Shawnee National Forest · Illinois

New Gog - Karbers Ridge

8.3 mi of trail, end to end · native material surface · trail No. 001E8 · trail class 1 · typical grade 5-8% · tread 18-24 inches wide · hiking, horse

Begins at the forest's mile 0, 37.5746, -88.4412 - no trailhead mapped Drive to where the trail begins

Garden of the Gods Recreation Area the Forest Service's write-up

Campsite $10/night - 8 people & 2 vehicle max. Payment cash or check only. · reservation required · season Year-round to

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 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.

Garden of the Gods Brochure and Map

Restrictions <ul><li>Overnight parking allowed at Backpacker&#39;s Parking Lot&nbsp;<strong>only&nbsp;</strong>(Indian Point Trailhead).</li><li>Pets are allowed only on a leash.</li><li>Picnic areas and Observation Trail are open 6am-10pm.</li><li>Use trash receptacles where available. Pack It In, Pack It Out while on trails.</li><li>Camp only at designated sites in the campground.</li><li>Disposable food and beverage containers are not permitted on the Observation Trail.</li><li>Stay on the designated trail and leave the beauty of the rocks and plants for others to enjoy.</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.