Ferne Clyffe Lake Trail – Ferne Clyffe State Park
- by Gary Marks Have you ever been to Ferne Clyffe and drove right past the lake on your way to the popular Ferne Clyffe Waterfall Trail? You are definitely not alone. Many often overlook the Ferne Clyffe Lake trail that is tucked away on the edges of one of the few lake hikes in Southern Illinois. Where to Go? When coming to the first stop sign in the park make a left and head downhill. Near the bottom of the road is a small parking area... Read More
Devils Standtable – Giant City State Park
Devil’s Standtable Trail – Giant City State Park - by Gary Marks Look across a topo map of Southern Illinois and you might see a trend in the names of some of our best natural landmarks. It has always amazed me that places that seem strange and bizarre take on sinister names. Here we have two Devil’s Backbones (one in Grand Tower, one at Bell Smith Springs), one lake (Devil’s Kitchen), and a Devil’s Standtable that... 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 Easy Ferns You Can Identify On Your Next Hike In Southern Illinois
3 Easy Ferns You Can Identify On Your Next Hike In Southern Illinois - by Gary Marks Imagine a fern. Not hard to do, right? Now try to write down exactly what that fern in your mind looks like or try to describe it in detail to a friend. Just got a little harder, didn’t it? The land of ferns tend to be a quiet bunch. No brilliant colors, no showy flowers, no edible fruit, just a lot of green foliage. If you look closer though you will... 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
Photo of the Week: Cicada Emergence at Ferne Clyffe State Park
Photo of the Week: Cicada Emergence at Ferne Clyffe State Park - by Gary Marks What a treat this week to see this 13-year cicada at Ferne Clyffe State Park. This newly emerged insect was perched upon a brick wall near one of the restrooms. I had recently read on the Trail and Tales Blog about the recent infestation in Saline County, but had not personally seen any until this week. After seeing several along this wall, we started to notice... Read More
Ghost Dance Canyon – Dixon Springs State Park – Best Cascade in Southern Illinois ?
Ghost Dance Canyon – Dixon Springs State Park – Best Cascade in Southern Illinois ? If you could see only one cascade in Southern Illinois, would this be the one to visit? This article presents one of the best, located in a great Illinois State Park – Dixon Springs. In a previous article we visited Burden Falls – The Best Waterfall in Southern Illinois? You may be asking yourself, what is exactly the difference? Cascade: ... 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
Christmas at Giant City State Park – 45 min Photo Challenge
December 28, 2010 Missed last week post? Click here to read Waiting for White Christmas. Christmas! No more waiting for a white Christmas, it’s now in the books. The wishes of many children and some adults had become reality. On Christmas Eve the sky released a fluffy snow that decorated the Shawnee Hills in a winter landscape once again. As I awoke Christmas morning, I took a peek outside and was amazed by the change of scenery over... Read More
Freeze Time in Southern Illinois
December 16, 2010 Haven’t read Tuesday’s Blog Post? Click Here to Read. Oh No, Freezing Rain! As I write tonight an ice storm is rolling its way through Southern Illinois. We hover just in the freezing range, but have missed the worst of it. The sidewalk and porch have a thin layer of ice. It’s a good time just to be inside a nice warm house and to let the road crews and nature do their jobs. Back to Monday This Monday... Read More
