Visit Iron Furnace Historic Site

Elizabethtown, Illinois

Description

See a part of history dating back to 1837.

Originally built in 1837, this thirty two foot tall structure was constructed on a limestone foundation and erected with limestone blocks quarried locally from the town of Cave-In-Rock. This iron furnace is the last remaining of its kind in Illinois. It is thought that some of the iron produced here was transported to the Union Army during the Civil War.

Today visitors can enjoy a sheltered picnic area along the banks of Big Creek. The water is often deep enough for swimming.

A 1/2 mile trail leading from the back of the picnic area features bottomland habitat and bottomland tree species. The trail winds along Big Creek and offers 2 or 3 deep old-fashioned fishing holes.

Download the Outbound mobile app

Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.

Get the app

Features

Chillin

Swimming

Dog Friendly

Easy Parking

Family Friendly

Forest

Groups

Picnic Area

River

Scenic

Wildflowers

Swimming Hole

ADA Accessible

Reviews

Have you done this adventure? Be the first to leave a review!

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Explore the Arch of the Gods

Hundreds of people will drive past this trail and arch on the weekends and never know they just drove past one of the best sights within the Garden of Gods Wilderness of the Shawnee National Forest. It is a few hundred feet off the road on the way to the more popular Garden of the Gods Observation Trail. To find it, look for the first pull out on your way to the main attraction of Garden of th...

Hike Rim Rock National Recreation Trail

Rim Rock Trail follows the edge of the bluff top, hence its name, and features vistas of a slot canyon below, a stone fort used by prehistoric Native Americans, a cave used on the Underground Railroad, and diverse wildlife habitats. Located near very popular Garden of the Gods, Rim Rock is sometimes overlooked. It shouldn't be. Most of the trail is paved with rock, and after the first 100 yards...

Garden of the Gods Trail

Hike the Garden of the Gods Observation Trail

In the southernmost part of Illinois, Shawnee National Forest is a wonderful natural area that transports you far from the flat agricultural landscape typical of so much of the Midwest. Located in the central area of the forest, Garden of the Gods is a 3,318-acre wilderness area characterized by unique rock formations, deep layers of forest, amazing views and fantastic hikes along rivers and th...

Paddle or Swim at Pounds Hollow Recreation Area

This 25 acre lake within the Shawnee National Forest was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. There are several large picnic areas and shelters available along with a sand beach and swimming area. The hollow is surrounded by sandstone bluffs and sharp cliffs and provides an excellent day paddle or catching the many bass or catfish. Only electric motors are allowed for fishing boats and mo...

Hike to Cave-in-Rock

Located in a Southern Illinois State Park bearing its name, Cave-in-Rock is a 55 ft wide limestone cavern that sits along the banks of the Ohio River. Once a site of Murderers, River Pirates, and a brothel is now a crown jewel of the Illinois State Park system. The beauty of the area and the dark history of the area led Hollywood to shoot scenes for "How The West Was Won" in 1962. Today, the sh...