Winter Wonderland in the Shawnee Hills
A.S. – After Snow - by Gary Marks Was it all a dream? Was a winter veil thrown across my sleep-deprived eyes? Sitting here well over a week after the last snow event, one wonders. That wondering stops though as the computer cycles through photographs and the reality of it all sinks in. As the snow is thawing and only piles of white memories remain, we look back and remember that occasionally the proof of winter does come to Southern... Read More
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
Pomona Natural Bridge – Shawnee National Forest
Shawnee National Forest – Pomona Natural Bridge Located within the Shawnee National Forest lies one of most spectacular examples of a natural bridge in Illinois. The trail that loops around the area is approximately 1/3 mile, but what it lacks in distance, it makes up in scenery. Why is it Here? Standing high atop a bluff one can look out over a natural wonder that appears as though it could have been chiseled by the hand of man. Man had... 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
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
Guest Writer – Joshua Spengler – The Shawnee: A Photographer’s Dream
The Shawnee: A Photographer’s Dream - by Joshua Spengler – Sprengler Photography & Fine Arts The Dream The Shawnee National Forest is a photographer’s dream come true. From the rocky sandstone formations to the cascading creeks, and waterfalls, the Shawnee has a lot to offer. One thing I love about the area as a photographer, is all the diversity that the forest brings forth. From deep ravines and canyons, to wildflower filled... Read More
Cache River State Natural Area – Tupelo Trail
Cache River State Natural Area – Tupelo Trail - by Gary Marks When you think of a wetland what does your mind conjure up? Is it the deep green duckweed that is laid out like a natural carpet over the still shallow water? Maybe, the giant cypress trees that have made their home here for hundreds of years, with their gnarly knees poking out from around their exaggerated buttresses. Alligators! Oh wait a minute, scratch that one off the... 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
Heron Pond Trail – Cache River State Natural Area
Heron Pond Trail – Cache River State Natural Area - by Gary Marks Giant cypresses some over 1,000 years old, brilliant green swamps, an ancient long ago abandoned riverbed, and over 100 endangered or threanted species, these are just a few things that make the Cache River Wetlands well worth a visit. Wetlands are not what one usually envisions when thinking about the Land of Lincoln, but as much as skyscrapers and prairie land dominate our... Read More
How You Can Take Awesome Spring Photos this Season in the Shawnee National Forest & Illinois State Parks
How To Take Awesome Spring Photos this Season - by Gary Marks Have you ever went for a Great Spring Hike and snapped a bizillion photos only to be disappointed when you get home and viewed them? Do you end up showing people these photos and saying something like, “You had to be there.” You’re not alone, but over the years I’ve learned a few simple tricks to turn those “had to be there” photos into ones that will... Read More
