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Alerts

Forest Alerts

  • River Pigs timber sale area active-use caution

    Contractors have begun moving equipment onto the River Pigs timber sale area on the Shawnee National Forest, located off Buttermilk Hill Road in Jackson County.For your safety and the safety of crews working in the area, please be aware of increased traffic and active logging operations.• Watch…
    Alert Start Date: March 19, 2026
  • Snake Road Temporarily Closed for Spring Movement

    Forest Service Road No. 345, Snake Road, is temporarily closed beginning Friday, March 6 to ensure safe crossing for several species of snakes and amphibians during their bi-annual migration. Every spring, this 2.5-mile-long road is closed March through May to allow snakes and amphibians – some…
    Alert Start Date: March 6, 2026
  • Failing Culvert on Oakwood Bottoms Road FSR # 786

    Be aware there is a failing culvert on Oakwood Bottoms Road FSR # 786. The culvert is approximately 0.6 miles off of Route 3, just before the railroad tracks.The area has been barricaded off but vehicles can still proceed through. Please use caution in the area until repairs can be made or use…
    Alert Start Date: December 2, 2025
  • Public Health and Safety Closure Within the V-Plow Timber Sale Area

    This order aims to protect the public health and safety of users recreating on National Forest System (NFS) lands within Township 11S, Range 5E, Sections 21 & 22 of Pope County, Illinois, as depicted in Exhibit A of this Order.
    Alert Start Date: September 30, 2025
    Forest Order: #Order Number: 09-08-25-05
  • 09-08-25-03 Shawnee Wilderness and Watersheds

    This order aims to protect the public health and safety of users recreating on National Forest System (NFS) lands by outlining restrictions in wilderness and watershed areas, including stock use. 
    Alert Start Date: September 29, 2025
    Forest Order: #09-08-25-03
  • 09-08-25-02 Occupancy and Use

    This order aims to protect the public health and safety of users recreating on National Forest System (NFS) lands by outlining conditions of occupancy and use.
    Alert Start Date: September 25, 2025
    Forest Order: #09-08-25-02
  • 09-08-25-04 Restrictions for the Use of Natural Areas

    This order aims to protect the public health and safety of users recreating on National Forest System (NFS) lands by outlining restrictions in natural areas.
    Alert Start Date: September 24, 2025
    Forest Order: #09-08-25-04
  • McClure Road Closed

    McClure Road (Forest Service Road 772) is closed at the low-water crossing approximately 0.1 mile past the Forest Service boundary (0.8 mile from Little Kinkaid Road).  We apologize for the inconvenience, but the road will remain closed to all vehicular traffic until a culvert can be replaced. …
    Alert Start Date: May 12, 2025
  • Road Conditions

    Current area road conditions can be found at the Illinois Department of Transportation.Roads Open to Motor VehiclesDownload our Motor Vehicle Use Maps for a list of which roads are open to motor vehicle access on the Shawnee National Forest. 
    Alert Start Date: March 26, 2025
  • Reporting Trail Conditions

    Call (618) 658-1312 to report trail conditions, give feedback about the trails, and ask questions about the forest trail system.
    Alert Start Date: March 26, 2025
  • Trail Segment Closed - Lincoln Memorial

    The walking path at Lincoln Memorial Day-use site has been affected by heavy rainfall, which has caused soil erosion and subsidence at the spillway of the Lincoln Memorial pond. Because of the unstable soil, the loop portion of the walking path around the pond is temporarily closed.Hazard…
    Alert Start Date: July 10, 2024
  • Narrow Bridge near IL Iron Furnace

    Big Creek BridgeOrange road barrels have been placed on the shoulders of the Big Creek Bridge in Hardin County, Illinois (near the IL. Iron Furnace historic site). Both lanes across the bridge are narrow due to the placement of the traffic barrels. Narrow Bridge signs are in place in both…
    Alert Start Date: May 23, 2024
  • Cave and Mine Closure Order

    This order aims to protect the public health and safety of users recreating on National Forest System (NFS) lands by outlining cave and mine closures.
    Alert Start Date: October 28, 2021
    Forest Order: #09-08-22-01