Looking for Fall Amongst the Brown
Fall On the Western Side of the Shawnee National Forest - by Gary Marks Exit Fall, Enter Winter The calendar has finally rolled over to November, the time for change in the Shawnee Hills. This is the month that trees become silent and the cooler temps blow swiftly from the north. Winter will be quickly approaching giving rise to collisions of warm and cold fronts making November rains and waterfalls a very high possibility. There is one thing... Read More
Guest Writer – Steven Johnson – Giant City, Huge Possibilities!
Guest Writer – Steven Johnson – Giant City State Park: Giant City, Huge Possibilities - by Steven Johnson – stevenjphotoart.com Living Near a Marvel I live within 15 minutes of one of the best state parks in Illinois. It is known as Giant City. The park is large enough to have a thousand people in it and still have room to feel like you have space around you and allows you to relax and soak in this beautiful place. When... 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
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
Trail of Tears State Forest – CCC Heritage Trail
This series, Notes from the Trail, focuses on thoughts and events that happen with the interactions in nature. Sunday August 1, 2010 I find myself amongst the steep hills and ravines of the Trail of Tears State Forest. The sun is low in the sky as I head out for a last-minute hike. Up to now most of the day has slipped effortlessly away as computer issues destroyed precious time. I look at my watch and notice that it is 5:30 pm. I am cutting... Read More
Ferne Clyffe State Park – Hawks Cave
This is the first in a new series called Videos from the trail. It is similar to Notes from the Trail, but will be less wordy and focus on video from the natural side of Southern Illinois. Hawks Cave This trail is located in Ferne Clyffe State Park. In my opinion, it is one of the best trails in the park. If time is limited make sure to check out the main waterfall trail and the massive bluff shelter on Hawks Cave Trail. The trail is around... Read More
Cave In Rock State Park
This series, Notes from the Trail, focuses on thoughts and events that happen with the interactions in nature. Cave-in-Rock State Park One of the great rivers of the East flows below me, the Ohio. Its muddy waters ripple with a slight breeze from the south. Waves go against the current and give the impression of the river flowing backwards. White clouds loom overhead. They appear to have been painted by a master artist against a pale blue... Read More
