Amidon Conservation Area

Continuing with our monthly series, "Adventures With Uncle Bob-Guide to Self-Adventures," we feature Cedar Glade Trail in Amidon Conservation Area. This area was featured in the Shawnee newsletter in late 2004; however, it has disappeared on the website and newsletter archives. Here it is again.

Directions: Cross the bridge at Chester, IL, and take Mo 51 thru Perryville, Missouri. Continue on 51 south for a few miles to County J (look for the fire tower). Drive approx 10 miles on J, look for the brown Amidon sign, and drive 0.9 mile on Rt 208 to the parking area. Cedar Glade trail is one mile in length. The Castor River, over time, has cut into the pink granite rock to create gorge-like chutes between the narrow shut-ins. The trail is at times both at river level with roaring cascades, as well as above it, becoming a rim trail on stone glade. At a point where the trail makes a right turn to leave the canyon, take a side trail for an overview of a gray granite glade which looks like a jigsaw puzzle put together. There must be 50 acres of this glade.

While this may seem like a short trail to be worth the drive, why not combine this with two trails at Perryville: Perry County Community Lake loop and Ball Mill Natural Area. Descriptions of both at: http://illinois.sierraclub.org/shawnee/unclebob/adventures.htm. coordinates are 37' 33.099 latitude and 91' 47.469 longitude. As of May,2009 there was an inland hurricane with substantial damage here-better call a dept of conservation office in Cape Girardeau first to see if it has been restored.

Amidon area is further described in the book: Conservation Trails-A Guide to Missouri Dept of Conservation Hiking Trails. Further info from Bob Tyson at 684-5643 or robkay43@webtv.net