Trail Society Annual Meeting / Picnic

The 2026 River To River Trail Society Annual meeting will be here soon. It is scheduled for Saturday, June 6th, 10 am, at the Dixon Springs State Park, 982 IL-146, Golconda, IL, which coincides with National Trails Day  We have reserved Shelter Number 2 which is located in the back of the park. For a map to the meeting location click Shelter Number 2 above and a map will open up, and then click the Directions button and a driving map will be created which will allow you to plan your driving directions to the meeting area. The Society will be providing grilled brats and hotdogs, buns, table service and bottled water. The rest of the picnic will be a potluck and everyone is asked to bring their favorite dish to share such as a fruit, vegetable, side dish and/or dessert.  You are welcome to bring your own drink and lawn chair.

Dixon Springs State Park is one of several state parks in the Illinois Shawnee Hills. The park is situated on a giant block of sandstone deposited 315 million years ago, which was dropped 500 feet along a fault line that extends northwesterly across Pope County. The resulting rocky scenery gives visitors the chance to explore breathtaking canyons and waterfalls.

For the meeting, there will be reports from various board members about the accomplishments from the past year and possible future projects. During the business meeting, the Society will also be electing Society officers and board members for the next year. Following the business meeting, the Society has planned a speaker. Dixon Springs State Park has many trails to explore after the event.

Please, come join us, learn what being an officer or board member might entail. Bring a friend, or significant other. Enjoy a meal!

Saturday May 2, 2026 Hike Summary

For todays’ hike, we gathered at a curve on a gravel road…on Bowman Bottoms Road. We weren’t ‘in the bottoms” tho. Megan Henderson led 14 hikers, none of which were “new” to the Society. We headed off South along a power line cut, then turned east into the woods, to find the “rabbit hole” a place where you start on top, bend over and crawl thru a cavity, probably created by running water eons ago, and end up coming out a few feet lower. Some also wandered along a bluff wall…to another “crawl thru” area. Along that stretch, we also found some graffiti. 

Next, we headed back out to the power line cut, cut across it to the west side, and worked our way South thru the woods. Megan had told us that most of the day would not be on a trail. We ended up following a small stream, heading west…and Then…we found the Schwegman Sentinels. About 4, Large , independent Rocks, spaced 30-50 feet apart, all in pretty much of a line. After we all climbed up to them, and around them, we continued following the creek, , made a few turns, and then came upon a large bluff line, with a big overhang, shelter bluff. We ate lunch there, took the group picture, and ended up going past them and getting up “on top” of the shelter bluff. By then, there were distant sounds of thunder, skies to the North were getting darker, and, cell phone signal coverage was good enough, that we made the decision we needed to move quickly towards the vehicles. We got out juuuuust as it began to rain. Megan had planned to go to Bulge Hole to look for possible water falls, but, alas, another time. We ended up hiking about 3 miles. 

Next weeks’ hike, on Saturday May 9th,  the Last of the Spring 2026 season, will be led by Bob Mulcahy, in Alexander county, meeting at the Horse Creek trail head, east of McClure. 

Until then, “See ya’ll On the Trail”. 

Saturday, May 9, 2026 Hike Announcement

The River to River Trail Society announces its 10th public hike of the 2026 spring hiking season on May 3rd. Hiking: Horse Creek Trail (Alexander County). This hike is free and open to the public. This will be a very difficult loop hike for experienced hikers, very hilly, approximately 6 miles in length, 3.5 hours hiking time. The leader of this hike can be reached at 708-471-7500 for more information. Hikers should meet at 10:00 am at the Horse Creek Trailhead. This hike is intended for people in very 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. Horse Creek will need to be crossed numerous times and if it has rained hiker’s shoes or boots may become wet when crossing the creek. Rocks may have to be walked when crossing the creek. The McClure Quadrangle Topo map can be used for tracking this hike if using the Avenza App. For a map to the meeting location at the Horse Creek Trailhead click this blue link Horse Creek Trailhead TR 220  and a map will open up, and then click the Directions button and a driving map will be created which will allow you to plan your driving directions to the meeting area. 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 website at the following link https://rivertorivertrail.net/ under the Society Information tab. The waiver will be at the beginning of the hike.

Saturday April 25, 2026 Hike Summary

The skies were bright blue, with a few puffy white clouds and the forest greenery was showing as Carl Brannan led 23 hikers from our meeting spot on Stone Bottom road, down trail 481. We even had 3 new hikers. Most had “sprayed down” with some form of tick repellant” because the temps were “ripe” for ticks. We still, though, were in a dry spell of weather. The dry spell was fully evident with about any stream we crossed either dry or maybe a few dribbles of water. We headed to Upper and Lower Salt Peter cave and there we crossed Lusk Creek for the 1st time. It somehow, did have some flow, although a very few might have gotten a foot wet, slipping on the rocks as they crossed. We wound around, were “on top’ of the Natural Bridge, then ate lunch and took the group picture at the lower part of the Natural bridge as the backdrop. After lunch break, we headed out to Secret Canyon, and took a bit of a break there. We did see several small groups of equestrian riders during the day. We saw lots of older work done by horse groups along the trails..the “turnpikes”…logs laid along the trail, with gravel between the logs. All total, we hiked over 8 miles today. We saw very little trash, picked up what we did see and of course, took it out with us. 

Next weeks’ hike, on May 2nd, will be meeting at Bowman Bottoms road, with a good amount of the hike being “off trail”, with several stream crossings. 

Until then, “See ya’ll On the Trail”