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About
in Southern Illinois Sharon Wittke The southernmost area of Illinois is a giant playground for people who like to get outdoors and explore. The region is dominated by the Shawnee National Forest, which includes more than 280,000 acres of unique and diverse land. In addition, there are more than a dozen state parks and recreation areas south of Route 13.
This agrarian Native American culture diminished as Europeans began to arrive in the 17th century. A steady stream of pioneers forged westward through the southern Illinois wilderness following the Revolutionary War. A number of them put down stakes and began farming, mining and logging in the region.
The reason for all this natural beauty in is that the fourth and final glacier to inch its way across southern Illinois stopped at what is now Carbondale. This glacier receded approximately 13,000 years ago, leaving the rocks and boulders it had transported in its leading edge behind and creating natural geological wonders such as Camel Rock in Garden of the Gods.
Today, people touring in southern Illinois have the opportunity to see all this history and using a bit of imagination, can envision some of the natural and man-made forces which shaped this land.
As the last glacier was receding, prehistoric people began to inhabit southernmost Illinois. During the next 8,000 years, the Native American culture evolved from one that was primarily nomadic and relied on hunting and gathering for food to one of the most advanced agrarian civilizations in the Western hemisphere.
Following are just a few suggestions about the many places in southern Illinois to visit and enjoy:
Giant City State Park, 235 Giant City Road, Makanda, Il 62958. (618) 457-4836. Horseback riding and rappelling are two popular activities at this state park, which is located just 15 minutes from Carbondale. The park, which is named for massive sandstone bluffs that appear to be a city, was home to Native Americans from about 600 – 800 A.D. The remains of a stone wall they erected can be seen near the main entrance to the park. Some of the more recent structures in the park include a stone and timber lodge constructed by Civilian Conservation Corps masons and carpenters during the Great Depression and an 82-foot water tower with an observation deck erected in 1970. Visitors can climb circular stairs to the deck and enjoy a splendid view of the surrounding area.
Union County State Fish & Wildlife Area, 2755 Refuge Rd. Jonesboro, Il 62952. (618) 833-5175 The more than 6,000 acres of Mississippi bottomlands which comprise this natural area are home to an abundance of wildlife. Located about 45 minutes from Carbondale, this is one of the best places for bird watching, particularly if you are interested in predatory birds, such as eagles and hawks, or waterfowl, including geese, ducks and swans. There are about a dozen pairs of bald eagles that have built their huge nests in the bluffs of the refuge. They can be easily spotted in January and February as they tend to their nests, preparing for the breeding season which begins in early spring. Fern Clyffe State Park, Route 37, P.O. Box 10, Goreville, Il 62939. (618) 995-2411.
Named for the beautiful and abundant ferns that grow in this 2,430 acre state park in Johnson County, Fern Clyffe, about 45 minutes from Carbondale, is an ideal location for fishing, hiking, horseback riding and camping. A sixteen acre scenic lake is home to blue gill, red ears, crappie, bass and channel catfish, making this a popular place for bank fishing. A one-mile hiking trail encompasses the lake and continues up a fairly steep grade around Round Bluff Nature Preserve, which boasts over 700 different species of plants and a variety of geological formations.
Tunnel Hill Bike Trail, Highway 146 East, P.O. Box 671, Vienna, IL 62995. (618) 658-2168. Experienced cyclists can complete the 45 mile bike trail that extends from Harrisburg to Karnak and connects the communities of Belknap, Vienna, Tunnel Hill, New Burnside, Stonefort and Carrier Mills in a day, enjoying the varied terrain and spectacular scenery along the way. The trail, also used by hikers and joggers, was constructed in an old Chicago and Eastern Illinois railroad bed. The lowest elevation of the trail can be found at either end (Harrisburg at 370 ft. and Karnak at 340 ft. above sea level) and gradually increases its gradient to the highest point on the trail - Tunnel Hill at 680 ft. Named for the only tunnel on the route, this trail intersects other well-known trails, including the Trans America Bike Route, the River-to-River Trail and the Trail of Tears, which is the route taken by the Cherokee when they were forced to leave their home in the Smoky Mountains to resettle in Oklahoma during 1838-1839.
A bit more than an hour, but well worth it: Millstone Bluffs, Route 147 N.E., Webster #5, Robbs, Il 62985. (618) 253-7114 The remnants of a Mississippian Indian village sit atop this scenic bluff deep in the Shawnee National Forest. The area was inhabited by both Woodland Indians (about 1,500 years ago) and Mississippian Indians (around 1,000 – 500 years ago). An interpretive half-mile trail leads to the top of the bluff, where historic markers indicate the site of the village. There are approximately 24 depressions that mark the places where homes once stood , a “stone box” burial ground and several petroglyphs (rock engravings). The area was named for the huge millstones quarried and fashioned from the bluff’s sandstone by settlers during the 1800s. The millstones were used to grind grain into flour. Another archaeological site open to the public is Kincaid Mounds, located approximately 10 miles east of Brookport along the Ohio River Scenic Byway. There are 30 foot tall mounds encircling a level plaza area, which was used for Mississippian social gatherings and political meetings. To find out more about Kincaid Mounds, visit www.kincaidmounds.com.
Bell Smith Springs Recreation Area, Eddyville Rd. Eddyville, Il 62928. (618) 253-7114. Over 20 percent of all the plant species in Illinois are found in the Bell Smith Springs Recreation Area, including some that are rare or endangered. The area also contains some of the region’s most unusual landforms, such as a natural rock bridge, Devil’s Backbone and Boulder Falls, four streams and several cool spring-fed pools. Eight miles of interconnected trails ranging from moderate to difficult criss cross the area. To reach the pools, hikers descend a stone staircase put in place by Civilian Conservation Corps workers during the Great Depression. Campsites are available in the recreation area at Red Bud Campground.
Garden of the Gods Recreation Area, Garden of the Gods Road, (northwest from) Karber’s Ridge, 62955. (618) 253-7114. One of the most well-known recreation sites in southern Illinois, Garden of the Gods is home to magnificent rock formations created millions of years ago when uplifted sedimentary rock was sculpted by the natural erosive forces of freezing and thawing water and windblown sand. Some of the unusual formations include hoodoos, which are tall, thin spires of rock, and liesegang banding, which are dark reddish-brown swirls and rings on the rocks created by iron mixed in the sandstone. Hikers can also perch on high bluffs which overlook the Shawnee National Forest – the views are spectacular. About five miles of trails intersect the
densely wooded area, the most popular being Observation Trail which takes hikers to view the formations of Camel Rock, Anvil Rock and Mushroom Rock. Not far from Garden of the Gods, Pounds Hollow and Rim Rock Recreation Areas offer rugged hiking, interesting geologic formations and at Pounds Hollow, a refreshing cool lake to take a swim.
Cave-In-Rock State Park, #1 New State Park Road, P.O. Box 338, Cave-in-Rock, Il 62919. (618) 289-4325. Situated along the Ohio River, Cave-in-Rock State Park, named for the 55-foot wide cavern that was carved by natural forces from the sandstone bluffs, has an intriguing history. The first Europeans discovered the cave in 1729, and it figured prominently in post-Revolutionary War times as a den for thieves, thugs, and other criminal elements. One of the cave’s most notorious occupants was Samuel Mason and his gang of bandits, who lured early settlers to the cave by offering them assistance, then robbing them. In the early 1800s, the Harpe brothers, a pair of killers fleeing justice in Kentucky, hid in the cave and continued to rob and murder innocent settlers until their eventual capture. The park also has several hiking trails and offers a scenic view of the Ohio River with its barges and other boat traffic. To find out more about these sites and others too good to miss, visit the Shawnee National Forest website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/shawnee/ and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources website at http://www.dnr.illinois.gov.
p m a C e s Ba ec t SIUC R a l ta n e R nt Equipme r o o td u O
Center
need gear?
Base Camp has all the outdoor equipment you need to enjoy the parks and wild areas of southern Illinois. Are you just getting a feel for the hiking, fishing, and other outdoor activities that are available or are you sure you’ve tried it all already? Visit Base Camp and you’re sure to find something new. Flier racks outside of Base Camp, just across the hall from the free weight room, have all kinds of information about hiking trails, camping, rock climbing, boulders, fishing, and much more!
Clinics August 31 Gourmet Smores at Campus Lake September 13 Ethics Clinic at the Rec October 4 Cooking Clinic at the Base Camp Office October 11 Climbing Techniques at the Rec
(618) 453-1276 reccenter.siu.edu Hours:
Monday - Friday: 3:00pm - 6:00pm Saturday: 9:00am - Noon Sunday: 4:00pm - 7:00pm