Shawnee National Forest
Shawnee National Forest is home to quite a few interesting places, but there is one that is perfect for a weekend stay: Von Jakob Winery and Brewery. Our winery includes two lovely bed and breakfast cottages that are just a short walk from our establishment and offer a wonderful view of the forest. Our Wine House includes three fully stocked suites: The Canyon Gold Suite, the Chateau Suite, and the Cab Sav Suite and each make an excellent choice for a relaxing and/or romantic get-away. Each suite also has a Jacuzzi tub and comfortable king sized beds. We recently built a grill and pub that serves a variety of dishes and is meant to be a casual place to have dinner and maybe grab a drink or two. We serve a wide variety of dishes such as our German Beef Brisket or our Fried Catfish. There are quite a few drink options to choose from as well. We have a detailed menu of cocktails, craft beers, and wines that are exceedingly enjoyable.
Our guests at Von Jakob Winery and Brewery can check in at the Wine House Friday, stay a minimum of two nights, and enjoy not only the activities we offer, but also those nearby such as the various park and hiking options around the Shawnee Wine Trail.
Giant City State Park
Just a hop, skip, and a jump from our establishment, and made of four thousand acres, is Giant City State Park. This lovely area has eight trails brimming with fascinating flora and fauna and sandstone bluffs that are breathtaking to say the least. Some of these trails are easily navigable and short like the Arrow Wood Trail which is a third of a mile. If you’re looking for a longer hike there is the twelve-mile long Red Cedar Trail. One of the more unique hikes is the short yet awe-inspiring Devil’s Standtable Trail. This particular route has a rock formation that was originally part of the bluffs, but erosion isolated it making stand out against the forest landscape. The trail is also a great location for rock climbing in the Shawnee Wine Trail area as the Devil’s Standtable and the bluffs around it are fifty feet high. Though Giant City State Park is known for its hiking trails, there are a plethora of other activities such as fishing, boating, metal detecting, and hunting. It is certainly not a park to be missed especially since it is only thirty minutes away from Von Jakob Winery and Brewery.
Shawnee National Forest Trails
Giant City State Park may have a few hiking options, but the Shawnee National Forest has quite a few more. One of these in particular is ten minutes away from our brewery and is quite popular. The Pomona Natural Bridge is a third of a mile trail and the titular bridge is ninety feet long, eight feet wide, and made completely out of sandstone. The trail is enjoyed by people of all ages, offers a fantastic walk through nature, and is enjoyed by many guests of the Shawnee Wine Trail.
Little Grand Canyon
One final location worth mentioning became a National Natural Landmark in 1980, is a twenty-minute drive from Von Jakob Winery and Brewery, and is called the Little Grand Canyon. This 3.6-mile-long trail can take three to four hours to complete, but it offers a view of the mighty Mississippi River that cannot be beat. There are canyon walls of sandstone that are over a hundred feet high and house many climbable ledges and grottos. The canyon contains a wide range of wildlife like deer, falcons, and many more.
If you are looking for somewhere to relax and enjoy nature, look no further than Shawnee National Forest and if you need a place to stay, we at Von Jakob Winery and Brewery will do what we can to make it worth your while.