Blue Hole Trail

Continuing with our series, "Adventures With Uncle Bob-Guide to Self-Adventure in Southern Illinois," we feature the above trail this month. Find directions from this blog index for Peter Cave Trail. Again, we park at the River to River trail crossing on Cedar Grove Road, go east, and 1.5 miles later, arrive at a junction with two trails: Peter Cave and Jackson Hole. We take trail #497 (Jackson Hole). The sign says 2.2 miles to Petticoat Junction.

This Shawnee National Forest trail is adequately marked. While not level grade, it is not steep. We eventually reach Blue Hole after approx 1.5 mile. The creek water does have a blue reflection. This is a pretty cliff line, confined to a small area. Cross the creek on stepping stones to walk the base of the line. On the right, note the long line of shelf overhang as well as the small cave to the left. There is a pole line to tie up horses. Trail #497 goes north from here to Jackson Hole-still says 2 miles and a steep climb. I went one mile on it and did not that the trail is well-graveled on top-a lot of work went into this endeavor.

Back at Blue Hole, I took trail #496A. This pretty rim trail continues to parallel the creek until it seems to end at a creek crossing. Cross it on logs and arrive at Petticoat Junction. There is nothing of significance at that area. It is literally a junction of 3 trails. #496 does continue north. I turned around and returned to the car. More info from Bob Tyson at 684-5643 or robkay43@webtv.net .GPS coordinates at Petticoat are 37 29' 44"N and 88 36' 39'W.

Indian Bluff Trail

Continuing with our monthly series, "Adventures With Uncle Bob-Guide to Self-Adventure," we travel across the border to visit Indian Bluff Trail in Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park.

Directions: Cross the Shawneetown, Illinois bridge on Rt 13 and the highway changes to Kentucky rt 109. Follow for 53 miles to Dawson Springs, Ky. Pick up 109 again in town and travel 10 miles to the park entrance road. Park at the lodge. The trail starts on the road to the right of the swimming pool.

The PNT trail will double with our trail for a while. Indian Bluff starts as a moderate climb thru Oak-Hickory forest and then levels off to a pretty, extensive cliff line. The trail passes thru a large shelter bluff and then descends to the valley floor and golf course entrance. Cross the road, continue on Clifty Creek Trail along the streambed. We travel along the base of a long ravine, dense vegetation, and fields of ferns. Go left to arrive to arrive at Pennyrile dam. Walk on top of the dam and ascend to your parking lot. Our journey was approx 1.5 mile.

There are 5 other trails in the park: descriptions suggest 4 are nature trails and 2 are strenuous. While in the area, we were in the Jones-Keeney Wildlife Area attempting to locate the natural bridge without success. Later, I am led to believe that one should go west on US 62 about 10 miles from town and turn at a cementary, ascend the road and look to the southeast of the plot. While traveling to the park, why not also visit Mantle Rock Nature Preserve (88 ft natural bridge): http://illinois.sierraclub.org/shawnee/unclebob/adventures.htm.

For further info, contact Bob Tyson at 684-5643 or robkay43@webtv.net

Peter Cave Trail

Continuing with our series, "Adventures With Uncle Bob-Guide to Self-Adventure in Southern Illinois," we feature the above trail this month. It is unclear whether this is on Shawnee National Forest land or that of a willing landowner. Respect the "keep out" signs on the side trails and land.

Directions: Tunnel Hill exit on I-24. Follow thru Tunnel Hill, cross Rt 45, and proceed to Rt 147. Turn left and go several miles, and look for Cedar Grove Road (just before the Rt 145 junction). Turn left and proceed approx 2.4 miles, keeping your eye out for the River to River Trail crossing signs. Park on either side of the road and walk east (right) on the R-R trail. It starts out as a narrow trail thru pine plantations for 0.5 mile. Now we encounter an old forest service road-turn left. 0.5 mile later, we reach Crow Knob Ecological area. This is a pretty, circular bluff, although brush impedes circling the bluff at its base. You can walk on the top. Continue another half mile to a couple marked side trails. One is trail 497 to Jackson Hole; the other is for Peter Cave (no trail number). I estimate the distance to the cave as 1.1 miles. It seems to be adequately marked; however, there is a stretch of trail heavily damaged by horse traffic and no way to circumvent it. This trail is level grade up until the end approaches. Now we suddenly descend into a valley where beautiful tall cliff walls form a "U" shape configeration. Note the pole line where you can tie up horses. Climb up 30 ft to enter this huge rockhouse/shelter bluff (not really a cave). I estimate the length at 200 ft, depth at 75 ft,and 30 ft high. Take time to also hike along the base of the cliff line. Two other trails from Hayes Creek Canyon terminate here too so make note of your trail as you return to the car. Remember to turn right upon reaching the junction with R-R trail.I cannot find GPS corrodinates for the cave;However,here are the ones for crow knob which you pass on the way to the cave:37 29' 55"N and 88 37' 56"W. During a 2010 Sierra hike in the winter,there was a 60ft waterfall flowing over the top of the cave-spectacular!
I have forgotten to deal with the ownership issue. The trail and cave are private property according to the owner I ran into during a Sierra hike.  He said it is open to the public-just don't go off trail or leave trash.

I'll deal with Jackson Hole trail in the future when finding an easier access is found: Trail 497 is a real "gut buster" in the first 2 miles. More info from Bob Tyson at 684-5643 or robkay43@webtv.net.

Walk-Away Trail

Continuing with our series, "Adventures With Uncle Bob-Guide to Self-Adventure in Southern Illinois," we feature the above trail in Lake Murphysboro State Park. Directions: From Murphysboro continue west on Rt 149 for a few miles and watch for the brown park sign. Upon entering, come to a "T" junction and go right. Continue east about a half mile and turn left into Big Oak campground where there is parking at the trailhead. I estimate this moderate level trail at approximately 2 miles total. This trail lacks for maintenance, judging by vegetation over the trail, downfalls over the trail, and rotting wood bridges; However, it is clear enough to follow.

The trail traverses a valley surrounded by ravine walls and climbs to a ridgetop. We cross a park road and continue on with similar features. Upon crossing another bridge, note a side trail on the left (a bench is close at hand). I took this side trail for a half mile until it disappeared. The prominent features are unobstructed views of extremely tall trees.

Back to our junction at the bridge, turn left and continue the main trail uphill where it becomes a ridge trail with continuous views of the valley floor. We reach Razorback Point. Follow the staircase to the floor. Turn right, and traverse the valley for a while until it climbs back up to the top of the ridge, making a loop at the intersection. Turn left and follow the trail back to the parking lot. More info from Bob Tyson at 684-5643 or robkay43@webtv.net.

Or check out the state park at www.dnr.state.il.us and click on lake murphysboro state park.

Dutchman Lake Trailhead

Continuing with our monthly series, "Adventures With Uncle Bob-Guide to Self-Adventure in Southern Illinois," we feature a section of the River to River Trail which starts near Dutchman Lake and terminates on US 45.

Directions: Take I-24 to Tunnel Hill/Goreville exit. Turn left and travel approx 2 miles and watch for Dutchman Lake Road. Travel on that road approx 4 miles and continue past the lake entrance to Bowman Bottoms Road. Turn left, go under the freeway, and come to an unmarked old Forest Service road. Either park roadside or on the small lot with the ecological area sign. Note the R2R trail marker about 100 ft up the hill.

As the trail ascends moderately, we pass a small bluff line. Further along, we cross several utility right-of-way clearings, affording us distant views across valleys. Next we go around a small lake and start a descent into a steep valley. We arrive at Big Bay Lake. The trail continues on top of an earthen dam. Note the dark brown cliff wall carved out from the hill. Next we cross Tunnel Hill bike trail. A nice overlook of the valley floor can be had from the nearby bridge. Continuing on, we traverse some scenic ravine views and our trail becomes a rim trail over a bluff line.

Near the end, our trail is on private property (no tresspassing off the trail) and we end up by residences on US 45. My time for this journey was one hour and 40 minutes. Across from US 45 is a building with a sign -"Red Rooster." It appears that hikers could park there if one wants to travel the opposite way on the trail. I turned around at this point and retraced the route back to the car. The trail is wide and well-marked. One note of caution on this return: On the second to last power line crossing, look for a sharp right turn (R2R sign on a pole); continuing straight ahead would take you on an endless circle. GPS coordinates at the midpoint appear to be 37 29" 39"N and 88 50"31"W. When i was here again Sept.,2010 some trail markers are missing so i abandoned the effort. The R-R trails group said they would deal with it. Another approach would be to take the Tunnel Hill bicycle trail 2.5 miles to the 90 ft tressle and get off onto the trail either left or right.During a hike 02/13/2011, it is noted that signage is repaired. If you started from us 45 going west, once you approach the second urility rightaway,turn right and walk the rightaway for 1/8 th mile or so, then turn left and reenter the woods(r-r sign is there); likewise, if you started near Dutchman lake going east, look for the clearing after the crossing of the bike trail. Upon approaching the clearing,go straight ahead and turn left on the obvious path and look for the r-r sign to re-enter the woods. Another adventure is to walk the bike trail from Tunnel Hill for 3.2 miles and then get off on the River to river Trail. The bike trail will cross 3 tressles, including one that is 90 ft above the the valley.

This section is also noted in the River to River Trail Guide Book. Photo courtesy of the River to River Society. Further information from Bob Tyson at 684-5643 or robkay43@webtv.net.

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

Cedar Wonders North

Continuing with our monthly series, "Adventures With Uncle Bob-Guide to Self-Adventure in Southern Illinois," we re-visit Cedar Creek Wonders in Shawnee National Forest. A previous article featured the south end of this area and is indexed on this blog. Now, we visit the north end. From Tunnel Hill, Illinois continue south to the junction with US 45. Go straight ahead and set odometer for 2.4 miles. Turn left onto this narrow gravel road and go approx 2 miles to its end. There is enough parking for 3-4 cars but don't block the gate.

This trail starts out as a rocky wet gully between woods and a field, then encounters a powerline clearing. Walk down the clearing and look for the River to River Trail signs (R-R ). Soon we are at the base of a cliff line. While on the signed trail, bushwhack about 50 ft off-trail to go thru a canyon maze and also view a 10 ft deep cave. Up ahead is a huge cliff overhang. Return to the trail and we descend to parallel the creek. This creek will junction with another creek from the west. The R-R trail crosses one creek to continue straight ahead. YOU WANT TO TURN RIGHT(note a lime green dot on a tree and my orange ribbon). Follow along this creekbed approx 0.2 mile and look for an obvious path to ascend to the base of the cliff line. You are in for a treat! We will travel along a continuous cliff line for the rest of the jouney on this user-made trail. Along the way, I found a rock tunnel, rock shelters,and pretty rock formations. Soon we encounter a waterfall over a rock shelter. After viewing, cross the creekbed and continue the trail.

About a mile later, we cross another small creek and ascend a faint trail to a junction. Both segments are marked with a green dot. Go left. We are going to see a free-standing natural arch about 15 minutes away. Along the route, look above you for a small arch sandwiched between two cliff layers. Our destination is the natural arch. I measured it at 8 ft high, 6 ft wide, and 3-4 ft thick. I have not continued beyond this point and re-traced the route back to the car. Upon return, be sure to note the junction with the two green dots and make the descent to the right(miss this and you could get lost).

I estimate the distance from the car to the arch at 2.5 miles. The trail has continual short ascents and descents. The trail tread is rocky since it follows the base of thee cliff lines. Optimal views of the opposite sides of the canyons are best after leaf-off. on 3-2-11, upon reaching the natural arch, we found out that you can continue straight ahead on the trail and it will descend to th creek and hit the junction with the River to River Trail. Turn north(left) on it and have a shorter route back to the trailhead, rather than returning via the canyons you followed to the arch.
More info from Bob Tyson at 684-5643 or robkay43@webtv.net. You may also contact John O'Dell at 252-6789. There is no map of this area from the Forest Service.