Shawnee National Forest · Illinois

Bell Smith Springs

7.3 mi of trail, end to end · native material surface · trail No. 431 · trail class 2 · typical grade 10-12% · tread 18-24 inches wide · hiking

Begins at the forest's mile 0, 37.5243, -88.6596 - no trailhead mapped Drive to where the trail begins

Bell Smith Springs Recreation Area the Forest Service's write-up

Campsites $15/night - 8 people & 2 vehicles max. Payment cash or check only. · reservation required

Bell Smith Springs is one of the most beautiful recreation areas the Shawnee National Forest has to offer. It contains a series of clear, rocky streams and scenic canyons bordered by high sandstone cliffs and an abundance of vegetation unique to Illinois. The trail system consists of eight miles of interconnected trails featuring strange and wonderful rock formations, such as Devil's Backbone, Boulder Falls and a natural rock bridge. Hiking this system of trails is a favorite activity because of the rock features, scenic overlooks, hidden springs and lush flora and fauna.

Bell Smith Springs brochure/map

Restrictions <ul><li><a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5362963.pdf">Forest Order </a>is in place that prohibits possessing any food or beverage glass containers in the Bell Smith Springs Recreation Area, excluding the Redbud Campground. (persuant 36 CFR 261.58cc)</li><li>Pets are allowed only on a leash.</li><li>Stay on the designated trails.</li><li>Use trash receptacles. Pack It In, Pack It Out rules apply to the entire trail system.</li><li>Camp only at designated sites in the campground.</li><li>No camping allowed in Natural Area.</li><li>No horseback riding is allowed in the day-use areas.</li></ul>

This hike on fs.usda.gov

Every trail in Shawnee National Forest

All 277 trails in Shawnee National ForestFind a trailForest on fs.usda.gov

About this trail's facts

The lines are the US Forest Service's National Forest System trails layer (public domain), read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end, and the class, surface, grade and tread width are the forest's own entries where it publishes them - a forest that publishes the centreline alone has none. The trailheads and the points along the way are the Service's recreation points, and the write-ups its own recarea text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the forest's own site before you go.