Enjoy the colors of fall on the Shawnee National Forest

With hues of red, yellow and orange abounding, the U.S. Forest Service is urging people to get outdoors, spend time in rural communities and urban forests, and enjoy one of nature's most spectacular seasons with its Fall Colors 2014 campaign.

In Southern Illinois, the Shawnee National Forest invites you and yours to visit during the beautiful fall season to enjoy some favorite nature-based activities. Whether hiking one of the Forest's many trails, camping, fishing or enjoying one of the Shawnee's many outdoor related interpretive programs, now is a perfect time to plan your next adventure.

"The Shawnee National Forest offers numerous scenic hikes, drives and vistas for fall color viewing," said Allen Nicholas, Forest Supervisor, in a prepared release. "If you are looking for some great outdoor adventures during the autumn season, the Shawnee is a perfect place to visit."

For more information on areas to visit and to help in planning your visit, contact the Shawnee National Forest Headquarters at 800-MY-WOODS. You can also stop by one of the Shawnee's three offices, located in Harrisburg, Vienna and Jonesboro. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For more Shawnee specific information, visit the Forest's website where visitors will find weekly fall color updates, photos and more: http://www.fs.usda.gov/shawnee. Individuals can also stay up to date on fall color related information through the Shawnee National Forest social media feeds on Twitter and Facebook. In partnership with Southernmost Illinois Tourism, the Forest invites users to snap a photo, whether seflie or scenic, posting to Twitter and Facebook using the hashtag #FallinLovewithSoIL to help promote the beauty that autumn brings to the region.