Exploring Shawnee National Forest on a Tiger

A black swallowtail butterfly flies along side my foot peg. Indigo bunting birds lead us into the woods. A woodsy scent lures us into the lush, green jungle that is Shawnee National Forest. We’ve been to this pristine forest many times in southern Illinois, but this time is different – better. Our Triumph Tiger motorcycle allows us a full experience, complete with woodsy and floral smells, scenic natural views, and a variety of perfect motorcycle roads. The vibes of this forest are strong, melding our souls to the cosmos around us.

Dixon Springs Campground

Our basecamp is Dixon Springs State Park campground. We are nestled under the dense shade cover of many trees. The campsites are spread out nicely and it is shady and quiet. The Chocolate Factory across the highway is a nice bonus to this location.

Dirt Road near Hicks, IL

We are following parts of the “Shawnee Forest 430 Mile Loop” motorcycle map we found online at usdualsports.com. Our favorite roads are hard packed dirt that wind through the National Forest. Along a particularly rustic "fire road," we stop for a snack and water break. Sitting on a fallen log, we are enveloped in the forest. A peewee bird sings to us in the distance. Large beech trees surround us. A very nice respite spot.

At Cave-in-Rock we have a beer at the lodge on their patio overlooking the wide Ohio river. A feeling of bliss overcomes me as I soak up the sun, beer, peace, companionship, river view, and flowering plants around me. We hike to the cave along a short trail and meet two other adventure bike riders. The cave is impressive in size and has a split in the top that lets in natural sunlight.

Indian Kitchen along Lusk Creek

On day two we ride to the Lusk Creek Nature Preserve. We find a trailhead off Ragan Road and walk through the national forest to a clearing where horses tie up. Beyond that is the state preserve leading to Indian Kitchen. A massive rock face rises above the serene Lusk creek, which flows into the cliff face down a rocky stream with water plants at the end to slow its flow. The water under the cliff is a cloudy grey-green, making us think it is deep and cold. The water is clear at the edge where a few small minnows swim. Swallows work the cliff face, going in and out of honeycomb holes to feed their young. Way up the sheer rock, heuchera (coral bells) grow on the wall – hanging on in a mysterious way. Water runs over the edge in places, dripping into the pool. We sit by a burned out firepit, eat raisins and absorb the loveliness all around us. Soon we hear people nearby. When we climb out of the “kitchen,” there are about 12 horses tied up and several people having snacks. They are shocked when we walk out of the woods and even more surprised that we hiked 3 miles there.

Elizabethtown Catfish Restaurant 

We have lunch in Elizabethtown on a floating restaurant where they serve catfish caught on the Ohio river. A Jon boat is here delivering its morning catch, which are cleaned in a small hut before heading to the kitchen to fry. Our fresh catfish sandwich was exceptional.

The moto map leads us down a variety of roads in the afternoon. Sparks Hills Road has deep ruts, a section of deep gravel, and horse riders blocking the road. At Glen O. Jones Lake, we find a Tecumseh statue, with a nice tribute to this important Native American. Great winding, paved roads lead us back to camp.

Bell Smith Springs Natural Bridge

On our final day, the Tiger takes us to waterfalls of Southern Illinois. At Bell Smith Springs we take the 1.5-mile loop trail to the Natural Bridge. At a creek crossing a mass of swallowtail butterflies feed on the wet sand. We hike up to the top of the natural bridge – Illinois’s longest natural bridge at 150 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 60 feet tall. It is quite an impressive natural wonder. The waterfall behind the bridge is dry, so we need to come back when it is flowing.

Bork Falls at Fern Clyffe Park

We ride to Fern Clyffe State Park and hike the boy scout trial to Redman Falls. It is barely a trickle, but its wet rocky slope is quite pretty. We ride the Tiger down Happy Hollow Road to Regent Road, going across large, flat rock, creek crossings and lots of very rough roads. We stop to walk a short trail to Bork Falls – a 100-foot tall, intermittent waterfall that flows nicely over the rocky ledge. A mother and two small kids swim in the pool below the falls.

Trigg Tower 

The day also includes several surprises. On Buncombe Road to Vienna a tired horse walks down a driveway and into the roadway in front of us – all on its own. It seems to know where it is going. Perhaps the most beautiful ride of the day was through the Simpson Barrens Natural Area on Trigg Tower Road to the Trigg Tower. We climb four flights of stairs up the old fire watch tower to an expansive view above the treetops, where we can see for miles and miles into the Shawnee National Forest. On the way back to camp, we stop along Rushing Road to enjoy another bluff-top overlook of the valley.

Scenic View on Rushing Road

Riding the Tiger motorcycle gives us a new perspective of Southern Illinois and lead us to some new locations. I can smell the honeysuckle and rose blossoms along the way as I enjoy the beautiful natural scenery that is Southern Illinois.