Giant City State Park

Continuing with our series,:Adventures With Uncle Bob-Guide to self adventure in Southern Illinois",we feature less known places within or near the park. Directions: From Carbondale, take US 51 south 10 miles to the turnoff for Makanda.  Follow the switchback road downhill to the downtown. Turn left,and enter the park.
Our first stop is Fern Rocks Nature Preserve. There are 2 small parking areas on the right and also a larger one on the left. GPS 37.61866 and W89.19564. This is a 2 mile loop.  We will start on the right and walk the base of a continuous pretty cliff line as it zig zags up and down. Rare plants are found here. Soon there are steps and staircase to the top and we continue with frequent overlooks below the cliffs. The trail gradually descends to base level and continues along the cliff line and back to the parking area. From here, the park road takes you to other cliff area trails such as Devil's Standtable, Giant City, and Indian Creek shelter. Signage is clear so further elaboration from me is not needed.
Back in Makanda, turn right onto Old Cobden rd, go past the 4th red and white pole and watch for the River  to River marker on the left side of the road( blue "i"). park roadside and climb steeply to a junction of Red Cedar Trail and the River to River.  The former takes us along the top of this half mile cliff line with distant views; the latter walks the base of the cliff line. Eventually both merge. Walk a little further past the merger to a nice shelter cave. Turn around and take the opposite trail segment back, and descend the trail back to the car.
Upon returning to the car,drive on further a few miles and turn left on Giant City State Park Rd and then an immediate right turn. This road will ascend south. As soon as you see a small farm and mailboxes, turn left into a parking area. Cross the road and follow a lane bordering the house and the trail will go along the edge of woods and field. Soon the trail will descend steeply thru woods to the bottom. Now we are on the Red Cedar Trail which runs 10-12 miles. At the point where it makes a sharp right curve( marker #12),go off-trail a short distance to a nice seasonal waterfall over a shelter cave.  A massive sandstone glade is noted.  Either follow Red Cedar from here or return to the car. More info from Bob Tyson at 684-5643 or robkay43@webtv.net.

Hogg Bluff Scenic Area

Continuing with our series,"Adventures With Uncle Bob-Guide to Self-adventure in Southern Illinois",we feature Hogg Bluff geological wonders. Directions: From Marion,ill take 1-57 to 1-24 to Tunnel Hill exit, cross US 45,and follow about 6 miles to a left onto Gum Springs Rd(just south of the church). This good road will bring you to an unmarked Shawnee National Forest parking area after crossing a bridge. An alternative direction as follows: go east from Marion on rt 13,turn right on rt 166,go thru Creal Springs,and turn right on US 45. Follow this to a left turn on Gum Springs rd just south of the sign for Ozark.
From the parking lot,note the user-made trail going west along beautiful cliffs. This is Cedar Wonders(scroll index for Cedar). It is also a parking access for River to River trail. Cross the paved road and walk east on an old road: the River to River trail turns right; we go straight ahead on an abandoned railbed. This will be a 25 minute walk to our goal as we view distant cliff lines on the left and marsh/swamp on the right. GPS N37.29742 and W-88.45467.  Alas! a 150 ft isolated massive boulder empompassed by a semi-circle creek. Look for an unmarked trail to its top for great views. Evidence suggests that indians used this top for ceremonial purposes rather than military functions. This mass formerly was surrounded by a lake until the Illinois Central railroad put its railbed thru it.  Visible from the roadbed is a perfect semi-circle cliff line on the north side of the creek-very unusual.. Back up to a place where you can cross the creek and bushwhack along the base of the cliff line. On 2-19-13 I found  extensive icicyles dripping from cliffs,many cliff overhangs,and one rockhouse about 25' deep and 40' length. Ownership is confusing: the railbed has private property signs posted as no hunting or fishing, but no postings at the geological oddities. This railbed will run all the way to Camp Ondessonk.More information on this area,contact Bob Tyson at 684-5643 or robkay43@webtv.net.
3-1-13: a reader clarified ownership. camp ondessonk owns the railbed and postings to keep people from straying off the trail. The geological area belongs to Shawnee National Forest.

Spring Sierra Club Meetings/Programs 2013

Febr 14. Challenge of Large Carnivore Conservation. The speaker is Clay Nielson,SIU Wildlife Research lab.
March 14. Electric Vehicle Conversion Project. Speaker Ralph tate from SIU Automotive Dept converted an existing vehicle to electric propulsion. His car will be available afterwards to view.

April 11. Alligator Snapping Turtles. Speaker is Scott Ballard, biologist with IDNR. He will present the project of returning the world's largest freshwater turtle to its historical range.

May 9. New Primate Species Discovered. Speaker is Susan Ford.

All of these programs are 7pm and held at the Carbondale Township hall 217 E main. You have to park in back of the building (parking lot) and use the back entrance. Use monroe street. If there are further questions, contact Bob Tyson at 618-684-5643.

Shawnee Forest Volunteer Work Days

here is the schedule for spring 2013. You are required to pre-register at 618-833-8576 or shawneevolunteercorps@yahoo.com..   This enables the Shawnee to see if there is sufficient interest as well as how much tools to bring along. Bring lunch,water,sturdy shoes,gloves. most work will start at 10am. We will work at 2 trails: Panther Den Wilderness( PD) and Indian Point Trail in Garden of Gods Wilderness( GOG).
Febr 9-gog, Febr 23-PD, Febr 24-gog, March 2-PD, March 10-gog, march 16-PD, March 31-PD, april 7-gog,  April 20-PD, April 21-gog, May 11-gog, and May 18-gog.

activities include brushing trail, hauling gravel in pails, construct waterbars, cross-saw, raking,etc.

Winter-Spring Sierra Club Outings 2013

Shawnee sierra Club requires an RSVP for each outing at 684-5643 Bob Tyson. Missouri Sierra also requires an RSVP (see numbers below). The River to River Trails Society( R-R) does not required RSVP,however dogs are not allowed. Directions to their trailheads are also available at my 684 number.When R-R outings are available, I will post them on this same page.

Jan 13. Shawnee Sierra. Hogg Bluff/Cedar Wonders near Ozark,ill. Car pool starts 10am. View geological oddities,pretty cliff line,and indian painting. More info on the area at http://semissourian.com/blogs/pavementends/entry/45948.
Febr 10. Shawnee Sierra. Ranbarger Hollow Trail near Alto Pass,ill. car pool starts 12:30. Continuous ridgetop ravine views during leafoff. scroll this blog index here for more info on the area.
Febr 13. Missouri Sierra. Giant City State Park in Makanda. Doug at 636-288-1055.
Febr 27. Missouri Sierra. Hawn State Park(35 miles NW of Chester). Doug 636-288-1055.
March 10. Shawnee Sierra. Bulge Hole Ecological Area, north of Vienna. car pool starts 11am. numerous shelter caves,waterfall,and scenic cliff lines in this horseshoe-shaped canyon.Scroll this blog index for more info on the area.
April 7. Shawnee Sierra. Thacker Hollow near Karber Ridge,ill. car pool starts 9:30am. Well-built trails #184-183 provide unusual cliff formations,spring flowers,and steep ravine views. scroll this blog index for more info on the area.
May 5. Shawnee Sierra. Trail of Tears State Forest in union county. car pool starts 12:30. This outing will walk the north face forest road and enjoy frequent ridgetop views into valleys. scroll this blog for more info on this place.
2-19-13: I have now received the hiking schedule for river to river trails society. These do not require rsvp. no dogs allowed. bring lunch,water,hiking shoes. If you don't how to find the meeting points,feel free to call me at 684-5643.
March 9. Raum Rd to One horse Gap. meet Herod post office. 10am
March 16. Dutchman Lake area. meet at Vienna ranger station 10am
March 23. Garden of the Gods to Hitching Post trailhead. meet backpackers parking lot. 10am.
April 6. Burden Falls to Durfee Cemetary. meet at Burden falls on forest road 402, 4 miles west of Delwood.
April 13. Rice Hollow and Buzzard Roost. meet backpackers parking lot. 10am.
April 20. Sand Cave to Bell Smith Springs. meet at hunting branch picnic area, just before the main parking area at Bell Smith springs. 10am.
April 27. jackson Hollow/Jackson Falls. meet at the climbers parking lot. 10am.
June 1. national Trails Day. Meet at Tecumseh statue in Saline County Fish and Wildlife area. This is on the road south of the town of Equality, which also leads to Garden of the Gods. 10am.

Rim Rock Trails

Continuing with our series,"Adventures with Uncle Bob-Guide to Self-Adventure in Southern Illinois", we feature Rim Rock National Recreation trail in Shawnee National forest.  Directions: From Harrisburg,ill, take us 45 south to a left turn on Rt 145. Follow it past Mitchelville and a left onto Rt 34. Follow this past Herod,Ill and turn left on Karber Ridge Rd.  This road will pass Garden of the Gods, High Knob, and another 4 miles to the well marked entrance.
Along with ample parking in the paved lot, there is a rest room and numerous picnic tables.  Note the sign board with an orientation to the trails and history of the area.  GPS coordinates are 37  36'  8.76"N and 88  16'  41.97"W.  We are confronted with 3 trail choices: left, right, and straight ahead.  The left segment provides continuous views 70 ft below the paved trail into the canyon; On the left, we also parallel continuous sandstone glades. We come to an observation deck.If you took the center trail which is also paved, it arrives at the same deck.  This trail isn't as scenic-just goes thru woods and has a long descent.This one is also paved. That left segment is accdessible for wheelchairs as far as the deck. The brochure states that a loop of both trails is one hour.  From the deck we descend a staircase thru a rock tunnel maze and arrive at the base of the cliffs.  Going to the right, we encounter Ox-Lot Cave.  This is a massive cliff overhang but has very little depth; Rather it is more noted for historical significance.
Now we are following a dirt base trail which provides views of tall pretty clifflines. A junction appears: a left goes 0.5 mile to Pounds Hollow Lake and a right continues our baseline trail back to the parking lot.  Soon our trail becomes a canyon with tall cliffs on both sides of the trail. Near the end, the trail suddenly climbs thru switchbacks.  We arrive at the 3-way junction and parking lot.  You will note numerous resting benches on all 3 trail segments.
More info from Bob Tyson at 684-5643 or robkay43@webtv.net.

Horse Creek Trail

Continuing with our series,"Adventures with Uncle Bob-Guide to self-exploration in Southern Illinois",we feature the above trail in Shawnee National Forest.  This trail disappeared off our old website. Directions: From Jonesboro,illinois, go west on rt 146 to rt 3, turn left and drive about 10 miles to the village of McClure, turn left by the schoolhouse onto Grapevine road. Proceed about 5 miles and turn right on Oxford Rd (the Forest Service refers to it as FR 220). If you go by an abandoned campground, you went too far-back up. Our route up to this point has been very scenic. Drive up the steep gravel road,fork right onto the lane with grass in the middle, and you will see two trailheads. As a loop trail, I prefer the second one.GPS coordinates are N37 18' 19" and W 89  22' 16.28".
The trail has a number of switchbacks with many overlooks over the countryside and ravine views. This trail is rugged. Eventually we descend to the bottom of the canyon and a "T" intersection. If you go right it will end at a pond. Proceed left. In the spring you will be overpowered by the sounds of Cicada insects. Good pictures at http://www.semissourian.com/blogs/pavementends/entry/38670. If the link doesn't go, re-type it in your browser. Along the bottom of the canyon we climb in and out of hollowed-out creekbeds.At some point we come to an unclear junction and I hope my blue marker is still there. Turn left. The trail now makes a steep ascent back to the top and out to the road. Turn left there and back to your car. Estimated length of this loop was 5 miles.
For another very scenic drive, turn left on Grapevine and drive approx half mile to a road sign( county line road?), turn right and follow several miles and reach rt 127. Go left and follow to Jonesboro. Any comments or questions, contact Bob Tyson 684-5643 or robkay43@webtv.net.