An Illinois State Trail of Tears, one of Illinois' state
forests, is situated in western Union County, five miles
northwest of Jonesboro and 20 miles south of Murphysboro. Just
over 5,000 acres are within the State Forest. The State Forest
System in Illinois was established to set aside lands for the
growing of timber needed in production of forest products, for
watershed protection and to provide outdoor recreation. Trail of
Tears State Forest is a multiple-use site managed for timber,
wildlife, ecosystem preservation, watershed protection Trail of
Tears State Forest lies within the southern section of the Ozark
Hills, one of the most rugged landscapes in Illinois. The hills
are composed of chert (a weathered limestone residue). Soils are
shallow and susceptible to erosion. Ridge tops are narrow,
rocky, and dry. Clear streams with gravel bottoms are in the
narrow forested valleys, hemmed in by the steep terrain. The
variety in plant communities is influenced by the terrain. Dry
ridgetops and south-facing slo