Hiking trails include the Rim Rock National Recreation Trail, a .7-mile circuit that winds past some of the state's most striking geological features; the .25-mile Garden of the Gods Trail, which explores 200 million-year-old rock formations; and the Bell Smith Springs Trail, which features caves and a natural bridge.
The forest contains the Illinois Iron Furnace, a 52-foot-tall structure built in 1837, used during the Civil War and reconstructed in 1967; interpretive panels denote the history of the site. For information contact the Forest Supervisor, 50 SR 145S, Harrisburg, IL 62946; phone (618) 253-7114 or (800) 699-6637. An audio tour by cellphone also is available.