Saturday April 26, 2025 Hike Summary

On Saturday, April 26th, 14 hikers gathered at the main waterfall parking lot at Ferne Clyffe State park, just south of Goreville.  Cathy Jennings was our leader for this hike. We had 1 new hiker, the rest of the hikers had all been with us several times previous. We started out by “heading up and out on the Blackjack Oak Trail, then down to the lake and on the Ferne Clyffe lake trail, then the Round Bluff nature preserve trail. We paused & ate lunch at the picnic shelter, then back Up on the Blackjack Oak trail to the parking lot. Most then went up to the main waterfall on the Big Rocky Hollow trail. Once back to the main parking area again…some chose to do the Hawk’s Cave trail. One or 2 chose to “test themselves” on the Goreville Boy Scout Tral. Most everyone got in 4 miles, some got in 5 miles or more for the day. 

Saturday, May 3, 2025 Hike Announcement

The River to River Trail Society announces its 10th public hike of the 2025 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 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 Horse Creek Trailhead meeting area for your signature.

Saturday April 19, 2025 Hike Summary

On Saturday April 19th, hikers met at the Stoneface parking lot in Mountain township of Saline county.  This hike was adjusted because of flood waters over a road. This hike was originally intended to be the Crest trail hike from the Tecumseh statue at Glen O. Jones lake to Stoneface. Instead, hike leaders Gillum & Vicki Mossberger Ferguson took 2 new hikers and 10 returning hikers up the Stoneface trail…and to the “powerline overlook” then on up the hill, and headed in a North-easterly direction towards Eagle mountain road. Along the way hikers were picking up lots of trash…bottles, cans, and too much other junk. We arrived at Eagle mountain road, and “stashed” the trash, then continued on to Sunrise rock, where we ate lunch with a great view to the east. We headed back along a bit of the same path, knowing soon we might encounter a rain shower. We then went off trail (bushwacking) to Blood of the ancestors falls. Just as we left there, rain set in…and we tried to get back to the vehicles as fast as we could. One hiker went up Eagle mountain road to retrieve the “trash stash” and rid the forest of the mess. We probably picked up 35 lbs or more. 

Next weeks’ hike will be led by Cathy Jennings, meeting at Ferne Clyffe State Park. 

Until then, “See ya’ll On the Trail”

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.