Saturday, October 28, 2023 Hike Announcement

The River-to-River Trail Society announces its 5th public hike of the 2023 fall hiking season on Oct. 28th. Hiking: Godwin Trail (Union County). The Godwin Trail is a segment of the R2R trail. This hike is free and open to the public. This will be a hike of extreme difficulty, 7 miles in length, 4 hours hiking time. This will be a through hike. The leader of this hike can be reached at 708-471-7500 for more information. Hikers should meet at 10:00 am at Godwin Trailhead East. 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. Hikers will need to shuttle back to Godwin Trailhead East once this hike is completed. Some vehicles will need to be shuttled to Godwin Trailhead West. There is one wide stream to be crossed. Hikers may need to walk rocks while crossing the stream if it has rained. Hiker’s shoes/boots may become wet when crossing this stream. There are some steep grades on this hike. For a map to the meeting location of Godwin Trailhead East click this blue link Godwin Trailhead East 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 Godwin Trailhead East meeting area for your signature.

Saturday October 7, 2023 Hike Summary

On Sat. October 10th, 11 hikers met at the intersection of IL. Rt 145 & IL. Rt. 147. Bill Gilmour was our leader. We consolidated vehicles and went North on Cedar Grove Rd, then turned west on Naylor lane. We found a small spot and parked our trucks. One of our hikers was a U.S. Forest service person, Kyle, who was carrying a chain saw to be used on several downed trees. 

During our hike, at times, we were on the River to River Trail, and, on Trail 032. We were in the area of Ruby Falls,  and saw several small groups of equestrians out enjoying the day. 

We were on the top side of a bluff, then took a break at a large open, camping area. We then started working our way back being able to view a part of Millstone lake, which was very low, due to the lack of rainfall. We took the group picture on a small rock exposure, with the lake in the background. . 

The hike for Sat. October 14th, will be led by Chris Drone, meeting at 10 am.  Until then, “See ya’ll on the trail”. 

Three Picnic Tables Installed Along R2R Trail

Trail 170 Overlook Table

Thanks to the generous donations the Society has received from many different River to River Trail Through hikers, the Society has elected to improve the trail by putting those funds back into the trail. As a result, the Society elected to tackle a project of purchasing and installing picnic tables at the more popular and heavily used camp sites along the trail. The project started back on September 16, 2023 when Society members Bill Gilmour, Chris Drone and Sam Morales met in Marion, IL at Menards and purchased materials for the first six tables and delivered them to the farm of David Hilliard. The four then spent the afternoon assembling the first two tables.

The Society has partnered up with the Back Country Horseman of Illinois (BCH) specifically to help us get the tables in some of the remote campsites along the trail. On September 29, 2023 three of the Society members above were joined by Cricket Simons of the BCH when we installed the second table at Rocky Top in the One Horse Gap section of the trail and then assembled four more tables. That brings the total number of tables assembled to six with at least three more to go.

On October 4, 2023, the third table was installed along the R2R trail in the One Horse Gap section near the point where the trail crosses Hart Creek. The tables installed to date are:

Location NameDate InstalledGPS Coordinates
The Trail 170 Overlook TableSeptember 22, 2023N37.54733° W88.44585°
Rocky Top TableSeptember 29, 2023N37.52558° W88.45367°
Hart Creek TableOctober 4, 2023N37.56163° W88.45306°

The next three tables will be installed in the next couple of months and the current planned locations include the camping spot near Cedar Lake Spillway, Petty Coat Junction, Max Creek Vortex and Cedar Creek Wonders. Other future locations are still being planned.

Sam Morales and David Hilliard assembling a Picnic Table
The Trail 170 Overlook Picnic Table
Sam Morales testing out the Hart Creek Picnic Table
Bill Gilmour and Cricket Simons Testing the Rocky Top Table

Saturday, October 7, 2023 Hike Announcement

The River-to-River Trail Society announces its 2nd public hike of the 2023 fall hiking season on Oct. 7th. Hiking: Millstone Lake Trail #32 & the R2R Trail (Johnson County). This hike is free and open to the public. This will be a hike of moderate difficulty, 5.2 miles or less in length, 4 hours hiking time. This will be a loop hike. The leader of this hike can be reached at 270-331-1553 for more information. Hikers should meet at 10:00 am at the intersection of Hwy 147 and Cedar Grove Church Road. 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. Hikers will need to Carpool to trailhead due to limited parking at the trailhead location. There are 3 streams to be crossed and hikers may need to walk rocks when crossing streams if it has rained. For a map to the meeting location of Hwy 147 and Cedar Grove Church Road click this blue link Hwy 147 & Cedar Grove Church Road 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 Hwy 147 & Cedar Grove Church Road meeting area for your signature.

Ameren Work on Map 15 Completed

The Ameren power utility work that used a portion of the R2R Trail for access on Map 15 has been completed in the past few weeks so trail hikers should no longer be affected by this work. The following map shows the location of the work.

A few current trail conditions photos. This one shows the new gate installed across the road/trail at the property line between the FS and private land owner with an access gate for trail users. The property owner requested this in an effort to stop unauthorized UTV use on his property.

Saturday, September 30, 2023 Bike/Hike Announcement

The River-to-River Trail Society announces its 1st public hike of the 2023 fall hiking season on Sept. 30th. This is a bike & hike excursion, biking and hiking Tunnel hill Trail (Johnson County). This bike and hike are free and open to the public. This will be a bike ride of 14.5 or 19 miles, 2 hours’ time, and a hike of 2 miles, 2 hours’ time, bushwhacking. The leader of this bike and hike can be reached at 270-331-1553 for more information. Bikers should meet at 10:00 am at the Vienna City Park. This bike and hike are intended for people in good health who have done some biking and hiking. Hiking sticks and sturdy shoes are recommended. Bring a bike lock to lock bikes together or to a tree. Hikers should bring their own water and snacks, No dogs please. The bike ride is along the Tunnel Hill Trail. The hike is along a bluff line to a spring. For a map to Vienna City Park click this blue link Vienna City Park 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 web site 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 Vienna City Park meeting area for your signature.

Saturday May 6, 2023 Hike Summary

On Saturday morning May 6th, was our last hike of the Spring 2023 hiking season. Fred Scott was our leader. We met at Taylor Methodist church parking lot on U.S. Rt. 45, North of Vienna, We then moved to the trailhead at the end of Taylor Ridge rd. Fred led 7 of us out, and our 1st pause was at the Taylor Ridge Overlook. Fred had cautioned us about some of the trail being “wooly’ and other thoughts, so we all ‘sprayed down’  profusely with insect repellant.  Green foliage was abundant, which did limit our views somewhat. But, it Was a very pleasant day for hiking. In a crevice, 1 hiker found an orange salamander that was about 3 inches long. We did find a few small waterfalls…that were…..alas…dry. We got to Max creek, crossed it …then recrossed it several times. Bill led us to “Gay Cave”, which had a “fortress’ built in it… Quite substantial.  We ate lunch at a ‘horse parking’ area, then went up to the main waterfall, which was dribbling and we took the group picture. On our way out, we did find an old house spot, which was evidenced by a large area of daffodil plants. 

We, the Trail Society board, wish to say “Thank You” for choosing to hike with us this spring. We have had hikers from several surrounding states and far points in Illinois. 

If you have a suggestion for a hike, or, anything else, please let a board member know. We are already thinking about the Fall 2023 hiking season.  We are also always looking for people who might be interested in leading a hike. 

I also want to take space to Thank Everyone who helped in some way…from all the hike leaders who planned and pre-scouted their hikes, to people who helped shuttle hikers with their vehicles and anyone I might have missed. Without your help & assistance, it just doesn’t flow smoothly. 

Our next ‘event’ will be our annual meeting, which will be held on Saturday, June 3, 2023, at the Vienna, Illiinois city park.  We will have a speaker, a short business meeting and then a meal. There Will be an official notice sent out via email through the website. and then posted to our  facebook page.  We encourage people to bring their bikes for a ride, or walk, on the Tunnel Hill trail afterwards. 

Until then, “See Ya’ll  on the Trail”.  I am looking forward to it. 

Respectfully submitted, 

Chris Drone

Saturday April 29, 2023 Hike Summary

Saturday morning, April 29th, 17 hikers, with Chris Drone as guide leader, gathered at the old Shawnee mart at Eddyville, Illinois.  We had new hikers from Livingston county Illinois, and, from Northwest Tennessee. In fact, we had as many New hikers with us today, as returning hikers.   We then ‘cara-vehicled’ out to the Sand Cave parking area.and headed towards Sand Cave, but then veered South, along several trails “03_” during the course of the hike. Using the switched-back trails, we made it ‘down’, crossed a creek, then veered left onto a trail. There was just enough water to make small streams flow a bit. We crossed the River to River trail, and an old roadbed, which eventually ended up at a stream. We had wondered if we might get some rain during the hike, but, we stayed completely dry. At 1 stream crossing, an observant hiker saw a crawfish, which, although looking dead, had a bunch of eggs on its underside. We ate lunch at Ruby (Holmquist, a well known equestrian) Falls. We then headed on down the trail, making our way along the upper part of Bay creek, which forms Millstone lake. We made our way to Maxwell Ford. Some hikers had been up the creek kayaking just a few weeks before, and remarked that the water level had dropped 6-8 ft. or more. We took the group picture at the big horseshoe bend in Bay creek against the backdrop of a small bluffline. We made our way back to the “split point, where, just prior to that, we took a look at some nice low shelter bluffs, including Fern cave, with 1 last trickling waterfall. Upon arriving back at the Sand Cave trail, many took the short trek to Sand cave, and then all headed out.  We totalled almost 7 miles today .

Next Week, Saturday May 6th, Fred Scott will lead our last hike of the Spring 2023 hiking season, meeting at Taylor church on U.S. Rt. 45, just South of the Ozark turn off. Until then, “See ya’ll On the Trail”. 

Saturday April 15, 2023 Hike Summary

On Sat April 15th, 18 hikers met Leader Bob Mulcahy on Cedar Grove Rd, where the River to River Trail crosses. We had  hikers from Chicago to Metropolis and 1 from Missouri. We were ‘on trail ‘ most all day long. We headed East on the River to River trail towards Crow Knob, which was our 1st ‘pause’. We all clambered to the top, then worked our way Northward to the Ecological area boundary. On down the trail we explored an old homesite, as evidenced by 3 things.. a large area of daffodils, a well and a very Large, old tree.We ate lunch a bit early, due to the possibility of incoming rain, but, we were done way early. We did walk thru 1 horse camp on the way out, covering just under 5 miles for the day, and the “Eagle-eyed” hikers picked up about 20+ lbs. of trash for the day.  On Sat. April 22, we meet at Dutchman lake. Our Co-leaders will be Cathy Jennings and Melanie Kasson. We should see a ‘hanging’ boulder and several waterfalls. Until then, “See ya’ll on the trail”.!!

February 18, 2023 Work Day at Dutchman Lake

On February 18, 2023 the River to River Trail Society joined forces with the Illinois Branch of the Back Country Horseman to repair the River to River Trail between Dutchman Lake and Twinz Lane.  This section of trail was originally built through a pine forest back in the 1990s when the trail was completed in the Dutchman Lake area.  It was a beautiful hike through the pines up until 2018/2019 when a storm hit the area and toppled upwards of 60-70 pine trees rendering the trail impassable.  In November of 2019 the Trail Society worked with Forest Service and numerous volunteers to clear a trail through the fallen pines.  Over the last year or more, yet another 30 plus trees have fallen over the trail once again rendering in nearly impassable.  As a result, the Societies President organized and coordinated another work day to once again clear the trail, however after meeting with the Shawnee National Forest Service (FS) team a trail reroute was scouted and approved by the FS.  As a result, the work day changed from a trail clearing day to a trail building day.

Today approximately 25 volunteers and 1 FS employee worked to rebuild and mark the new section of trail skirting around the pine forest.  Work included identifying and marking the route, clearing the entire trail of all small trees, fallen debris, leaves, loose rocks, fallen trees and any overhead hazards.  Volunteers used chain saws, loopers, hand saws, leaf blowers, rakes and a variety of other tools to clear a safe trail.  With all of the volunteers, work on the 0.6 mile reroute took a less than 4 hours to complete.  As a result of this reroute, future R2R Trail hikers and equestrians using the trail west of Dutchman Lake will need to make sure to download the latest Avenza Map 16 which will be available in a few days.

Volunteers included Chris Drone, Jim Todd, Melanie Kasson, Jane Netzler, Jody Baumberger-Gehrig, Loretta Maldaner, Fred Scott,  Scott Graham, Sam Morales, Charlie Kahle, Allison Kallo, Shelley Deal, Nathan Heldenbrand, Sharon Buchanan, Loni Heidbred, Megan Anderson, Gloria Heggy, Marcus Owens, Jake Saunders, Dwight Pray, Angie Carter, Rick Yates, Ken Nampadano, Cricket Simons, Vicki Simons and Bill Gilmour.  If anybody was missed, we are sorry.  The work day was coordinated by Bill Gilmour and Cricket Simon.

The FS, Trail Society and Back Country Horseman would like to sincerely thank all of the volunteers that showed up to help today.

Hope to see all of you on the trail again in the future.

Group photo of today’s trail crew
The trail as it existed prior to 2018
A view of the trail for the last 3-4 years