GETAWAYS
Shawnee National Forest
Makanda, IL
Nov. 7-10, 2026
Nov. 7-10 2026
4-days
$275.00
Difficulty rating
In Southern Illinois, Shawnee National Forest is a hiker’s dream. Trails weave through, beside, and beneath majestic sandstone bluffs, with towering trees greeting you at every turn. The scale and number of bluffs here outshine any other park in Illinois.
Trailbound’s new Getaway packs the best of the forest into 2½ days of guided hikes on the park’s scenic western side. Shawnee National forest is spread out over 500 square miles. We’ve handpicked the area that delivers the ideal combo of dramatic trails, cozy lodging, and tasty local eats—so you can focus on hiking, photos, and swapping trail stories. Our trip does not include the “Garden of Gods” area on the eastern side.
What to expect
Seven or eight guided hikes over 2½ days, ranging from easy strolls to moderately rugged with elevation gains.
Classic Shawnee scenery: massive sandstone formations, forested hollows, creek crossings, and hiking through caverns.
Local lodging chosen for comfort, meals, easy access to trailheads, and a great vibe with the national park style lounge with fireplaces.
One afternoon of free time to enjoy visiting farms, vineyards, or to go horseback riding. Horseback riding stable specializes in “horse therapy”, and their ride is suitable for all abilities. We are impressed with the quality of the stable!
Our stay is at the Granite City Lodge — a rustic CCC-built lodge with the classic National Park vibe. Cozy cabins, a roaring fireplace for evening hangouts, and the area’s top restaurant just steps away.
Get ready for jaw-dropping rockscapes, quiet forest moments, and a sweet little escape with friends into one of Illinois’s grandest wild places.
Registration Cost
Included in booking:
2 Guides throughout the Getaway.
2½ days of guided hiking on signature Shawnee routes, chosen for scenery, variety, and photo ops.
Evening comraderie in the lodge with a roaring fire, games, and storytelling.
Amazing memories, friendships, and bragging rights.
Photos from your Getaway
Not included:
All meals
Lodging costs.
Optional Horseback riding fee: $70.00
Lodging details:
Granite City Lodge accomodations are all cabins. Each person needs to make their own reservation with Granite City Lodge.
To make a reservation, the first night rate is charged. The balance due is paid upon arrival. You may cancel up to 2 days in advance, and will receive a refund of 75% of your deposit.
Cabins have two beds. If you are a single, and want a roommate, you can email hello@trailboundtrip.com to get help finding a roommate before reserving a cabin.
See Granit City Lodge website below for photos and more informaion. Phone #: 618-457-4921
CABIN OPTIONS & RATES:
Historic Cabin: Like a hotel room, 2 double beds, full bathroom, no refrigerator. 3 nights lodging is: $333.00 total per cabin, including tax. (or $166.50/person)
Prairie Cabin: A queen size bed in bedroom, and murphy bed in the living room. Refrigerator included. 3 nights lodging is: $399.60 total per cabin, including tax. (or $199.80/person)
Bluff Cabin: The larger & newer cabins. 2 queen beds in bedroom, living room with electric fireplace, refrigarator, & deck overlook the woods below. (only 4 units available) 3 nights lodging is: $532.90 total per cabin including tax. (or $266.45/person)
What to Bring:
A full Packing list will be sent to registered individuals.
Main items:
Layers of non-cotton clothing
Hiking boots - broken in, with ankle support
Hiking sticks
Day backpack with water bottle
Transportation
Giant City Lodge is approximately 5 hours and 45 minutes from Palatine, IL.
Our lodging is centraly located for all our hike destinations. Trailheads are approximately 5 minutes to 30 minutes from the lodge.
We highly encourage carpooling down to Shawnee National Forest to make the drive easier. We will send out a list of registrations to help with this, and let you arrange your carpool options.
DAY 1
Those that can make it early, we will have a warm-up hike at the Trillimum trail. A designated Illinois Nature Preserve containing a high diversity of plant life with endangered species and sandstone bluffs towering 80-100 feet above the forest floor.
Length: 1.2 mile hike, 144 feet of elevation gain on trail.
Walking time: Approximately 1 hour.
Check in at Giant City Lodge, and get settled into your cabin.
Eat dinner at the Giant City Lodge, rated as the best restaurant in Makanda. Known for their family style Chicken dinner, Prime Rib, BBQ, burgers and southern dishes.
Enjoy each other’s company in the lobby of the lodge, playing games, warm drinks, and sitting by a cozy fire.
DAY 2
Breakfast at the lodge: Many great options for a hearty or light breakfast.
Hike the infamous Granite City Nature Trail and Devil’s Standtable Trail.
Step into a stone-made story on the Granite City Nature Trail, where the CCC left its mark with chiseled steps and flagstone borders. Sandstone bluffs rise like giant walls, fractured and folded by ancient earthquakes that uplifted, cracked, and crumpled the landscape. Keep an eye out for deep fissures and the honeycomb pockets pocked into the rock. Wander into the so-called “giant city streets” and feel the air shift as the path narrows—cooler, hushier, and strangely dramatic. We move at an easy pace here, pausing to unpack the geology and to glimpse remnants of 1800s life tucked into the rocks and ridges.
Devil’s Standtable trail is a shorter climb that rewards you with caverns and a famous sandstone pillar—think mushroom-shaped sentinel—known locally by its trail name. It’s a compact, scenic add-on that pairs perfectly with a day of exploring Granite City’s stone-carved avenues.
Trails: 1.5 miles and 160 feet of elevation gain.
Lunch back at the Lodge
Free time: Choose your adventure
Horse back ride at Giant City Stables. One hour ride at their private trek of 3.2 miles inside the park. $70.00 . Rides leaving at 1:00pm and 2:30pm.
Afternoon hike at Rocky Bluff Trail. This trail does not have the huge sandstone bluffs, but does have magnificient trees and finishes along a winding river. A quite and contemplative trail. 1.9 miles and 154 feet elevation gain.
Wander the area visiting farms and vineyards.
Dinner at the lodge. S’more after dinner over a bonfire in the State Park.
DAY 3
Breakfast at the lodge
Incredible Hiking Continues!!
Ferne Clyffe Park: This park has its own grandeur with 3 short trails, each are distinct with rock climbing bluffs, a meandering creek, a waterfall, towering trees, and a huge cavern for great photo ops. We will bring a trail lunch to eat after these hikes.
After lunch, we head to the Panther Den, a longer trail that is complete with creek crossings, a maze of granite walls, towering trees, and a quietness that only comes in the forest. A truly magnificent trail!
Ferne Clyffe Park: 1.8 miles and 100 ft.
Panther Den: 3.0 miles and 278 feet.
Dinner at the Lodge
Hang out in the lodge with another cozy fire for drinks, games, and conversation.
DAY 4
After breakfast and warm goodbyes, depart at your leisure for the drive home. As miles roll by, your heart will feel lighter—full of the quiet pride from new accomplishments, the wide-eyed wonder of Shawnee National Forest, and remembering the easy laughter of freshly made friends.
If this is your first hike of the season, please fill out the mandatory Annual Registration Waiver during checkout.
Cancellations & Refunds
You may cancel your Getaway to Shawnee National Forest a full refund if made 30 days in advance.
If you cancel less than 30 days, a refund will be made if your spot can be filled from a wait list.
**Some itinerary changes may be made due to weather.