Set in the lush Shawnee Hills of southern Illinois, Ferne Clyffe State Park spreads across roughly 2,430 acres just south of Goreville and offers a rich mix of forest, bluffs, waterfalls, and trails. You can hike through woods filled with fern-covered limestone outcrops, explore Hawks’ Cave and a dramatic intermittent waterfall on the Big Rocky Hollow Trail, or wander around Ferne Clyffe Lake’s one-mile shoreline. Campgrounds range from modern sites with electricity to primitive and equestrian camps, and there are several picnic shelters and lookout points. With over 700 plant species, vibrant spring wildflowers, vivid fall foliage, and rugged natural scenery, this park delivers one of the most scenic escapes in Illinois.