Shawnee National Forest · Illinois

Cedar Lake Trail

1.6 mi of trail, end to end · native material surface · trail No. 383 · trail class 1 · typical grade 10-12% · tread 18-24 inches wide · hiking, horse

Begins at the forest's mile 0, 37.6236, -89.3116 - no trailhead mapped Drive to where the trail begins

Cedar Lake the Forest Service's write-up

season Year-round to

The shores of this 1,750-acre lake is lined with forests and colorful bluffs. National forest land encompasses the south end of the lake and provides one of the most tranquil water settings in the Shawnee National Forest.

The clear blue waters beckon all types of water activities with fishing, kayaking, paddling and swimming (north end only) being the most popular. During the winter and spring is a great time of year to view the sheer bluff along the shores. In autumn the fall colors are spectacular. The extensive trail system leads hikers, equestrians, and mountain bikers through lush forests and to bluffs overlooking the lake.

Cedar Lake brochure/map

Restrictions <ul><li>Watercraft motors restricted to 10 hp.</li><li>Pets are allowed only on a leash.</li><li>Stay on the designated trail and pack out your trash.</li><li>No fee to primitive camp in this area; Set up campsite at least 150 feet from trails, trailheads and lakes or streams.</li><li>Camping allowed up to 14-days continuous stay away from trails and parking lot.</li><li>Drown campfires completely and naturalize your campsite by practicing <a href="http://www.lnt.org">Leave No Trace</a> Outdoor Ethics.</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.