Gunny the dog standing on a large moss-covered rock during the Ox-Lot Cave hike in Shawnee National Forest.

Claimed my throne early on this one—this moss-covered slab was practically begging for a royal pose. After a good sniff and one solid tail wag, I declared it officially mine. The trail? Deliciously muddy thanks to a week of rain. Every step squished, every rock was a potential slide, and the humans were immediately humbled. This is a fantastic example of a dog friendly hike at Shawnee National Park.

Ox-Lot Cave Trail runs just over 1.5 miles, but don’t let that short distance fool you. It’s packed with natural stairs, sandstone slabs, and dramatic elevation changes. Perfect terrain for an athletic, highly photogenic trail dog (me). Humans had a little more trouble—especially on the slick descents. I witnessed a “controlled fall” that ended with one of them hugging a tree. Graceful.

Twisted cedar tree with stone blocks along the Rim Rock Trail in Shawnee National Forest, Illinois.

This twisted, gnarled tree was giving major enchanted forest energy. I paused here for a quick sniff and squirrel scan. Nothing says “ancient magic” like bark that looks like it’s been casting spells for 200 years. Bonus points for moss, and whatever tiny critters were rustling just beyond my reach during our dog friendly hike.

At trail’s end: Ox-Lot Cave. Technically, a massive rock overhang, but I prefer “natural dog fort.” The sign says it was once a shelter for oxen back in the logging days, which is cool and all—but let’s focus on how perfect the acoustics were for barking. I tested them thoroughly.

View of the towering sandstone overhang at Ox-Lot Cave, with tree roots and trail in the foreground.

Not pictured: me doing zoomies across the sandy cave floor while my humans shouted, “Gunny! GUNNY!” in varying tones of panic and admiration. The cave offered a cool break in the shade and a great vantage point to pretend I was on a National Geographic special during our dog friendly hike at Shawnee National Park.

Informational sign describing the historical use of Ox-Lot Cave in Shawnee National Forest, Illinois.

History nerds, rejoice. The sign explains how this spot supported the timber industry—oxen dragged logs through Pounds Hollow, and this cave was a resting place. I mostly appreciated that the area smelled of old wood and adventure. Very “lived-in.”

Next up: Rim Rock Trail. A quick hop over by car and boom—we were into another rock-stacked wonderland. This trail loops for about 1.7 miles and winds around the top of a sandstone ridge, complete with mossy stairs, fern-filled slots, and just enough dramatic drops to make the humans re-evaluate their footwear choices. This trail is another excellent example of a dog friendly hike at Shawnee National Park.

Dripping mini waterfalls and surprise streams made excellent splash zones. I tested each one thoroughly. The lower canyon area was like nature’s cool-down zone, and the boardwalk section made me feel like I was on an epic quest… probably for snacks.

Returned to the car muddy, grinning, and slightly leafier than when I started. The humans? Tired and proud. I know they’re already planning the next adventure. I’ll pretend to act surprised when they reach for the leash again.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/r09/shawnee

5 out of 5 muddy paw prints. Would hike again. Would absolutely claim the cave again.