Saturday, April 26, 2025 Hike Announcement

The River to River Trail Society announces its 9th public hike of the 2025 spring hiking season on April 26thth. Hiking: Ferne Clyffe (Johnson County). This hike is free and open to the public. This will be a moderate loop/backtrack hike for experienced hikers approximately 5.5 miles in length, 4 hours hiking time. The leader of this hike can be reached at 618-759-1924 for more information. Hikers should meet at 10:00 am at the Big Rocky Hollow/Hawk Cave 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. There are some stairs, steep grades and slick rock; and these areas may become slippery if it has rained prior to hike. For a map to the meeting location at the Big Rocky Hollow/Hawk Cave Trailhead click this blue link Big Rocky Hollow/Hawk Cave Trailhead 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. For those tracking the hike using the Avenza app., you can use the River to River Trail map 17 or the Goreville Quadrangle TOPO map. 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 Big Rocky Hollow/Hawk Cave Trailhead meeting area for your signature.

Saturday April 12, 2025 Hike Summary

This morning, 22 hikers, with a few arriving late, because of flooded roads, gathered at the North end of Snake road, in Union county, to be led by Shawn Gossman. We took the group picture 1st thing, because some hikers would have a different pace, stopping to look for and take pictures of wildflowers and seek any possible moving critters. There were quite a few other people out for the day doing the same thing..out to see what they could find and for the exercise. The temps were just a tad on the cool side, and no animal/amphibian movement was observed. There were plenty of tadpoles and other things swimming in the small ponds of water close to the road. We also observed the damage to a stretch of the road that the recent torrential rains had created. Several marveled at the limestone bluffs on the east edge of the roadway, and explored at the base of those bluffs to seek out any possible wildlife movement, but, alas, none was found. The day was bright & sunny, just plainly a good day to the outside. 

Next week’s hike, on Saturday April 19th, will be meeting at Stoneface in Southern Saline county, to be led by Gillum Ferguson. 

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

Saturday, April 19, 2025 Hike Announcement

The River to River Trail Society announces its 8th public hike of the 2025 spring hiking season on April 19th. Hiking: Crest Trail (Saline County). This hike is free and open to the public. This hike will be of moderate difficulty over established trail. This will be a linear thru-hike, approximately four hours hiking time, requiring shuttling. The leader of this hike can be reached at 630-470-7692 for more information. Hikers should meet at 10:00 am at the Old Stone Face Trailhead off of Stone Face Lane. 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. For a map to the meeting location at the Old Stone Face Trailhead click this blue link Stone Face Trailhead 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 Stone Face Trailhead meeting area for your signature.

Saturday, April 12, 2025 Hike Announcement

The River to River Trail Society announces its 7th public hike of the 2025 spring hiking season on April 12th. Hiking: Snake Road (Union County). This hike is free and open to the public. This will be an easy hike out and back approximately 6 miles in length 4 hours hiking time. The leader of this hike can be reached at 618-694-7034 for more information. Hikers should meet at 10:00 am at the LaRue Pine Hills North Parking Lot. 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. This hike is along a rock road and a narrow stream of water may be flowing across the road in one area. For a map to the meeting location at the  LaRue Pine Hills North Parking Lot click this blue link LaRue Pine Hills Parking Area 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 LaRue Pine Hills North meeting area for your signature.

Saturday March 29, 2025 Hike Summary

On a cloudy Saturday morning, March 29th, 17 hikers, with leader Chris Drone, left the Shawnee Mart parking lot and went to the west edge of Eddyville, to take off on their weekly hike. There were no new hikers for this particular week. Everyone was an experienced hiker.  We steadily moved out, and work our way “down” for a bit, crossing a few small streams.  The trail had a few small muddy spots, but, nothing too major. We made sporadic stops to look down at Hayes creek, then eventually crossed it. Water was flowing, but, not heavily, so it was easily crossable. We got to Petticoat Junction, where there were horse tie-ups and 1 of the picnic tables put out by the River to River Trail Society and Backcountry Horsemen of Illinois chapter. We stopped for an early lunch bite, then proceeded on down the trail. We had heard thru social media to be on the “lookout’ for a lost sandal, and, sure enough, we found it. One hiker took it to get it back to its owner. We continued down wider trails/old roadbeds, until we came to Crow Knob, where there was yet another picnic table put out by the 2 aforementioned groups. We took the group picture there in front of the rock formation. We also picked up almost 25 lbs. of trash along the way…it was carried out by 1 hiker, David Simmons. We got out of the woods juuusst in time for sprinkles to start. Prior to the start of the hike, 3 pickups had been situated along Cedar Grove church road to return the hikers to either the start of the hike or to Shawnee Mart. 

Next weeks’ hike, on Saturday April 5th will be meeting at Wildcat Bluff, southwest of Vienna, Illinois and led by Megan Henderson. 

Until then, “See ya’ll On the Trail”

Saturday, April 5, 2025 Hike Announcement

The River to River Trail Society announces its 6th public hike of the 2025 spring hiking season on April 5th. Hiking: Little Black Slough Trail (Johnson County). This hike is free and open to the public. This will be a moderately difficult in and out loop hike approximately 5.5 miles in length approximately 4 hours hiking time. The leader of this hike can be reached at 618-967-0019 for more information. Hikers should meet at 10:00 am at the Wildcat Bluff access area. 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. This hike requires the crossing of a rock ford on the Cache River, difficult to cross during high water and this crossing is located 1.5 miles west of the Wildcat Bluff access area. Hikers may get wet. For a map to the meeting location Wildcat Bluff access area click this blue link Wildcat Bluff Access Area 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 Wildcat Bluff Access meeting area for your signature.

Saturday, March 29, 2025 Hike Announcement

The River to River Trail Society announces its 5th public hike of the 2025 spring hiking season on March 29th. Hiking: Hayes Creek Section (Pope County). This hike is free and open to the public. This will be a moderate thru-hike for experienced hikers approximately 6 miles in length, 4 hours hiking time. The leader of this hike can be reached at 618-926-3250 for more information. Hikers should meet at 10:00 am at the Shawnee Mart, Eddyville IL.. 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. We will have plans to shuttle for this hike. We will have two stream crossings and there will probably be flowing water. Hikers will have to walk rocks to cross streams and their boots and or shoes may become wet. There may be some slick rock areas. For a map to the meeting location at the Shawnee Mart Eddyville, IL. click this blue link Shawnee Mart Eddyville, 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 Shawnee Mart meeting area for your signature.

Saturday March 15, 2025 Hike Summary

It was cloudy this morning and had rained just a few hours before Marcus Owens led 21 other hikers South down the upper trail at Jackson Falls. The first stop was the carving into the rock of the Civil war soldier, then on to the top of the falls. There had been enough rain to make the 3 waterfalls we saw run nicely. We stayed on top” on the West side of the falls. We made a few stops to just take in the views Above the valley. We continued to work our way north, bit by bit, until we came to the area that we slowly worked our way down toward the railroad tracks. Then, we headed south alongside the tracks for just a few hundred feet, then back onto the trail, along the lower bluffs. Today, we saw No horses, just a few other hikers at the parking lot, and No rock climbers at all, which was a bit unusual. We got to the bottom of the main falls, where we quickly ate our lunch, because it was starting to sprinkle/shower some rain. We took the group picture with the water tumbling Over the falls in the background, then headed out, to climb up and out through the keyhole. By the time we got up through the keyhole, the rain sprinkles had stopped. We crossed a few streams, then back to the parking lot. We were done by a few minutes after 1pm. 

Next weeks’ hike, on Saturday March 22nd, will be led by Corey Evans, meeting at the huge Knights of the Golden Circle parking lot, on Forest Road,  near Garden of Gods. 

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

Saturday, March 15, 2025 Hike Announcement

The River to River Trail Society announces its 3rd public hike of the 2025 spring hiking season on March 15th. Hiking: Jackson Falls (Pope County). This hike is free and open to the public. This will be a very difficult loop hike approximately 3.5 miles in length, 3 hours hiking time. The leader of this hike can be reached at 618-534-8139 for more information. Hikers should meet at 10:00 am at Zion Hill Church, Ozark IL. 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. We will have plans to shuttle for this hike. Hikers will need to walk rocks when crossing streams and their boots or shoes may become wet if it has rained. Hikers will need to navigate very steep grades when entering the canyon at the Northern access point and leaving the canyon at the Key Hole access point.  There may be some slick rock on this hike. For a map to the meeting location at 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.

Saturday March 1, 2025 Hike Summary

On a Sunny, but, windy Saturday March 1st, Sam Morales gathered 28 hikers at the Indian Kitchen trailhead to hike into the Lusk Creek Wilderness. He had asked for and received special permission from the U.S. Forest service to take a large group into the area. We crossed the road and headed into the forest. Along the way, we saw a Lot of trail improvement work done by the Back Country Horsemen group. They had cut logs and put them in areas where erosion had been causing problems, and then filled the “rectangles” with rock. Nice work. And there were quite a few spots where they had “stockpiled’ logs to be used for the same purpose. It made for a great walk into the woods. Along the way, we also noticed a few new signs. Almost 1/4th of our hikers today were “new” to a River to River Trail Society hike. We were Very glad to have them. We made our way to the “tie-up” area, then worked our way slowly down to the creek. It was pretty full, with water running over the rocky areas. We then all headed back up to the ‘tie-up” area, ate an early lunch, took the group picture there, and hiked back out to the pickups that had been spotted at the end of Indian Kitchen road. It was a Great day to be out taking a walk in the woods with friends. 

Next weeks’ hike, on Saturday, March 8th, will be meeting at the top of High Knob, to be led by Todd Carr. 

Until then, See ya’ll On the Trail,