Hayes Creek Trails

Continuing with our "Adventures With Uncle Bob-Guide to Self-Adventure in Southern Illinois," we feature the above area on Shawnee National Forest trails 491A and 491. The Shawnee staff has improved and relocated these trails in the last 2 years. Two of us visited 01/23/2012. Directions: go south from Eddyville on Rt 145 and look for Neighbors Rd and turn right. After 1/4 mile look on the left for sign 491A (room for no more than 3 cars if muddy).

491A descends gradually downhill on several switchbacks with exposed pretty cliff lines on both sides of the trail. Waterfall cascades are abundant. Cliff views will be more prominent during leaf-off since the trail is not directly underneath the walls. After 25 minutes, we reach a junction: 491A straight ahead thru Hayes Creek, 491 south, and 491 north. We first went north (right) on 491. This was muddy in places but as a riverside trail in a canyon, we are treated to continual cliff lines on both sides. 30 minutes later, the water was too high to turn left on it, so we continued straight ahead as 4961. Again this tributary was to deep to cross and connect with 496 and on to the River to River trail. The horse tie up over the creek shows GPS coordinates 37 29' 08"N and 88 37' 19"w.

We retreated back to the junction with 491 and 491A and traveled south on 491. We slowly ascend to a rim top view over Hayes Creek for 200 yards while continuing to take in the pretty cliffs on both sides. Forest did a great job on this segment. Note the 30 ft waterfall cascade. Unfortunately, 491 crossed the creek again as it heads to Bay Creek ranch. This adventure is worth it even if impeded by creek levels. Upon return to the car, we continued further south on rt 145 and turned onto FR 652 sign. It was a good one lane road which took us to two trail heads. The first one shows 031D which goes west to Bay Creek ranch. Driving a little further, another parking area shows a junction for 491A east, 491, as well as #031 west to the ranch. Contact Bob Tyson at 684-5643 or robkay43@webtv.net for further questions.

02/06/12:we returned to Fr 562 rd and parked at jct with 031D. sign says 1 mile to jct with 031. it was well marked but poor trail tread and devoid of scenery. We come to jct 031; go left to see a pretty cliff line and follow to 031H and end up on Cedar Grove Church rd. Go right to follow 031 as a loop back to FR 562. This segment went thru ravines, good tread in places, but cliff lines were more distant from the trail. The time for this loop back to the car was 1 hr 45 minutes.

Peabody/Forest Service Land Swap

The comment period ends Jan 31. While the Shawnee would gve one property near the confluence of the Saline river and the Ohio (Gallatin county) in exchange for 2 Peabody properties, there is an environmental issue regarding the one near the Ohio River. This property protects a maternity roost colony of federally endangered Indiana bats, habitat for Gray bats, high quality natural area which includes rare hardwood forest bottomland.
Tell the Forest Service to stop this swap. Mailed comments may be sent to Hurston Nicholas, supervisor. Shawnee National Forest. 50 Hwy 145 South. Harrisburg,Ill. 62946. The subject of the letter is: ALHI-Shawnee NF land exchange proposal. You may also email to: comments-eastern-shawnee@fs.fed.us

Spring Service Outings 2012

Shawnee National forest depends on volunteers to augment trail building, repair, and clearing trails. For any of the following dates call 618-833-8576 ext 103 or email shawneevolunteercorp@yahoo.com to volunteer, irregardless of the location of any trail. You will be provided with the time and meetup place. Bring lunch, water, appropiate footwear, and gloves. Tools and hardhats are furnished.
Febr 11, 25, March 24, 31, April 7, 14, 21, 28 are all in Panther Den Wilderness. Febr 26-Burden Falls Wilderness, March 25-Millstone Bluff, April 15-Camp Cadiz, May 13 and 19-Garden of Gods.

2012 winter/spring outings

jan 15. Wolfe Creek Scenic Area. car pool 12:30 Murphysboro ranger station. private property.



















long pretty cliff line and waterfall.

Febr 19.. Thacker Hollow. car pool starts Murdale Shopping ctr sign in Carbondale 9am ,or former Wal-mart parkig in Marion 9:30. Deep ravines,500 shelter cave, trail bisecting parallel cliff lines.

March 11. Camp Ondessonk trails. car pool starts 11am Murdale shopping ctr sign or 11:30 former Walmart parking in Marion. trail along tree houses, continuous cliff lines,cedar falls, and cascades.

April 15. Cave Valley Trail and FS 741. car pool at Murphysboro ranger station 1pm. unique varieties of wild flowers along both trails and marshes.

May 6. Limekiln Trail in Cypress Creek Wildlife Refuge. Car pool starts Murdale 11 am or 11:30 former Walmart parking in Marion. views of swamps, tupelo and cypress trees,wildlife.
RSVP to Bob Tyson at 684-5643.
I will add the river to river trail society hikes to this page when available, so add your email to the subscribe button on the blog front page if you want to be notified.

Clayton Hollow Trails

Continuing with our series,"Adventures With Uncle Bob-Guide to Self-Adventure in Southern Illinois," we feature Clayton Hollow Trails. I used the Shawnee National Forest green interim 2011 map for this place. Keep in mind that the map is not drawn to scale, so distances are hard to determine on each trail. Directions: From Harrisburg, go east on Rt 13 to Equality and turn south on the Garden of Gods road. Travel several miles and go left at a stop sign. After a few miles, turn onto High Knob Rd. Take this until a stop sign appears and turn left on Leamington Rd. Follow this about 6 miles to Blackridge Rd. We ascend up this road, passing residences, and after the blacktop ends, start looking for a small parking lot on the right. Trail 184 crosses the road and bisects both Thacker Hollow and Clayton hollow. Cross the road and we will make 184 a loop trail.

We are gradually descending a rim trail overlooking deep ravines. 15 minutes later, we junction with #181. Follow 181 a short distance to a junction with #183. A right turn here takes you back to Blackridge Rd. We will go left on 183 and again we view deep hollows and ravines along the way. Later we reach a confusing junction: 2 unmarked trails, another says "to #184", and the 4th says 183. We continued on 183 and note Pounds Hollow Lake below the trail. At a point where the lake is no longer visible, note an unmarked spur trail (I put pink ribbons there) that took us to a free-standing natural arch 5 minutes away. It is next to a rock glade top.