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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.