Hike across the adorable Pomona Natural Bridge in Southern Illinois. It’s an off-the-beaten-path adventure you won’t want to miss!
Our family is (more than) a little obsessed with land bridges. We love hikes to and over these natural wonders. So far, we have hiked to Rockbridge in Hocking Hills (the longest natural land bridge in Ohio) and Bell Smith Springs Natural Bridge (the highest rock bridge in Illinois). So, when I heard about this small(ish) natural bridge, you know that I HAD TO include it in our Shawnee National Forest vacation itinerary.
The hike was short. It’s difficulty level was easy to moderate. And, walking across and viewing the natural bridge was a rewarding experience. We highly recommend it!
Getting to the Pomona Natural Bridge Trailhead
It’s pretty easy to find the Pomona Natural Bridge trailhead… if you don’t allow your GPS unit to trick you anyways.
From the very small town of Pomona, you will travel down Natural Bridge Road and then 750 to the trailhead.
Here’s the tricky part though. Partway along Natural Bridge Road, your GPS might tell you that you have arrived as you are just passing by a farm field. Don’t believe your GPS though! You have NOT arrived; keep going. Eventually you will fork to the left on to 750 (a narrow dirt road). Take 750 all the way to the end. There is no mistaking that you have reached the trailhead as you will see a few parking spaces, a trail, some signage and a picnic table. NOW YOU HAVE ARRIVED.
Pomona Natural Bridge Trail
This easy(ish) hike is less than a mile long and very rewarding.
You start with a ¼-mile hike down a steep wooded hill to reach the Pomona Loop.
The loop itself is only 1/3 mile long. It will take you around and over the small and adorable natural land bridge. Along the way, you will see the bridge from a variety of vantage points.
After completing the short loop, you will hike the ¼ mile trail back to the parking area.
The loop itself is pretty easy hiking. The toughest part of the hike is climbing the steep hill back to the car.
Pomona Land Bridge and Other Highlights
There are several opportunities to view this natural wonder while hiking the loop. We chose to hike the loop in a clockwise direction, and it worked out well. I think that route provided the best viewing angles of Pomona Natural Bridge.
Natural Bridge Views
Pomona Land Bridge is about 90 feet long and is 8 feet across at its widest point. Instead of having a traditional arch shape, this bridge made of sandstone is more of an incline. At one end, it stands at about 25 feet high; the other end is about 30 feet high.
During the hike, you can see a sideview of the bridge from a distance at a little viewing area with a bench. As you approach the bridge, there are nice clear views of the bridge from below. It’s fun to take in the scenery from atop the bridge. And, after walking across the bridge, there are some nice viewpoints from above.
Other Highlights
Wildflowers – We did this hike in early April, and we were delighted with all of the wildflowers growing along the trail. We were surprised to find there were even wildflowers growing on top of the bridge itself. (When we have visited other land bridges, the bridges themselves were typically a bald rock surface barren of much vegetation.) My two youngest kids were not impressed to find a couple of bees visiting the wildflowers on the bridge as we walked across. Ha!
Greenery – This natural bridge is located in a wooded area so there was lots of plantlife and trees along the trail. It was a nice change from the rocky bluff areas that we had been used to hiking in Shawnee National Forest that trip.
Bench-Hugging Tree – Our family was absolutely delighted to discover a tree that had grown right into a bench at one of the viewing areas. The tree had grown so close to the back of the bench that some of its trunk had grown right into the cracks of the bench’s wooden slats. It almost looked as if the tree was pouring right through the back of the bench.
Wooden Bridges – The trail crossed over several stream beds and there were little wooden bridges to help us cross each one. It created a cozy picturesque environment even though the stream beds were mostly dry during our visit.
Helpful Hiking Tips
If you plan to hike the Pomona Natural Bridge Trail, here are a few helpful tips.
Go Before You Go – There are no bathrooms on site. Not even vault toilets. So hit the restrooms before you drive over to the trailhead.
Pack a Picnic – There is a picnic table on site, and it is situated in a nice little shady area. It would be a lovely place to enjoy a picnic lunch.
Bring a Map – Download and print the official USDA Brochure and Map (PDF document) ahead of time. That way, if your GPS tries to steer you wrong as ours did, you can refer to the paper map.
Stay on the Trail – Like in most areas of Shawnee National Forest, this area could have poison ivy and even some venomous snakes. It is recommended that you stay on the trail. That helps to keep the area pristine for others to enjoy it as well.
Be Cautious on Wet Trails – It is easy to slip on some of the trail surfaces when wet including the natural bridge’s stone surface. Please use extra caution during wet seasons and on rainy days.
Happy (Natural Bridge) Trails!
Would you like to see this natural wonder?
Have you ever hiked over a land bridge before?
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The GPS part made me laugh. There’s a Sonic in Orlando we never found. Ha! I like the tree in the bench. I love it when stuff like that happens.
Yeah. I was glad to have a paper map on hand when we were driving between two big farm fields and our GPS announced that we had arrived. Other than that little snafu, it was an amazing experience!