A cottonmouth swims across a pond along Snake Road in the Shawnee National Forest in April. The semi-annual closure of the road is in effect now through Oct. 30 for the fall snake and amphibian migration.
The Shawnee National Forest's famous "Snake Road" closed Tuesday to allow reptiles and amphibians — some of which are considered threatened and endangered — to migrate from their summer homes in LaRue Swamp to their winter hibernation spots in nearby limestone bluffs.
The U.S. Forest Service announced the bi-annual closure on its Facebook page Tuesday. The road will be closed to vehicle traffic through Oct. 30. The road also closes from March 15 to May 15 annually to allow for the migration from the bluffs to the swamps.
Snake Road is more officially known as Forest Service Road No. 345, or LaRue Road. The stretch known as "Snake Road" is closed from mile post 3.0 to mile post 5.8. While it is closed to vehicles to allow the rare species safe passage, it is open to foot traffic. It is located south and west of Murphysboro and east of Illinois 3.
The two-month migration attracts people from across the country to view the diversity of reptile and amphibian species along this single stretch of road. About 66% of the amphibians and 59% of the reptiles known to occur in Illinois are found here, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
While foot traffic is welcome, LaRue-Pine Hills/Otter Pond is a federally designated Research Natural Area and unauthorized collecting and handling of any of these species is prohibited, according to the Forest Service.
For more information about Snake Road, visit fs.usda.gov/shawnee.
Here's what you might see if you visit Snake Road during the migration:
Snake Road 2019
A cottonmouth pauses at it crosses Snake Road on April 12, 2019 during the spring migration.
Snake Road 2019
A cottonmouth swims through the water in a pond along Snake Road in April of 2019 in the Shawnee National Forest.
Snake Road 2019
A plain-bellied water snake is pictured along Snake Road in April 2019.
Snake Road 2019
A cottonmouth rests along Snake Road in April 2019.
Snake Road 2019
A water snake rests on reeds in the swamp along Snake Road in April 2019.
Snake Road 2019
A frog peeks out from a pond along Snake Road in April 2019.
Snake Road 2019
A cottonmouth crosses Snake Road in April 2019 during the semi-annual migration in the Shawnee National Forest.
Snake Road 2018
A cottonmouth crosses Snake Road in the Shawnee National Forest on April 18, 2018, near Wolf Lake.
Snake Road 2018
Scenes from along Snake Road in the Shawnee National Forest on April 18, 2018.
Snake Road 2018
Scenes from along Snake Road in the Shawnee National Forest on Wednesday, April 18, 2018.
Snake Road 2018
Scenes from along Snake Road in the Shawnee National Forest on Wednesday, April 18, 2018.
Shawnee National Forest
A frog peers out from a pond along the 'Snake Road' in the Shawnee National Forest.
Southern Illinois's Snake Road, April 1, 2015
Cottonmouth
A cottonmouth travels along some water near Snake Road on April 1, 2015.
Snake Road
The south end of Snake Road in the Shawnee National Forest.
Snake Road
Snake road closes in the spring and fall to allow snakes and amphibians to migrate to and from their winter hibernation areas.
Snake Road
Snake road closes in the spring and fall to allow snakes and amphibians to migrate to and from their winter hibernation areas.
Snake Road
Not just snakes
A variety of frogs can also be seen along Snake Road.
Cottonmouth
A cottonmouth snake crosses the Snake Road in the Shawnee National Forest on April 1, 2015.
Cottonmouth
A cottonmouth snake slithers across Snake Road on April 1, 2015, as it migrates to its summer habitat in the swamp.
Snake Road
Snake road closes Sept. 1 to allow snakes and amphibians to migrate to their winter hibernation areas.
Observing the wildlife
Ron Tipsword of Sandoval photographs a cottonmouth as it crosses Snake Road on April 1, 2015.
Snake Road
Snake road closes in the spring and fall to allow snakes and amphibians to migrate to and from their winter hibernation areas.
Snake Road
Snake road closes in the spring and fall to allow snakes and amphibians to migrate to and from their winter hibernation areas.
Ribbon Snake
A ribbon snake rests along the edge of Snake Road in the Shawnee National Forest on April 1, 2015.
Slithering serpent
A cottonmouth swims across a pond along Snake Road in the Shawnee National Forest in April. The semi-annual closure of the road is in effect now through Oct. 30 for the fall snake and amphibian migration.
Snake Road
A newt crawls along a log in Shawnee National Forest near Snake Road in April 2019.
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