Saturday October 17, 2026 Hike Summary

Wow!!  What a Grrreat Saturday to start the fall 2026 hiking season. Cathy Jennings led 20 hikers, including a handful of “new to the Society” hikers, in and around Ferne Clyffe state park. We covered over 6 miles, depending on whose mapping app is quoted. We started at the Lake View shelter, headed out, down hill for quite a way, crossed a few dry stream beds, then up, up, and we ended up on the backside of Goreville, at the top of the Boy Scout trail, taking it down to the main parking area. We all went up to the main waterfall, which, with the season, was ‘dry as a bone”, then back to the main area, then went kind of “backwards, to Hawks cave. We left there, and headed back towards the main parking area, found some big trees that had fallen over, and ate lunch there. We then continued on, back once more to the main parking area, past Ship rock, then climbed up , took the group picture, with the sun shining on our faces, and back down to the lake. A few left there, walked back to their vehicles, then some continued on the trail around the lake, back to the original starting point and parking area There were Lots of other hikers out for the day. We met small groups, individuals, pairs and families, getting exercise and soaking in the sun. 

Next weeks’ hike will be in the Pounds Hollow area. It will be around 5 miles. 

Until then, “See ya’ll on the trail”

Saturday, October 24, 2026 Hike Announcement

The River to River Trail Society announces its 2nd public hike of the 2026 Fall hiking season on October 24th.  Hiking: North Pounds Hollow Loop/Pounds Hollow Arch. This hike is free and open to the public. This will be a moderately difficult hike, approximately 5 miles in length, 4 hours hiking time. The leader of this hike can be reached at 618- 663-0384 for more information. Hikers should meet at 10:00 am at the Thacker Hollow Road. For a map to the meeting location click the link, then click Directions. 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. Check the post on the River to River Trail Society website www.rivertorivertrail.net for this current week’s hike information. Prior to participating in any hikes, the River to River Trail Society requests that hikers read the Trail Society Waiver which can be found on the website at the following link https://rivertorivertrail.net/ under the Society Information tab. The waiver will be at the beginning of the hike.

2026 National Public Lands Day, 7th Annual Garden of the Gods Trash Blast

On Saturday, September 26th, which is designated National Public Lands Day, 4 groups gathered, with over 2 dozen friends, hikers and participants. The Shawnee National Forest Friends, the U.S. Forest Service personnel, a group from Camp Ondessonk/Vienna high school and 8 members of the River to River Trail Society, worked to clean up the public areas of the Garden of the Gods, one of Southern Illinois’ best known landmarks.  The day was dry, with perfect temperatures. Areas covered included the main parking area, observation trail, including graffiti removal, below the bluffs, the camping area, the Backpackers parking lot and a few of the nearby trails. Over 140 pounds of trash, including bottles, cans, bags, a concrete block and just plain junk was taken out. By the time we were done, the parking area was 2/3 full of vehicles from several states. The trash was a bit easy to find at times, with the dryness the area had been experiencing, so the undercover was not quite as lush and green, which made it easier to see and pick up “older” trash. This has been about the 5th year of this event. The Forest Service provided gloves, buckets, bags, “grabbers’  and the “elephant snot” , which is ‘painted on the graffiti and the Shawnee National Forest Friends provided the battery-operated power washer to remove the various “paintings” 

We ALL “left it better than we found it”. Thanks to ALL for putting in their time and efforts.