Observation Trail

The Observation Trail at Garden of the Gods extends the main formation loop to encompass the full range of named rock formations in the Illinois Shawnee Hills, providing close encounters with Camel Rock, Anvil Rock, and the narrow squeeze passage called Fat Man's Squeeze that requires visitors to turn sideways and shuffle through a gap in the sandstone no wider than 18 inches. The trail climbs to a ridgeline observation deck with panoramic views across the Shawnee National Forest to the south and the Saline River valley to the north — one of the longest uninterrupted forest views available anywhere in Illinois. The Pounds sandstone formations along the trail display exceptional examples of honeycomb weathering, where softer mineral inclusions have dissolved from the sandstone matrix leaving a cellular pattern of holes and pits across the rock surfaces. Lichens in shades of orange, yellow, and gray colonize the rock faces in geometric patches. The trail surface alternates between packed earth and exposed sandstone slabs that can be slippery when wet or frost-covered in winter and early spring. The surrounding oak-hickory forest understory blooms with serviceberry and redbud in April. The Observation Trail connects directly to the River to River Trail for those seeking a longer backcountry experience.