Temporary closures in Bell Smith Springs Recreation Area
Date/Time
Date(s) - 07/13/2026
12:00 am
Categories
Road maintenance project scheduled to begin July 13
Harrisburg, IL, July 9, 2026— The Bell Smith Springs Recreation Area Road improvement project is scheduled to begin July 13, subject to weather conditions. Road closures within the site will be staggered to allow for visitor access throughout much of the project. All roads will be resurfaced, and repairs are expected to take approximately two months.
Work will be done in three phases, with Phase 1 beginning at Hunting Branch Road. During this section of road work Bell Smith Springs trailhead and parking areas will remain open to the public. Red Bud Campground will remain open until July 15. Phase 2 will include road work on Bell Smith Springs Road south of Hunting Branch Road, and will include the campground, parking lots and bathroom access. Phase 3 will include the rest of Bell Smith Springs Road up to the entrance, so the entire site will close until road work is complete.
These improvements are in response to public concern about the road conditions. To improve roadway drainage, work will include replacing culverts and reestablishing ditches. All roads will be upgraded to a chip seal surface, and parking capacity will expand with the creation of three new overflow parking areas.
The public is asked to use caution when visiting the site due to mobilization of construction equipment. Adhere to road closure signs and drive slowly for everyone’s safety.
While every effort will be made to give early notice of road closures at Bell Smith Springs Recreation Area, consider other campgrounds and trails when making plans to visit the Shawnee National Forest this summer. Visit our website for project updates and additional recreation opportunities. Project closures will be posted under “Alerts” and on our Facebook and X pages or contact our Supervisor’s Office at 618-253-7114.
About the Forest Service: The Forest Service has, for more than 100 years, brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology — and rooted in communities — the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.