Backpack Trail Guide

Trails / Illinois / Shawnee National Forest

Panther Den Wilderness Loop

Panther Den Wilderness, Shawnee National Forest and Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge (near Goreville and Makanda, Union County)

Panther Den is the smallest wilderness in Illinois, a 1,195-acre pocket on the south shore of Devils Kitchen Lake, according to Wikipedia. Its namesake is “a large sandstone rock formation with large crevices,” and the Panther Den Loop winds past caves, shelter bluffs, and a narrow squeeze between rock walls, linking with the River to River Trail. It’s a short loop; The Outbound says it works for a day hike or an overnight.

Part of the wilderness lies in Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge, where camping isn’t allowed, so pick your camp on Forest Service land.

The hike

Wikipedia says Panther Den was designated in 1990 and sits in Union County near Goreville, with three fingers of Devils Kitchen Lake reaching into it and a high point around 700 feet. The forest is second growth on old farmland, with homesteads, fruit trees, cemeteries, and abandoned roads, and many trails follow those old roads.

Backpacker’s 2013 route measures the Panther Den Loop at 6.7 miles, reached by a spur marked with white diamonds with a red dot. It describes a “lemon-squeeze” between two rock faces, ridges with evergreens, small canyons, a waterfall, and caves “everywhere” on the west wall: “These overhung areas were used as shelters for centuries.” The loop briefly follows the River to River Trail. The Outbound calls it a 10-mile loop with labyrinth-like sandstone formations and a small creek.

The River to River Trail Society’s group hikes give a feel for the ground. In November 2024, a 3.5-mile outing on Trail 371 passed a “sliced rocks” area, crossed six streams that required rock-hopping after rain, and stopped at “the big shelter bluff,” where hikers could climb up to see “the panther’s head.” The group warned that the rocks are slick when wet. David Hilt, who section-hiked the River to River Trail in 2023 and 2024, called the Panther Den section “one of the most interesting.”

For a longer trip nearby, see Giant City’s Red Cedar Trail.

Tips

Camping

On the Forest Service side, the Shawnee doesn’t require permits for dispersed camping. Its occupancy order limits stays to 14 days in a 28-day period, and its recreation guide says no primitive camping within 150 feet of water or in natural areas. On the refuge side, the Fish and Wildlife Service says “dispersed camping on Refuge property is prohibited” and directs backpackers to Giant City State Park or the Shawnee. Wilderness rules ban bicycles, carts, and drones.

Inside Intel: We didn’t find a camper account recommending a specific Panther Den campsite. The Outbound calls the loop suitable for an overnight; with the refuge boundary in the north, aim for the Forest Service portion near the River to River Trail, and keep 150 feet from the creeks and the lake.

Trail facts

The Lowdown

A short first night at Panther Den:

Panther Den's short loop suits a relaxed overnight among the caves and crevices, and a sleeping bag you trust helps it go well. See which bags testers rate.

See the picks →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.