Saturday, April 15, 2023 Hike Announcement

The River-to-River Trail Society announces its 7th public hike of the 2023 spring hiking season on April 15th. Hiking: Crow Knob and Miller Grove National Historic area (Pope County). This hike is free and open to the public. This will be a hike of moderate difficulty, 5 miles in length 3.5 hours hiking time. This will be a loop hike. The leader of this hike can be reached at 708-471-7500 for more information. Hikers should meet at 10:00 am at intersection of Cedar Grove Rd & the R2R Trail. This hike is intended for people in good health who have done some hiking. Hiking sticks and boots or sturdy shoes are recommended. Hikers should bring their own water and snacks. No dogs please. There are 5 stream crossings which may contain moving water and hikers may need to walk rocks in order to cross some of the streams. Some of this hike will take place on rocky terrain and sloped areas.

For a map to the intersection of Cedar Grove Rd. and the R2R trail click this blue link April 15th hike, parking and a map will open up, then click the Directions button and a driving map will be created which will allow you to plan your driving directions to the parking area. Driving directions from the north: From the intersection of Hwy 145 and Water Tower Road turn west onto Water Tower Road and go 0.8 miles. Turn left on Archery Road and go 0.7 miles. Turn right onto Ozark Road and go 1.3 miles. Turn left onto Cedar Grove Road and go 3.1 miles. Parking will be on the right. Driving directions from the south: From the intersection of Hwy 147 and Cedar Grove Road turn north onto Cedar Grove Road and go 3.0 miles. Parking will be on the left.

Prior to participating in any hikes, the River-to-River Trail Society requests that all hikers read the 2023 Trail Society Waiver which can be found on the River-to-River web site at the following link River-to-River Trail Society Information and then sign off on this waiver prior to the beginning of the hike. A copy of the waiver will be at the meeting area for your signature.

Saturday April 1, 2023 Hike Summary

On Saturday April 1st, 7 hikers (none were ‘new’ hikers) met Sam Morales, hike leader, at New Simpson HIll school, on a sunny, windy, cool morning. We then moved out to the Gum Springs Trailhead. The parking area already had 2 horse trailers.  We headed out on the River to River trail. We had just enough rain the previous day or so, to make the trails a little bit, but not “too” muddy, and yet make streams flow with waterfalls nicely flowing. We were easily able to see several cascades during the entirety of the hike. Our 1st main stop, at the top, then the bottom, was Easter basket Falls. It was flowing nicely. On our way over to the next spot, we met a small crew of horses and riders. We then got to the Easter Basket arch, which 2 hikers took turns being “king”. On the way to our next stop, we saw a deer, down in a creek, which was either caught in something or injured. It eventually got free, but was hobbling We were able to find 2 windows, 1 we knew about, another was pretty small, that maybe a fist could go through. We then made it to J. D. Falls, where we stopped and ate lunch. We also took the group picture at J.D. Falls.  We then climbed up and went to the sandstone barrens above the J.D. falls, which had water coming in from 2 directions. We encountered another small group of horses/mules with their riders, which hike leader Sam Morales helped with some directions. We hiked a bit over 5 miles. Some went the short trek over to Hogg Bluff, which is on Camp Ondessonk property afterwards. 

I am sorry this gets out so late. It is Not Pres. Bill Gilmours’ fault that this is just now coming out. Mine. 

The hike this week, Saturday, April 8th, is meeting at Camp Cadiz, which is south of the Karbers Ridge blacktop. Steve Melville is leading us into some interesting areas. Until then, See Ya’ll “On the Trail”.