Hidden Springs (Illinois)

1,200-Acre Illinois State Forest — Primitive Camping at Possum Creek Campground, Hiking and Foot Trails Through Hardwoods, Group Camping at Shady Grove, Hunting, Shelby County Near Strasburg Illinois

Hidden Springs State Forest is a 1,200-acre state forest near Clarksburg in Shelby County, Illinois, approximately 10 miles southeast of Shelbyville. The state forest features 1,200 acres of hardwood forest with hiking on foot trails and fire lanes, the Possum Creek Campground — a Class C primitive campground with drinking water, privies, sanitary disposal, pedestal stoves, and fire rings (self-registration system, forest staff issue permits on rounds), the Shady Grove group campground available by reservation for organized group camping, hunting during designated seasons (deer, turkey, small game), no horseback riding permitted on foot trails or fire lanes, and a peaceful, remote setting in central Illinois farmland offering solitude and nature immersion.

Hidden Springs is central Illinois’s woodland retreat — the 1,200-acre state forest provides primitive camping and hiking in a hardwood forest setting that’s rare in the surrounding agricultural landscape. The Possum Creek Campground operates on a self-registration system — choose your site, and forest staff issue permits on routine rounds.

The Shady Grove group campground is available by reservation for organized groups. Horseback riding is not permitted on trails.

Things to Do

• Primitive camping — Possum Creek, self-registration
• Group camping — Shady Grove, reservation required
• Hiking — foot trails + fire lanes through hardwoods
• Hunting — deer, turkey, small game (seasons)
• Nature — 1,200 acres, rare IL woodland
• Solitude — remote, peaceful setting

Campground Information

Forest Information

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: May 2026

Wildlife & Nature

Hidden Springs in central Illinois provides recreation in the oak-hickory forest typical of the state’s upland areas. These forests — growing on ridges and hills too steep for farming — represent some of the last significant forest tracts in a state that is 75% farmland. The mature oak-hickory canopy supports a rich community of breeding birds — eastern wood-pewees call their plaintive “pee-a-wee” from mid-canopy perches, summer tanagers (the only entirely red bird in North America) forage in the upper canopy, and white-eyed vireos sing from the understory thickets. Wild turkeys scratch through leaf litter for acorns. White-tailed deer are common. The forest floor supports spring wildflowers including shooting star, wild columbine, and jack-in-the-pulpit.

Nearby Attractions

Shelbyville and the surrounding Shelby County offer rural Illinois recreation. Lake Shelbyville — one of central Illinois’ premier fishing lakes — is nearby. Eagle Creek State Park offers lakeside camping. Arcola — the “Broom Corn Capital” — is in Illinois Amish Country. Arthur provides Amish shops, baked goods, and furniture. Sullivan has the Little Theatre on the Square. Effingham is a crossroads community at I-57 and I-70.