Ohio River Scenic Byway
Garden of the Gods, IL

Garden of the Gods in the Shawnee National Forest, with its unique rock formations has been a popular attraction in Southeastern Illinois for a long time. One of the first roads in this region passed through the area running from the salt works at Equality to the Ohio River. Anvil Rock, then known as Devil's Rock became one of the first rock formations named in the interior of Southern Illinois. Today, a paved road off of Karber's Ridge makes it much easier for visitors to explore Garden of the Gods. A short-looped trail from the parking lot makes it easy for visitors to see the main rock formations, including the well-known Camel Rock. Anvil Rock and other formations can be seen along the trails in the Garden of the Gods Wilderness Area.