Trail of Tears State Forest

Trail of Tears State Forest is a State of Illinois conservation area on in Union County, Illinois, United States.
Trail of Tears was established in 1929 when Illinois purchased acres of Shawnee Hills land and used the resulting land to create the "Kohn-Jackson Forest" (later "Union County State Forest"). Soon afterwards, the state park was improved with work performed by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Subsequent land acquisitions created the Trail of Tears State Forest of today. The forest occupies land near the route followed by the Cherokee in December 1838 during their forced relocation in the Trail of Tears.
Today's state forest contains a state tree nursery, the Ozark Hills Nature Preserve, and of trails for hiking and equestrian use. The nearest town of any size is Jonesboro, Illinois.