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Submission
Bell Smith Springs is one of the most beautiful recreation areas the Shawnee National Forest has to offer. It contains a series of clear, rocky streams and scenic canyons bordered by high sandstone cliffs and an abundance of vegetation unique to Illinois. The trail system consists of eight miles of interconnected trails featuring strange and wonderful rock formations, such as Devil's Backbone, Boulder Falls and a natural rock bridge. Hiking this system of trails is a favorite activity because of the rock features, scenic overlooks, hidden springs and lush flora and fauna.
From Harrisburg: Take Highway 145 south 11 miles to Burden Falls Road. Turn right, go 5 miles to Ozark Rd. Turn south (left). Go to Bell Smith Springs Rd. Turn southwest (right) and proceed 2 miles to Bell Smith Springs.
From Vienna: Take Highway 45 north 12 miles to Ozark Road. Turn east (right). Go 10 miles to Bell Smith Springs Rd. Turn southwest (right) and proceed 2 miles to Bell Smith Springs.
Came from out of state to camp and hike this area! The campsite was nice and big which we took full advantage of. The information on the board at the campsite was different from what I read online days before but we figured it out. The toilets were OK, kind of dirty, could have been better. We were lucky enough to get an intact fire ring but our grill grate was broken off, we still made it work. It was nice to have access to good drinking water!
Beautiful place to get away and immerse yourself in natural wonder! However, please put out your campfires! Rangers drive by every now and then and will check your registration. Water well pump on site (shared; hard to pump; unreliable water source) and restrooms are what they are for being vault. You might get just as much privacy and more fresh air going behind a tree - your choice! Anyways, we enjoyed a great campsite with a campfire ring in great condition. Some sites don’t have the best places to pitch a tent, but there are plenty of choices if you want to have a siesta in your hammock. Definitely do your shopping from home because even the nearest gas station is miles away, and it is small. You either plan ahead uber-sufficiently or you rough it out here.
We were there the right time of the year . Very few people in the campground . Someone had left a large amount of trash and other items behind in one site . The garbage can area could be improved . I did notice someone cleaned it up when I drug the trash from the dirty campsite over to the can area . Thanks to the couple in the clam shell from Wisconsin , I’m guessing that was y’all . New pit toilets , no water . Very quiet .. I know this isn’t always the case. Would stay here again , great hiking before the summer growth takes over
Kind of worth the ten dollars, kind of not. The restrooms had just been cleaned prior to our arrival, so they had no smell, but by the end of our stay TP was gone. Busy weekend. Lots of ticks, and the raccoons are INSANE. They opened our cooler (our fault we left it out) and were climbing all over our vehicle where the rest of our food was. We had hung out wet suits on tree limbs and they took off with those too. Kind of funny, kind of not. Bring TP, bug spray, water (pump has been broken for over a year) and hand sanitizer.
Pump has broken FOR MORE THAN A YEAR (USFS, looking at YOU!), so plan on no water. Also, we had to spend about 15 minutes picking up all the trash from our site after we paid the $10 to stay there. Sure wish our national forests weren't spending all their budgets defending wealthy 2nd homes in CA and CO that were built in fire prone areas so they could serve their Illinois constituents. USFS campgrounds used to be free to everyone and clean, they should still be. The Shawnee needs our support and encouragement, get engaged!
