Garden of the Gods Wilderness

Garden of the Gods Wilderness is a protected area in southern Illinois covering more than 3,300 acres of sandstone formations, cliffs, and forested terrain within the Shawnee National Forest. The sandstone outcrops rise above the surrounding forest canopy, forming natural observation platforms overlooking rolling hills and valleys in all directions.

The sandstone bed that forms the current landscape was created during the Carboniferous period, approximately 300 million years ago, and remained untouched by glaciers.

The sandstone formations received names reflecting their shapes, such as Camel Rock, which was featured on the 2016 America the Beautiful quarter series.

Marked trails with flagstone pavers and wooden steps lead between the rock formations making the observation points accessible to most visitors. Interpretive signs along the paths explain the geological features and the natural processes that shaped this landscape.

The terrain contains numerous hoodoos and erosion patterns that create distinctive rock formations, making it the most visited wilderness area in Illinois.

Location: Illinois

Inception: 1990

Operator: United States Forest Service

GPS coordinates: 37.60690,-88.39470

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:31