Little Grand Canyon – Two Canyons, One Great View
Little Grand Canyon – Two Canyons, One Great View Close your eyes and imagine a canyon. No, No, not that canyon (lol). Wipe those ideas aside for a moment and think smaller, more intimate, more Midwestern. Images of steep gray sandstone, deep green ferns, and a stream that has gently carved the area for many centuries, may fill your head. Yeah, that’s it! Now take that image and place it into the far reaches of Southern Illinois... Read More
Morel Mushrooms in Southern Illinois – Shawnee National Forest
Searching for the Elusive Morel Mushroom in Southern Illinois - by Gary Marks “You’ve lived in Southern Illinois how long and have never been morel hunting?” That is usually the first reaction I receive when I tell someone I’ve always wanted to search for morel mushrooms. I have in the past looked on the side of the trails while hiking, but never knew what I was truly looking for. Sure I knew what they looked like, but... Read More
3 More Awesome Videos of Southern Illinois Waterfalls
3 More Awesome Videos of Southern Illinois Waterfalls Did you explore the waterfalls of our 5 Cool Videos of Southern Illinois Waterfalls article and wonder if there were anymore waterfalls to discover in Southern Illinois? The answer is a resounding, YES! Southern Illinois is the capital for intermittent waterfalls in Illinois. The make up of the Shawnee Hills, with it resistant sandstone bluffs and hilly topography, makes it a treasure-trove... Read More
3 Great Places To Spend A 3 Day Weekend In Southern Illinois
3 Great Places To Spend A 3 Day Weekend In Southern Illinois Are you getting ready for 3-day weekend this week? If so, here are some great places in Southern Illinois to spend 3 days exploring the natural side of the Shawnee Hills. 1. Giant City State Park This 4,000 acre state park is one of the best places to visit in Southern Illinois. It boasts 7 hiking trails that explore varied areas of the park. Here’s a couple of my favorites: Trillium... Read More
Burden Falls – The Best Waterfall in Southern Illinois ?
Burden Falls – The Best Waterfall in Southern Illinois? - by Gary Marks If you could visit only one waterfall in Southern Illinois would this be the one to go to? Ask several different people and you will get several different answers, but can one Waterfall be called the BEST in Southern Illinois? This article delves head-long into a debate that will rage long after you read this article. The Stage The sound of rushing water fills your head... Read More
5 Cool Videos of Southern Illinois Waterfalls
5 Cool Videos of Southern Illinois Waterfalls - by Gary Marks Have you ever wondered where are the best places to see waterfalls in Southern Illinois? You’re Not Alone. Recently we have seen a huge spike in readers interested in those elusive Illinois waterfalls. The waterfalls here in Southern Illinois are only intermittent and do not flow throughout the year. The best times to see these waterfalls are in the spring and late fall when the... Read More
Cedar Creek – Winter Series
February 7, 2011 – Monday - by Gary Marks A Dream What I see before me is a masterpiece, created by a great unseen artist. I look around trying to take in every single detail, but I am soon overwhelmed. I feel as though I am walking through a dream and will soon wake up and all of this will be gone, but it is not a dream. The temperatures hover around the 30′s and I know that within a matter of time this great piece of canvas will be... Read More
Cedar Creek – Winter Series – Part Two – Finale
February 7 - by Gary Marks Missed Part 1 of the Cedar Creek – Winter Series? Click here to read. White Forest The forest feels full, again. Snow slowly accumulates on branches outstretched like nets waiting to catch a trapeze artist. The forest without snow seems bare and devoid of something essential. The closeness and protection of a green forest is a sensation I have forgotten in the short time that it has been away. That feeling... Read More
Cedar Creek / Cove Hollow – Winter Series – Part One
February 7 - by Gary Marks The Risks We Take The whirling lights of a Sheriff’s vehicle was planted in the middle of the road as an ambulance waited off to the side. A large flatbed tow truck lies cross ways in the road backing up to get in line with a red car that has plummeted off a steep embankment. A long cable is wound out and a bundled up man makes the slippery trek down to the immobilized vehicle. My windshield wipers once again... Read More
Bell Smith Springs – Winter Return – Part 4 – Finale
January 11, 2010 Missed Part 1 of Bell Smith Springs – Winter Return? Click here to read. Missed Part 2 of Bell Smith Springs – Winter Return? Click here to read. Missed Part 3 of Bell Smith Springs – Winter Return? Click here to read. - by Gary Marks The Finale First of all, I would like to thank you the reader for continuing to read the articles on Bell Smith Springs. This will absolutely be the final post for the Winter... Read More
