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Carbondale, Illinois

Looking for the best hiking in Carbondale? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Carbondale. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.

Top Hiking Spots in and near Carbondale

  • Herod, Illinois

    Hike the Garden of the Gods Observation Trail

    4.9
    1 mi
    In the southernmost part of Illinois, Shawnee National Forest is a wonderful natural area that transports you far from the flat agricultural landscape typical of so much of the Midwest. Located in the central area of the forest, Garden of the Gods is a 3,318-acre wilderness area characterized by ...
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  • Herod, Illinois

    Garden of the Gods Trail

    1.0
    2.16 mi / 256 ft gain
    Garden of the Gods Trail is an out-and-back trail where you can see beautiful wildflowers located near Equality, Illinois.
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  • Herod, Illinois

    Explore the Arch of the Gods

    0.25 mi / 50 ft gain
    Hundreds of people will drive past this trail and arch on the weekends and never know they just drove past one of the best sights within the Garden of Gods Wilderness of the Shawnee National Forest. It is a few hundred feet off the road on the way to the more popular Garden of the Gods Observatio...
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  • Metropolis, Illinois

    Visit Fort Massac State Park

    5.0
    0.5 mi / 15 ft gain
    The long decorated history of Fort Massac dates back to 1757 during the French and Indian War when this French fort was constructed overlooking the Ohio River in Southernmost Illinois. The French left the fort behind at the conclusion of that war, then was rebuilt and used once more during the Re...
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