 11 |
| May | 78° | 61° | 44° | 89° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 85° | 68° | 54° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 87° | 71° | 63° | 94° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 84° | 70° | 62° | 95° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 83° | 65° | 52° | 94° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 67° | 50° | 35° | 83° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 55° | 39° | 12° | 76° | 3 of 10 |
| December | 45° | 32° | 9° | 65° | 9 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Saline County State Fish and Wildlife Area · Illinois State Parks · 6 mi
- Pine Ridge Campground-Pounds Hollow · USDA Forest Service · 6 mi
- Camp Cadiz Campground · USDA Forest Service · 8 mi
- Tower Rock Campground · USDA Forest Service · 13 mi
- Cave-In-Rock State Park · Illinois State Parks · 15 mi
All public campgrounds in Illinois · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-08-06. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.