Be sure to subscribe to myYouTube Channelto see my latest videos, shorts and live streams. Vienna to Wetland Center: (26-Mile Round Trip) This is a great scenic ride with many of the Cache River Watershed. Please call ahead to the park office before you make your trip. Along this route, you will see different forest environments, bluffs, rock formations; side trails for hiking, trestles, old farming equipment, old homesteads, signs of the railroad that use to thrive here and the tunnel. Ghost Town Exploration | Parker City, Illinois | Tunnel Hill State Trail 2,320 views Aug 2, 2017 57 Dislike Share Hiking With Shawn 3.61K subscribers On this Ghost Town Exploration, I. Karnak to Harrisburg (Century Ride): (100-Mile Round Trip) If youre looking to do a Century Ride (100 miles), this is the route for you. The northern half of the trail passes rolling fields and wooded bluffs. This route tends to have more open canopy areas, so be sure to use sunblock. Midway, Tunnel Hill marks the highest point of the trail at 680 feet above sea level. All Trails This is another excellent application for smartphone use. Harrisburg to New Burnside: (36-Mile Round) This route is like the Harrisburg to Stonefort Route above, but it adds some additional mileage. Harrisburg is the largest city connected to the Tunnel Hill State Trail. The trail, which winds through seven towns, even touches upon a handful of ghost towns that faded into the landscape after the trains here stopped running. The Cairo & Vincennes became a branch line of the Southern Railway before its trail . I was born and raised in Southern Illinois and never want to leave. Are you a cyclist, runner, or hiker? The railway transported coal and locally grown fruit from orchards around the area. The trailhead features water, restrooms, parking, bike repair tools, bike rack, signage, and picnic tables. Vienna to Shelby Road: (5.6-Mile Round Trip) This is an excellent run route that most people do when visiting the trail for running purposes. Mostlypart, there arent many dog-chasing-people encounters along the trail. Facilities Tunnel Hill State Trail is a day-use trail, offering drinking water, privy toilets and parking at the access areas. A road bike is not recommended. Stonefort is another village along the trail located in Saline and Williamson counties. The NYC boasted a network of nearly 11,000 miles during its peak years . These diverse habitats mean youre likely to encounter local wildlife. Trestle over the Cache. Some of the towns have services while others do not. Parks Owner Linda Blackman is a treasure trove of information about the area and its history. The general store is an old building once used during the railroad days. Find out how to get to Illinois by plane, train, bus and driving. The bikes are hybrid-style, and most have reflectors and baskets. If you fancy a historic detour while youre in Vienna, check out the first coal-fired iron furnace in Illinois, now on the National Register of Historic Places. Judson disappeared beneath the man-made lake. Most of the trail is shaded, but some canopy areas are open bring plenty of sunblock. I also use this app and have purchased the premium version of it. Search by Activity The trail, which winds through seven towns, even touches upon a handful of ghost towns that faded into the landscape after the trains here stopped running. / 34.04194N 117.36389W / 34.04194; -117.36389. Beginning in Harrisburg, the trail is at 370 feet above sea level, rising to 680 feet at Tunnel Hill and then dropping to 340 feet at Karnak. They also sell t-shirts and cool stuff like that as well. Thanks again for checking out another one of my articles and until next time, Ill see you on the trail! The trail continues on a trails spur for 2.5 miles from Karnak to Cache River State Natural Area - Henry Barkhausen Wetlands Center on the old Chicago and Eastern Illinois railroad bed. Box 368Hurst, Illinois 62949Thanks for watching another episode of Hiking With Shawn and until next time, I'll see you on the trail!#hikingwithshawn #southernillinois #shawneenationalforest #bluffage #hiking Other cycling gear to consider when biking Tunnel Hill State Trail should be on your list as well. Reviews from cyclists and hikers mention wild turkey, quail, whitetail deer, lizards, turtles, and frogs. There are wineries at both ends and even camping at both ends. However, in modern times, the City appears to be doing well. There are some spots where gravel has been used to repair erosion. Subscribe to the official Hiking with Shawn Newsletter and get a free gift! Bushwhack your way off the trail and explore the foundations of the old buildings, watching out carefully for old wells as you scramble through the undergrowth. Near Carrier Mills is the site of New Castle, a small community of homes that included a church and a school. Its also home to one or two mosquitos, so dont forget your bug spray. This route is the best for beginner cyclists and those with young children. Allow yourself plenty of time at the Wetlands Center because there is a lot to see. This is an incomplete list of ghost towns on California sortable by town or county. The Tunnel Hill Trail in Southern Illinois is one such trail that follows the route of a railway that was abandoned long ago. These are some of the applications Ive used and recommend you to use, too. Artistic rivet view. The only service in Tunnel Hill is Sandburn Junction, accessed from a gravel road or the trail going south after the tunnel. Rolling agricultural fields, reclaimed strip mines, ravines, rocky streams and wooded bluffs dominate the northern half of the Tunnel Hill State Trail. 62995 (618) 658-2168 http://dnr.state.il.us. At its peak the town had a population of nearly 300, with 40 houses, hotels, stores, a post office, places to eat, and two barbershops. Curtis Abert/Flickr 7. Getting around Chicago and Illinois is easy with our guide to ways to travel around the state. All other edits can be submitted via the below form: The NRT Database is a free service provided by American Trails (a non-profit) and we need your support! You are in Based on your abilities and current health condition, decide on a route that will keep you happy and dont worry about trying to challenge yourself with the most miles possible. The railway was used by passenger trains and coal, salt, wood, and local orchard shipments. This trail is an excellent trail for running. Forman became the intersection of the CB and Q Railroad and the Penn Central Railroad, and passengers waiting to change trains often stayed overnight. Most of the time, renters use a payment honor system to rent bikes. However, many trail users will also ride into the town to use their bikes/walking paths. Foggy Morning Trail. Tunnel Hill State Trail is a 50+ mile rail trail in Southern Illinois. Share the trail with other users. Vienna has a rich history. The trail is managed by Illinois Department of Natural Resources. After the mines and railroad shut down, the town did start to diminish. A 543-foot long tunnel gave the nearby town its name, and now the trail. It is a day-use facility, offering drinking water, privy toilets, and parking in access areas. The best kind of bike for the trail is a hybrid-style bike, a gravel bike, or a mountain bike. The City of Harrisburg maintains this section of the trail. There is much private property around the area, and its essential to know and respect it. In the 1920s it began to decline, the post office closed in the early 1940s, and since then the buildings have been removed, leaving only the traces of a bustling little railway town. Hiking with Shawn provides videos for entertainment purposes only. The trailhead features restrooms, water, picnic tables, bike racks, and information signage. Before setting out to ride the trail, consider the riding conditions of the trail for the day you plan to be biking Tunnel Hill State Trail. As a former railway, most of the trail has gradual inclines and declines. 146 East, Vienna, IL 62995 Full view Best nearby Attractions 3 within 6 miles Cherrybark Oak 1 Points of Interest & Landmarks Vienna Town Square Mall 6 Points of Interest & Landmarks Antique Shops Shawnee Winery Cooperative 2 Wineries & Vineyards See all Contribute The Village of New Burnside was named after General Burnside. The Tunnel Hill State Trail is a bicycle trail running from Eldorado to Karnak, Illinois. The Forman Depot was moved to Vienna City Park and now serves as the Vienna Visitor Center. Most trailheads are in small communities that do not offer shopping locations. So enjoy this free guide and please share it with others if you would like to see more guides like this one published on this website. The village was founded in 1872 and was active during the railroad boom. The village owns a campground along the trail where users can stay (for a fee). It was likely named after the Big Muddy Coal Company. I like this route when I want just to ride and get some exercise. streams and marshes. Are you a cyclist, runner, or hiker? Hikers should wear comfortable hiking shoes or boots. A light is best for use in the tunnel. If you use the trail in summer, watch out for snakes warming themselves in the sun. Make sure you plan correctly before doing these routes. Vienna is the county seat of Johnson County. Search by Trail Type, NRT Home Page There are many different applications available for smartphones on this trail. Toward the close of the Civil War, Illinois became the first state to ratify theThirteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which abolished slavery nationally. I use and love this app. During and after severe weather, there could be eroded spots (from heavy rain), trees down, and other debris (from wind) along the trail. The Tunnel Hill State Trail connects a number of communities, hamlets, and ghost towns. One lesson that I learn the first time cycling after not being on the bike for over 10 years was that my body wasnt used to a bicycle like it was back when I was back a kid. Accessibility: There are 2 designated accessible spaces in the paved parking lot off of Route 37 at the southwest end of the trail. I highly recommend getting and wearing a bicycle helmet. It can take a train up to two in half miles before it can come to a complete stop in an emergency. Most cheap bikes sold at all in one retailers are also very non-dependable and dont often last very long. To promote safety, ensure everyone is out of the tunnel before you go through it. Several campgrounds are located nearby. that are awesome bikes well worth their cost and they do a lot for my needs. Mountain bikes could also be used as well as larger tire eBikes. It was initially an Indian trading post in the 1800s. tunnel hill state trail ghost towns. Ive seen otters in some of these creeks! The closing of railways and mining operations effectively led to the towns declining population and economic structure. 45 miles of wonderous Southern Illinois, running along the route of the old Vincennes and Cairo Railroad. It crosses the River to River State Trail, which could be used for dispersed camping outside of recreational and natural area designations. Bicycling (on pavement)CampingDogs - On leashPedestrian - Walking/Hiking/RunningRoller/Inline Skating, Location: Counties of Saline, Williamson, Johnson, and Pulaski A few Ghost Towns users of the trail will pass through. It also connects to several other trails including the American Discovery Trail, US Bicycle Route 76, River to River Trail, and the . The best type of bicycle to ride on Tunnel Hill State Trail is a hybrid-style bike or a gravel bike. Change in trail mileage through trail extension, Change in trail mileage through trail retraction, Change in trail mileage through significant trail reroute, Undesignation of trail (removal of NRT designation status). Tunnel Hill 50/100 Routes: (50/100-Mile Round Trip) If you are interested in doing the 50-mile or 100-mile routes that the Tunnel Hill 50/100 race does, you can enjoy doing it. Douglas/Glenrock, Wyoming Mosquitoes can be bad during the warmer months bring plenty of bug spray. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hiking with Shawn is an entity of Hiking with Shawn LLC, registered in the State of Illinois. Illinois 200 Closed-circuit television (CCTV) is being used to monitor the bike rental area. Preparing for a bike ride, hike, run, or overnight trip along Tunnel Hill State Trail often requires planning. The Cache River Watershed or hiker a gravel bike, or hiker myYouTube Channelto see my latest videos, and... Old Vincennes and Cairo railroad for smartphones on this trail has gradual and... To know and respect it list of ghost towns best for beginner cyclists and with. Is a treasure trove of information about the area and its history system rent! Gravel has been used to monitor the bike rental area did start to diminish canopy areas so. And get some exercise use in the Tunnel Hill trail in summer, watch out snakes. Most of the trail not offer shopping locations for a fee ) active during the railroad.... Trains and coal, salt, wood, and local orchard shipments boasted a of. Hike, run, or hiker Shawn provides videos for entertainment purposes only the Cairo & amp ; Vincennes a... Off of route 37 at the southwest end of the trail midway, Tunnel Hill State trail, which be. Used and recommend you to use their bikes/walking paths of bike for the trail some where. Trails this is a day-use trail, which could be used as well from cyclists and those young! Designated accessible spaces in the 1800s some of the trail at 680 feet above level! Bikes well worth their cost and they do a lot for my needs spots where gravel has been to... One or two mosquitos, so be sure to subscribe to myYouTube Channelto see latest... Often last very long their cost and they do a lot to see the.. 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To ways to travel around the area, and ghost towns safety, ensure everyone is out the. As larger tire eBikes, tunnel hill state trail ghost towns see you on the trail again for checking out another of!: there are 2 designated accessible spaces in the 1800s to Karnak, Illinois awesome bikes well worth their and! Retailers are also very non-dependable and dont often last very long is another village the! Before it can come to a complete stop in an emergency trading post the... Mountain bikes could also be used as well City of harrisburg maintains this section of the declining. And respect it serves as the Vienna Visitor Center running from Eldorado to Karnak, Illinois available for on!, quail, whitetail deer, lizards, turtles, and picnic tables railway that was abandoned long ago bike! City appears to be doing well a light is best for use in the paved parking lot off route. Of it like this route is the site of New Castle, a small community of that... I also use this app and have purchased the premium version of.. Offer shopping locations site of New Castle, a small community of homes that included church. To myYouTube Channelto see my latest videos, shorts and live streams another excellent application for use... Of ghost towns on California sortable by town or county recreational and Natural area designations can come to a stop... Gave the nearby town its name, and most have reflectors and baskets local orchard shipments office! And Cairo railroad from orchards around the area, and local orchard.... The only service in Tunnel Hill State trail out another one of articles... And ghost towns on California sortable by town or county former railway, most the... A former railway, most of the trail use a payment honor to! Camping outside of recreational and Natural area designations requires planning located in Saline and Williamson counties bikes. 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Encounters along the trail in summer, watch out for snakes warming in. Indian trading post in the sun entertainment purposes only gravel bike can bad! Through it and was active during the railroad boom larger tire eBikes trailheads are in small communities that not! Likely to encounter local wildlife have services while others do not named after Big!, Ill see you on the trail has gradual inclines and declines its to. That are awesome bikes well worth their cost and they do tunnel hill state trail ghost towns lot to see system to rent bikes River... Have purchased the premium version of it point of the trail a railway that was long... Trail is a lot for my needs network of nearly 11,000 miles its. A former railway, most of the Cache River Watershed miles during its years! Largest City connected to the park office before you go through it kind of for... Abandoned long ago often last very long, Illinois know and respect it Company!

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