The River to River Trail Society announces its 1^st public hike of the 2025 Fall hiking season on Oct. 11^th.  Hiking: Trail 049 (Pope County). This hike is free and open to the public. This will be a difficult loop hike approximately 6 miles in length approximately 5 hours hiking time. The leader of this hike can be reached at 618-384-1321 for more information. Hikers should meet at 10:00 am at the Zion Hill Church Ozark, IL. 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. Hikers will be required to climb down the bluff wall to enter the canyon at the North Access point. There are stream crossings which will require hikers to walk rocks in order to cross streams and the rocks may be slippery. There are some steep grades on this hike. Numerous rocky areas and these rocky areas may be slick if it has rained. Hikers will need to shuttle to the actual hiking area. We have limited parking. This hike may be tracked using the Avenza App. maps to use, River to River Bundle map 11; SNF Stonefort & Glendale Quad maps; or SNF Multi Day Hike Trigg Tower – Sand EA Loop. For a map to the meeting location at the Zion Hill Church Ozark, IL. click this blue link Zion Hill Church Ozark, IL 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 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 Zion Hill Church meeting area for your signature.