Shawnee National Forest, in the Shawnee Hills of southern Illinois, is the state’s largest publicly owned tract and spans much of its southern tip. Created in 1939 from the Illini and Shawnee Purchase Units, it includes land once exhausted by farming, later restored in part by Civilian Conservation Corps pine plantings. Its varied scenery reflects a distinctive geological history tied to the edge of ancient Illinoian glaciation, seen in places such as Little Grand Canyon and Cedar Lake. The forest is also a major recreation area with wilderness areas, climbing and other outdoor destinations, while its management has sparked conflict, collaboration, and long-term planning focused on biodiversity.