Pine Hills Road

Pine Hills Road is a must-see trail in Southern Illinois. It offers fantastic views of the Mississippi River Valley at multiple points. The cliffs are not for the faint of heart. The most prominent cliff view is named Inspiration Point and is accessible via a short hike from the trailhead parking area located at the northern end of the road. Generally, the trail stays on the ridgeline with switchback climbs on either end. 

The road features golf ball-sized gravel, with a few areas marked by ruts from water runoff, narrow sections that allow only one vehicle to pass, and multiple potential creek crossings on the southern end, depending on the time of year. There are pull-offs for viewing the countryside at specific points. 

Camping-wise, Pine Hills Campground offers multiple sites of varying sizes to spend the night in the woods right next to a creek bed. 

Due to the area's popularity, expect to see a good number of vehicles and people exploring this part of the Shawnee National Forest.