Cove Hollow Trail

This is an update to a previous article in our on-going series: "Adventures with Uncle Bob - Your Guide to Self-Adventure"( see that article at http://illinois.sierraclub.org/shawnee/unclebob/adventures.htm).

1. Assuming you started from the trailhead on Cove Hollow Road, the trail will wind along the cliffs for approx 2 miles before you reach a signed trail junction. About 0.2 mile prior to that junction, notice an easy access to the top of the cliff line which has a nice cave. It looks to be 20 ft deep, 5 ft high, and 10 ft wide.

2. The signed trail junction leaves something to be desired. The mileage is wrong-it should be 4 miles from Cove Hollow Road to Pomona Boat Dock Road (park on the latter for a car shuttle). The sign says go left on the trail for Cove Hollow; Go right for Wolf Den Hollow. Both trails will merge back together in less than a mile, and continue to that Pomona Road. I recommend taking the left fork if your interest is scenic cliff lines. The Wolf Den Hollow segment travels thru ridgetop wooded areas, surrounded by ravines.

3. If you traveled north from the boat dock road, the same trail intersection occurs. No signage here. I recommend taking the right fork. For further questions, contact Bob Tyson at 618-684-5643. GPS coordinates are 37.639446 and -89.29056

Cave Valley Trail

As part of our on-going series:"Adventures with Uncle Bob-Your Guide to Self-Adventure in Southern Illinois", we turn our attention to Cave Valley Trail.

Directions: Take Rt 127 south from Murphysboro. Turn at the sign near Pomona for Natural Bridge. While traveling the gravel road north toward the bridge, look for a Forest Service gate and parking area on the right before ascending the steep hill. This trail is an old level-grade forest road. At approx 0.5 mile on the trail, look for an ATV spur trail on the left which will climb steeply to a line of cliff walls. Follow the unmarked trail either direction at the top until it deadends. There are nice views of the valley during leaf-off. Back on the roadbed trail, we are soon looking down into a marsh or wetlands(depending on rainfall) on both sides of the trail, as far as the eye can see. This is a natural area for non-game birds and protected as a nesting preserve. The next point of interest along the way is a marked spur trail which will take you to a large wildlife pond.
Our 1.5 mile trail ends at a wide eroded creek. One could continue across the creek on a trail if you don't mind getting wet. Re-trace the route back to the car. Views of the cliff line from the trail are better on a sunny day during leaf-off. The only detailed information on Cave Valley consists of one page in the Shawnee National Forest DEIS proposal book.

While here, why not continue up the road to Pomona Natural Bridge. The object is viewed from a short walk down steps from its parking lot. The span is 90 ft, 25 ft height, and 10 ft thick. The best photo can be viewed at www.naturalarches.org/gallery-ilpomona.htm. The GPS coordinates at Cave Valley are 89 20' 37.39"W and 37 38' 27.21"N.

For any questions, contact Bob Tyson at 684-5643.

Eagle Mountain Scenic Area

This is a further installment of the on-going series: "Adventures with Uncle Bob-Guide to Outdoor Recreation Opportunites in Southern Illinois".

A Hiking Guide to Eagle Mountain

This area is bisected by the Crest Trail which starts at Glen O.Jones Lake and ends near Old Stoneface. Directions: Take rt 145 from Harrisburg and turn at the sign for Glen O. Jones Lake. You will travel approx 6 miles until the road comes to a "T" intersection. Go right and look for the next road on your left (the sign is turned the wrong way: It should say Eagle Mountain Road). Follow this steep switchback road until it levels off. Look for a boulder along the road surrounded by two trails forming a "V" shape. Either park along the road or travel another 100 yards to a primitive campsite parking area. (see http://illinois.sierraclub.org/shawnee/unclebob/adventures.htm for a partial description of Crest Trail).

At the boulder, take the left trail and soon come to a beautiful boulder-strewn area. The brush between boulders impede an in-depth exploration; However, it is easy to climb up for overlooks. The trail continues steeply downhill and comes to a junction near a long cliff line. Go left to follow a faint trail along the base of this interesting cliff line until the brush gets thick. Return to the junction, go straight ahead, and look for two ribbons on a tree. Turn left and follow the yellow marker leading to the rim trail.

Walking along the rim trail, 75 ft above the valley floor, affords numerous overlooks on the left. Another layer of cliff line (about 20 ft high) is on your right. The line tapers off at some point and I return to the trail junction at the base. If you get confused on which of the three trails return to the top and your car, look for the one with the yellow natural area signs. I have found no brochures for this area. You may want to avoid this road in the event of winter ice, or after heavy rains.

Crest trail has fallen off the above website. This trail is rugged and at least 6 miles. From the Indian statue point of embarkment, we have overlooks over the valley at times. near Eagle Mountain, we are walking along a double-decker cliff line with the trail between both. After crossing Eagle Mountain road, the trail has a nice cliff line for a while, goes thru woods, and arrive at a confusing junction. Turn left and walk a ways to go thru a power line crossing, descend over rocky terrain, and finally end up on a pretty rim trail as you arrive at Old Stoneface.

More info from Bob Tyson at 684-5643 or John O'Dell at 252-6789. The GPS coordinates are N37.669867 and W 88.436112.

Uncle Bob: Jackson Hollow

This is an update to a previous article written on exploring Jackson Hollow in Southern Illinois. See our website at : http://illinois.sierraclub.org/shawnee/unclebob/adventures.htm

1. While hiking on the north side base of the cliffs, having passed the waterfall, you are on trail 402. When you get to a junction with trail 403,make a side trip on the latter for a short distance ..to view a balanced rock resting above a 20 ft boulder. Return to 402 and continue on to the railroad track. Re-trace your route back to the rim access.

2. You may also want to visit the west side of Jackson Hollow by driving down Trigg Tower Road. Just before the horse ranch, look for a small parking area on the right and an orange electric utility box on the left. Park here, walk south about 50 ft and cross a stone glade area. Head downhill and look to your right. You will find a circular rock shelter about 500 ft long , and approx 20 ft deep. A great geological wonder! Photos are available at http://community.webshots.com/user/river2riverhiker. On the search line write:

jackson hollow illinois.GPS coordinates are 37 30' 46.99N and 88 42' 5.65 W  12-13-12: the above website dissappeared.here is a rewrite. From Marion,ill, go east to rt 166,go thru Creal Springs,turn right on us 45, turn left at Ozark,ill. Go about 5 miles,and turn right on the next road after the Trigg tower sign. This road descends to the parking lot. Forget this place on weekends as rock climbers fill up the lot. Upon arrival,walk west to the top of the waterfall. take the user-made trail on the left to enjoy rim top views. The trail turns north and watch for 2 places, about 1/8 mile apart,to descend to the base.Go right and enjoy the cliff line and rock formations along trail 049. We pass the waterfall and continue along the north side of this U-shaped canyon. We reach the railroad tracks. You can retrace your route back to the car,or ascend to the top and arrive at the parking area. To do the latter, turn right and follow the tracks until you see the obvious unmarked trail back to the cliff line. Go about 50 ft and note a gap between a boulder and cliff line and ascend to the top. Go right. You are now on trail 048. Again we have another trail with continuous rim top views. You will walk about 1.8 miles on this section back to the car. 

Swayne Hollow Nature Preserve

This is a further installment of the on-going series: "Adventures with Uncle Bob - Guide to Outdoor Recreation Opportunities in Southern Illinois."

A Hiking Guide to Swayne Hollow (8 acres)

This public area was acquired in November 2006 by the Illinois Nature Preserve Commission. It is 0.5 mile from the Piney Woods Ravine Nature Preserve (see the November 2001 Shawnee Trails newsletter for that hike). The trail is not yet signed, but I did an explore it last December.

Directions from Murphysboro: Take RT 149 to Rt 3. Turn right and travel approx 15 miles to Hog Hill RD (brown sign). This pretty road will soon become Rock Crusher Road. Follow the brown signs to Piney Woods. Upon arrival, by-pass the parking area and continue another half mile to the tree line. I parked along the road and followed an old path downhill to view a stream flowing under a pretty boulder area. The path seemed to vanish at some point. Returning to the car, I drove a short distance to the opening across from an abandoned barn. An ATV path went steeply downhill to the confluence of two creek beds where I viewed a long pretty cliff line and rock formations. There was no way to cross the creeks and follow the rest of the cliff line which veered in a southward direction. I continued west on the user-made trail which afforded overlooks of a creek bed, surrounded by a rock canyon on both sides. Either re-trace your route back to the car or walk uphill to an open field. Turn right and ascend back to the county road. Turn right on that road and walk less than 0.3 mile back to the car.

The Illinois Nature Preserve Commission's mission is to protect the Shining Club Moss, Ground Pine, Chokeberry and Cinnamon Fern species, as well as the aforermentioned geological scenery. No maps are available to the general public (except the one sent to me by the local contact person). For those with compass or GPS, look for USGS topographical map Welge 7.5 minute Quadrangle, Swayne Hollow, Randolph County. For more information, contact Bob Tyson at 618-684-5643 or Judy Dempsey at 687-1169.

Signal Point Trail: Adventures with Uncle Bob

This is a further installment of the on-going series: "Adventures with Uncle Bob - Guide to Outdoor Recreation Opportunities in Southern Illinois".

A Hiking Guide to Signal Point Trail

This trail was first described in our December, 2003 newsletter. It involved a rugged two mile hike from Lake Glendale Road up to its prominent feature. Last year I became aware of an improved road which takes the hiker within one-third of a mile, thru level terrain, to reach Signal Point.

Directions: Take RT 146 past the entrance to Dixon Springs State Park. Continue east downhill to the first road on your left. The green sign marking is illegible. Travel north approximately 4 miles. When the road curves sharply right, pull off into a grassy area near the pine trees. After you walk about 0.3 mile on this wide trail, you will find yourself on a blufftop overlooking the forested valley. At the first stone glade take a short descent to the valley floor and look for a trail on the left. Now you can hike almost a mile along the base of this cliff line.

Notice the unique wavy patterns in the walls, rock formations, and cascades of water from the top of the bluffs. Upon reaching the end of the bluff line, a short switchback to the top brings the hiker to a "T" intersection. The trail to the right traverses a pine plantation which continues "forever". I didn't hike its full length so I don't know where it goes. I speculate that this trail would connect with the Bluff Top Trail at the state park (See the October, 2006 Shawnee Trails newsletter for this hike).

Back at the intersection, turn left and follow it to the the top of the cliffs to complete the loop and return to the parking area. Along this gladetop hike, note the plant communities and overlooks. Be sure to follow the gladetops, not the ATV path. Equestrian groups maintain the base trail; unfortunately, ATV riders tear up the vulnerable parts of the trail when the soil is damp. This trail is on Shawnee National Forest land; however, the ranger stations have no brochures on this trail. I had to get one from the Lake Glendale concessionaire.Approx GPS coordinates N 37.3995 and W 88.6437.

For further information contact Bob Tyson at 684-5643.

Adventures with Uncle Bob: Trail of Tears State Forest

This is a further installment of the ongoing series, "Adventures with Uncle Bob" -- a guide to outdoor recreation opportunities in southern Illinois.

A Hiking Guide to Trail of Tears State Park
Directions: Take IL Rt 127 south from Alto Pass. After approximately 5 miles, look for a brown sign and turn right on this county road. You are now on a scenic road that winds through a canyon and eventually ends at Rt 3 by Wolfe Lake. Watch for a sign that says "North Forest Road". (This road is closed to auto traffic from mid-November to April 30 each year.) This well-maintained narrow road is one-way (east to west) and winds through forested ridgetops for roughly 5 miles. Near the end, it descends through a pine plantation and into a tree nursery. After another half mile you will come to the county's North Forest Road.

This area has abundant picnic facilities and accomodations for equestrians. Along the way you will find frequent views into ravines. Note the numerous signed fire and horse trails (sufficient parking is available at each). I hiked a number of the trails, but did not observe anything that I couldn't view just walking on the road. Equestrians have a trailer parking facility on the county road one-half mile west of the forest road sign. An access trail from that facility leads to the trail system and road.

Drive further on the county road to the picnic area and sign to locate South Forest Tower Road. This is also a one-way, traveling west to east. This road similarly traverses forested ridgetops for three miles and ends at the county road. No horses are allowed on this one. There are also a number of picnic and restroom facilities.

I found the South Forest Road to show more scenic views across ravines than the North Forest Road. While one can drive a vevicle on this well-maintained road, walking the road enhances the total experience. It has a number of fire and hiking trails. Note the gated old fire tower. At the picnic area, you can hike a shorter route to the fire tower on the Heritage Trail; however, that trail is very steep.

Trail brochures for this area are available at the White Barn visitor center and also at any US Forest Service ranger station. For more information on this destination, contact "Uncle" Bob Tyson at 684-5643 The GPS coordinates for the parking area to climb up to south forest tower road are 89 21' 41.36"W and 37 28' 49.36"N. An editor labeled this area wrong. This is Trail of Tears State Forest. The Trail of Tears State Park is 10 miles north of Cape girardeau, Missouri.
3-29-13: 3 of us went up north forest road up to the open area near a sharp left turn which has hunter check station,picnic tables,restroom. we went out on the trail there called Main street north-trails 21-30. we want #26. At the first jct-go left.  Ignore 26B. later go go right at the next jct( lost trail). We have traveled about 1.2 miles so far. We soon bushwhack off our trail 26. Note ribbons and logs on the ground in a V shape. Follow the ridge as it veers northeast and we are in for an experience! Soon we are on a razorback trail approx 6 ft wide with steep ravines on both sides and great views over the countryside. At some point the ridge will make a sharp descent, so we turned around and returned to our departure point. It was worth going off trail. By the way, note that this north road is closed from January thru April and/or turkey season.