This Event Has Been Cancelled
BPC Shawnee National Forest Field Trip
Sept 15 - 17, 2023
Garden of the Gods
Spanning 289,000 acres, Shawnee National Forest is nestled in Southern Illinois between the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. It features strikingly beautiful oak-hickory forests, flourishing wetlands, lush canyons, razorback ridges and unique geological features.
A rare convergence of six natural ecological regions results in a diversity of plant and animal species all within a three-hour drive from Bloomington.
Itenerary.
We will drive to Shawnee National Forest on Friday, Sept 15th and meet up Saturday morning, Sept 16th. We will carpool to Garden of the Gods and other scenic locations. Entrance to the National Forest is free.
We will again meet up on Sunday morning, Sept 17th to visit additional sites. Our itinerary is flexible and we want to allow photographers a variety of photo ops of Shawnee and other state parks..
Cave-In-Rock
The field trip to Shawnee National Forest is available to all paid members of the Bloomington Photography Club.
Possible places to go in and around Shawnee National Forest.
Garden of the Gods https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/shawnee/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=10685&actid=5
Illinois Iron Furnace Historic Site https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/shawnee/recarea/?recid=10687
Rim Rock https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/shawnee/recarea/?recid=10691
Pomona Natural Land Bridge https://www.shawneeforest.com/pomona-natural-bridge/
Cave-in-Rock State Park https://stateparks.com/cave-in-rock_state_park_in_illinois.html
Other things to do. https://travelinspiredliving.com/things-to-do-in-the-shawnee-national-forest-area-southern-illinois/
Nearby restaurants.
Liz’s Café, 1218 US Highway 45 N, Eldorado, IL 62930-3680 618-273-9316 Reservations 1-2 days before
Bar-B-Q Barn, 632 N Main St, Harrisburg, IL 62946-1058 618-252-6190 reservations optional but requested
Peking Place, 303 S Commercial St, Harrisburg, IL 62946-2125
El Ranchito Restaurant, 303 S Commercial St Ste 3, Harrisburg, IL 62946-2128
Place to Stay.
The Quality Inn, 100A East Seright St. in Harrisburg, Illinois. They provide a free continental breakfast and free wifi. To make reservations, call (618) 252-2442.
Please RSVP James Kellar (jjkellar@gmail.com) if you plan to go on this field trip.
