10 Great Hiking Trails to Avoid Hunters in Southern Illinois

Need ideas for hiking trails to avoid hunters in Southern Illinois this firearm hunting season?

It’s safer for you to hike on trails where hunting is prohibited. It is the responsibility of the hunter to ensure that they know what they’re shooting at. However, accidents can still happen, and you can prevent them by not hiking in areas where hunting is allowed.

Hunters only get a few weekends each year to hunt. Their hunting activities are important for maintaining the balance of the deer population, since there are no predators. Let’s all share the trail and give hunters their space.

Just because its hunting season doesn’t mean you should stop hiking. There are plenty of great places to hike where you’re completely safe to do so. You can enjoy hiking while giving hunters plenty of space to hunt.

In this guide, I’ll show you 10 great hiking trails to avoid hunters in Southern Illinois.

When is the Illinois Firearms Hunting Season?

There are only a handful of firearm-specific hunting season dates in Illinois each year.

The first shotgun and rifle date is November 21-23, 2025. The second shotgun and rifle season is December 4-7, 2025. Muzzle-loader only season (specialty type of gun) is on December 12-14, 2025.

It’s safe to say that on the dates above, more than normal amounts of deer hunters will be all over the Shawnee National Forest and other parts of Southern Illinois.

Hike these Great Hiking Trails to Avoid Hunters in Southern Illinois

Now, let’s look at the hiking trails to avoid hunters in Southern Illinois for the 2025 shotgun, rifle, and muzzle-loader hunting season.

1 – Garden of the Gods Observation Trail

Garden of the Gods Recreation Area is safe to hike in, as hunting is prohibited. This includes the Observation Trail and Pharaoh Campground. Indian Point and the wilderness area are open to hunting, so avoid them.

Check out my free Garden of the Gods Observation Trail Guide for directions and more information.

The Observation Trail is about a half mile long (easy, loop). Spend some time enjoying the rock formations and scenic views but stay safe. After you’re done, enjoy some ice cream at the Garden of the Gods Outpost General Store.

2 – Rim Rock National Recreation Trail

Rim Rock National Recreation Trail is off limits to hunters. You could even add the trail to Pounds Hollow to make it longer. Just keep in mind that the National Forest land around the recreation area does allow hunting.

Check out my free Rim Rock National Recreation Trail Guide for directions and more information.

There is a mile-long loop at the top and a few miles of hiking on the bottom, especially when going to Pounds Hollow and back. While you can’t swim in it, the Pounds Beach is pretty neat to see this time of year.

3 – Bell Smith Springs (White/Yellow Trails)

Bell Smith Springs is a recreation area, meaning hunting is not allowed. However, I would stick to the Yellow and White trails within the recreation area just to be safe. These will get you to the Jumping Springs, Devil’s Backbone, and the Natural Arch.

Check out my free Bell Smith Springs Trail Guide for directions and more information.

You can get around 1.5 to 2 miles of hiking on the yellow and white trail. You’ll have to cross a couple of creeks, so be sure to plan for it. Hunters are commonly seen around the blue and red trails, so I would avoid those.

4 – Millstone Bluff Trail

Millstone Bluff is a good trail to avoid hunters, as hunting is not allowed in the archaeological area. You can enjoy a mile loop, seeing an old Native American village with petroglyphs and everything. Keep in mind that collections of any kind are prohibited in this area and even against the law.

Check out my free Millstone Bluff Trail Guide for more information and directions to this area.

Stay on the designated trail. The private land in this area allows hunting. If you go off trail, you risk getting closer to hunters.

5 – Dixon Springs State Park

Dixon Springs State Park is a quiet park that doesn’t see much traffic. It is prohibited to hunt on the designated hiking and mountain biking trails in the state park where posted. You can hike, bike, and even trail run quite a few miles in the state park.

For directions and more information about this area, see my free Dixon Springs State Park Guide.

Check out Ghost Dance Canyon Trail by the swimming pool for a beautiful waterfall cascade. You will have to cross a creek to see the best parts of this trail.

6 – Ferne Clyffe State Park

Ferne Clyffe State Park is a great place to visit during hunting season, as hunting is not allowed on most of its trails. Stick to Blackjack Oak, Hawks Cave, Rebman, Boy Scout, and Big Rocky Hollow to be safe. While Round Bluff is a Nature Preserve and guns are prohibited there, the private property around it will likely have hunters.

For directions and more information, please see my free Ferne Clyffe State Park Guide.

After you’re done with your hike, I highly recommend driving into nearby Goreville for some Whiffle Boy’s Pizza. It’s some of the best pizza around.

7 – Giant City State Park

Giant City State Park is another great choice for hiking during hunting season. They even put on a challenge where you look for gnomes on the trail, and you get a free patch if you complete the challenge. Stick to the trails within the park. Red Cedar, River to River, and Indian Creek will be closed to hikers during hunting season.

Check out my free Giant City State Park Trail Guide for directions and more information about the park.

After your hike, go have lunch at Giant City Lodge. You should also check out Makanda, as they have some really fun shops on their boardwalk.

8 – Carbondale Green Earth Trails

Carbondale Green Earth Trails are scattered across the city, allowing folks to enjoy a hike without getting too far from town. A few of these trails will be closed due to hunting. However, those within the city are safe, since any discharge of firearms is illegal.

Check out the official website for Green Earth of Carbondale for more information and directions to these trails.

Carbondale is full of restaurants of all kinds. I recommend you find the one that suits your appetite and go eat at it to support local businesses.

9 – Little Grand Canyon

Little Grand Canyon is a recreation area and therefore prohibits hunting. As long as you stay on the 3.5-mile rugged loop hiking trail, you should be fine to hike there. Take your time, as it is hilly, and the rocks can be slick.

Check out my free Guide for Little Grand Canyon for directions and more information about what you will see.

Mace’s Place is right down the road from Little Grand Canyon. It’s a great place to eat after enjoying a hike in the canyon.

10 – Piney Creek Ravine Nature Preserve

Piney Creek Ravine is an Illinois Nature Preserve, which means that guns are not allowed anywhere in the preserve. The private property around the preserve may have hunters, so be sure to stay on the designated trail at all times. If the area is wet, there will be creek crossings.

For even more information and directions, check out my free Trail Guide for the Piney Creek Ravine Nature Preserve.

When the area is wet, there are some really nice waterfalls along the trail. Please note that the petroglyphs are under surveillance due to selfish people who left graffiti. No matter how you feel about it, graffiti is illegal, period.

A Reminder About Safety During Hunting Season

It’s important that you understand safety when hiking during firearms hunting season.

Bullets can travel a long distance. Whether it’s from a shotgun, rifle, or muzzle-loader, the projectile being shot from it can go a distance. It’s important to be as far away from that distance as possible.

There will be many out-of-town hunters in the area. While they help support our local economy and they’re very welcomed, they could accidentally hunt in areas where hunting isn’t allowed. Keep this in mind for safety.

Many of the trails listed above run through private property. That property may legally be allowed to be hunted on. Think about this before you choose where you want to go hiking this hunting season.

No matter what, wear blaze orange or blaze pink when hiking during hunting season. You should even wear it in an area where hunting is not allowed. It’s one more step toward safety and accident prevention.

Final Thoughts

Always put safety first when hiking during firearm hunting season in Southern Illinois or wherever you decide to go.

Hike in areas where hunting is not allowed. This will give you a safe place to enjoy nature while giving hunters plenty of room.

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And until next time, I’ll see you on the trail!

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