Garden of the Gods Recreation Area
Nature preserve
193 acres3 mi of trail
River to RiverObservation Trail GOG #107USF Trail 108JRiver to River Trail+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the trailheadWebsite ↗
–Not graded
Outdoors in Mountain Township
Few parks or trails are on the map in Mountain Township
The biggest trail networks: Garden of the Gods Recreation Area (3 mi). 40% of Mountain Township’s land is conserved, about 10,853 acres. 1,045 acres are parks and preserves, 3,987 per 1,000 residents.
Conserved land
40%
10,853 acres · of 42.0 sq mi of land
Trails
23 mi
0.5 per sq mi of land
Park land
1,045 ac
3,987 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
3%
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
0.8 mi
0.8 mi paths
Highest peak
974 ft
Horton Hill
Lakes & rivers
3
2 boat launches
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Garden of the Gods Recreation Area, with 3 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Saline County State Fish and Wildlife Area
Managed by Illinois Department of Natural Resources
1,073 acres
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Who protects it
10,853 conserved acres
40% of Mountain Township’s land. Who manages Mountain Township’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
U.S. Forest Service9,810 ac
State natural resources1,047 ac
State conservation2 ac
National Forest · 9,810 acState Conservation Area · 1,047 acConservation Easement · 2 ac
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shawnee National Forest National Forest | U.S. Forest Service | 9,810 | Open |
| Saline County State Conservation Area State Conservation Area | State natural resources | 1,047 | Open |
Things to do
17 places to go in Mountain Township
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Boat launches in Mountain Township
Glen O Jones LakeIn Saline County State Fish and Wildlife Area
DirectionsPlus 1 boat launch without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Waterfalls in Mountain Township
Arch of the Gods Cascade
DirectionsScenic views in Mountain Township
Garden of the GodsIn Garden of the Gods Recreation Area
DirectionsPlus 4 scenic views without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Peaks in Mountain Township
Horton Hill974 ft elevation
DirectionsWamble Mountain942 ft elevation
DirectionsCave Hill932 ft elevation
DirectionsGarden Of the Gods860 ft elevation · In Garden of the Gods Recreation Area
DirectionsBald Knob778 ft elevation
DirectionsColbert Hill581 ft elevation
DirectionsCampgrounds in Mountain Township
Horse CampgroundIn Saline County State Fish and Wildlife Area
DirectionsPharaoh CampgroundFee · In Garden of the Gods Recreation Area · US Forest Service
DirectionsSaline County State Fish & Wildlife AreaIn Saline County State Fish and Wildlife Area
DirectionsTrails & water
15 named trails and 3 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Horses · 10.9 miUnpaved · 12.5 mi
River to River GOG Loop 001A3.6 mi
River to River GOG Loop3.1 mi
USF Trail 108J0.9 mi
River to River0.7 mi
Stone Face Trail0.6 mi
Lower Trail 108C0.5 mi
Observation Trail GOG #1070.4 mi
West Bluff Trail 108E0.4 mi
152b0.4 mi
River to River Trail0.3 mi
5 more trails
Anvil Rock 108D
0.3 miPharoah Trail
0.3 miLower Trail
0.2 miMiddle Trail 108K
0.2 miIndian Point Trail
0.1 miLakes & rivers tap for directions
Biking & sports
0.8 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
0.8 mi
off-road bike paths
When to get out
June is the best month for walking in Mountain Township
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.8 | 10.7 | 11.8 | 13.1 | 14.2 | 14.7 | 14.5 | 13.6 | 12.4 | 11.1 | 10.1 | 9.6 |
| High (°F) | 41 | 47 | 56 | 68 | 76 | 85 | 88 | 87 | 81 | 69 | 56 | 45 |
| Rain (in) | 3.6 | 3.4 | 4.7 | 5.1 | 5.0 | 4.6 | 4.2 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.7 | 4.2 | 3.9 |
August is the driest month (3.3 in) and July the warmest (highs of 88 °F). 5.1 inches fall in April, the wettest month. Summer highs reach 88 °F, too hot for the outline. The climate in Mountain Township →
Next door
Mountain Township and its neighbors
Mountain Township has the second most mapped trails of the 5 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
Eagle Creek Township54 miMountain Township23 miIndependence Township17 miEquality Township7.4 miCottage Township3.0 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Cottage Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Eagle Creek Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Independence Township | 14% | 0.5 | 1 | 5% | C+ |
| Equality Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Mountain Township
Where can I hike in Mountain Township?
The longest trail networks: Garden of the Gods Recreation Area, 3 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
Are dogs allowed on Mountain Township’s trails?
Garden of the Gods Recreation Area and Saline County State Fish and Wildlife Area don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Mountain Township?
0.8 miles of bike routes are on the map: 0.8 of off-road paths.
Is there public land near Mountain Township?
75,915 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Mountain Township or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 7,944 of them inside the town line.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Mountain Township neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →