Illinois
River to River Trail
About this riding route
The River to River Trail runs 160 miles across southern Illinois from the Ohio River to the Mississippi, and the eastern section through the Shawnee Hills is the scenic heart of it. Garden of the Gods, with its weathered sandstone bluffs, sits directly on the route. This is not the flat Illinois people expect. The Shawnee Hills escaped the last glaciation, so the terrain is steep, rocky and cut with hollows.
The Shawnee National Forest crossing, Camp Cadiz west past Garden of the Gods to One Horse Gap.
Highlights
What earns the trip
- Garden of the Gods, the best-known sandstone formation in Illinois
- One Horse Gap, a natural rock passage the trail runs through
- Camp Cadiz has a small campground right on the trail
- Unglaciated hill country, unlike the rest of the state
Stops
- 1
Camp Cadiz Campground
Trailside campground at the east end of the section.
- 2
Garden of the Gods
Sandstone bluffs and the observation trail.
- 3
One Horse Gap
Narrow natural rock passage on the trail.
When to go
Best time to go
April through May and October. Summer is hot, humid and heavy with ticks.
Planner estimate for the mapped line: 1h 18m
Before you go
Know before you go
- The trail is shared with hikers and, in places, mountain bikes. Yield rules apply.
- Rock steps and ledges are slick when wet. Some sections are best led rather than ridden.
- Water sources are seasonal. Plan on carrying what your horse needs.
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