An exception to Illinois' flat farmland is the green southernmost section, punctuated by rolling Shawnee National Forest and its rocky outcroppings. The area has numerous state parks and recreation areas good for hiking, climbing, swimming, fishing and canoeing, particularly around Little Grassy Lake and Devil's Kitchen.
Shawnee National Forest
Illinois
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Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge
18.12 MILES
You certainly don't expect to find a Southern-style swampland, complete with moss-draped cypress trees and croaking bullfrogs in Illinois. But it's here,…
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18.13 MILES
This small viewing platform looks out over Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge and is a fine spot for ogling migratory birds, waterfowl and shorebirds.
Nearby Illinois attractions
1. Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge
18.12 MILES
You certainly don't expect to find a Southern-style swampland, complete with moss-draped cypress trees and croaking bullfrogs in Illinois. But it's here,…
18.13 MILES
This small viewing platform looks out over Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge and is a fine spot for ogling migratory birds, waterfowl and shorebirds.