A Walk in the Woods: A Guide to Southern Illinois State Parks

by LES WINKELER

No visit to Southern Illinois is complete without a relaxing walk in the woods at one of the half-dozen or more state parks within a 45-minute drive of Marion.

Just a short jaunt down the road can have you at the base of a waterfall at Ferne Clyffe State Park, strolling the streets of a Giant City, or walking along tranquil path looking for warblers at Glen O. Jones Lake.

Ferne Clyffe State Park is just a 20-minute drive south of Marion on Route 37. There are 18 trails that traverse the bluffs and woods of this 2,430-acre wonderland.

The Bork’s Waterfall Trail is the most famous and most traveled of the Ferne Clyffe Trails. It is a comfortable half-mile walk. The tread is wide and flat, making it easily accessible for hikers of all ages. And, the scenery is spectacular enough to hold the attention of more experienced outdoors adventurers.

The trail winds past the base of bluffs, around seep pools and intermittent streams. Even in the heat of summer, the cool moist air coming from the bluffs offers a degree of refuge from the heat.

The end of the trail holds an in impressive payoff – the 30foot drop of Bork’s Waterfall. Although it is an intermittent waterfall, it runs most of the year, the exceptions being the driest part of the summer. The stream leading to the falls is normally filled with small fish, tadpoles and frogs to keep the youngest adventurers occupied.

And, in the spring months, wildflower enthusiasts will want to explore Round Bluff Nature Preserve, located at the southeast corner of Ferne Clyffe Lake.

Normally, during the warm months, the air around the base of the falls is filled with the joyous screams of kids wading in the pool.

In the meantime, some of the most spectacular scenery in Southern Illinois is found just 30 minutes west of Marion at Giant City State Park.

Giant City State Park is one of the gems in the Illinois State Park system. There are eight dedicated trails, one of the most popular being the Giant City Nature Trail. The trail is about a mile in length and is rated moderate. The trail does involve changes in elevation as hikers wind their way through the “streets” of Giant City, which are actually pathways carved through the sandstone bluffs over the past 12,000 years.

The hour-long hike offers some diversity as walkers pick their way through narrow openings in the rock and take boardwalks over a crevice or two. There are several benches strategically placed along the trail to allow visitors to catch their breath while taking in the scenery or looking for birds or other critters.

Giant City is also noted for its diversity of wildflowers.

Glen O. Jones Lake, located in the Saline County State Fish and Wildlife Area, is about 45 minutes east of Marion.

Glen O. Jones Lake is a man-made 100-acre impoundment nestled in the Shawnee Hills. It is reminiscent of a small lake you might see in the Colorado Rockies. It is also home to a statue honoring Tecumseh, the legendary chief of the Shawnee.

There are several trails at Glen O. Jones, but the most scenic is the lake trail that runs along the northern shore of the lake. Immediately upon stepping onto the short trail, visitors feel as if they are in the deep woods. Although they are less than 100 yards from campers or picnickers, deep forest bird species such as wood thrush or scarlet tanagers can be heard or seen.

The trail then winds back into the open, carrying walkers onto a peninsula that allows unfettered access to the lake, an excellent place to see wading birds or waterfowl in the fall and winter.

Following the shore, the trail passes a beaver lodge that has been occupied for decades before carrying the walker back into a more heavily wooded area. The trail continues along the north edge of the lake where it links with the Cave Hill Trail.

F inally, the hunting area of Glen O Jones, included in the Saline County State Fish and Wildlife Area is an excellent location for birding. The flat open lands provide excellent opportunities to view sparrows, common yellowthroat, yellowbreasted chat, indigo buntings, grosbeaks and eastern towhee during the spring and summer months.

Other great recreational opportunities are offered by several state parks near Marion. Visitors might also want to check out Lake Murphysboro, Horseshoe Lake, Dixon Springs, Wayne Fitzgerrell and Fort Massac state parks, all within easy driving distances of Marion. 

For over 35 years, Southern Illinoisans have known that when you want to have the very best in this area, it’s Mary’s. We invite you to see why.