Throughout the area you will discover ancient cypress trees with their flared bases and many "knees", which were mere saplings over 1,000 years ago, now standing sentinel over the rich, black-water swamps that still nourish them. On the short, 250 foot Big Cypress Tree Trail you will find one very special bald cypress. This particular cypress tree has been so nourished by the rich waters that it has developed a remarkable base (also referred to as a buttress) of over 40 feet in circumference and towers over 73 feet tall, which has earned it recognition as a state champion....
(click for more)
There is something nearly hypnotic about the chorus song of nature, in particular the melodies of the amphibious inhabitants of the wetlands. The soprano trills of the tree frogs blend with the rich baritones of the southern leopard frogs, while the deep bass of the bullfrogs seem to keep the beat and complete the scale, providing the perfect background accompaniment as you stroll the wooden Section 8 Boardwalk...
(click for more)
This short, 1.5 mile to Heron Pond, trail begins simply enough. You'll find yourself descending into a mix of hardwood forest comprised of a mix of oak, hickory and sweet gum. As you reach the bottom of your descent you will come to a small truss bridge over which you will make your way over a convergence of Dutchman's Creek and the Cache River. If you find yourself crossing this bridge without setting an eye just upstream, toward the actual meeting of these two streams of water, you are missing a truly magnificent sight...
(click for more)
The exquisite sandstone formations located at Garden of the Gods Recreation Area,
located in Illinois, took nearly 320 million years to form and, in my
opinion, every single second has been very, very well spent. The area
boasts truly awe inspiring vistas that beg to be fully taken in, small
well worn trails that beckon you to lay tread to, and unique formations
that are instantly recognizable, such as; Camel, Mushroom, and Anvil
Rock formations. This true Illinois treasure is one of the most awe
inspiring locations I have laid eyes upon, and was reminiscent of views I
experienced in South Dakota and Colorado, only far, far closer to home!...
(click for more)
After taking in the history and spectacular view from the Stonefort
Nature Trail we piled back in the old family truckster and set our
sights on the Devil's Standtable Nature Trail, which was to provide a
bit more of a strenuous hike and a fantastic opportunity to get in a bit
of boulder hopping and rock climbing fun for me. This was another short
trail, winding another one-third of a mile into the beautiful forest,
and the cherry on top, the Devil's Standtable itself, was well worth the
short trek. However, if you find yourself wanting to take a seat at
this table you may want to bring along a mighty large chair...
(click for more)
There are times in which Mother Nature takes the subtle approach. She
gently nudges you, providing you a wondrous moment or a special little
insight to what makes her tick. And then there are times that she gets
right in your face, causing you to be unable to look away, and assuring
that you notice her grandeur, her beauty, her utter uniqueness... As you
set tread to the Giant City Nature Trail be prepared, Mother Nature is
moving in close, she'll be sure that after this short one mile loop
trail you'll be fully aware of her rare and unique beauty. ...
(click for more)
We began our whole excursion in Giant
City State Park pondering exactly what a "Stonefort" was, and since we
all had a different idea of what it may actually be we decided to make
the Stonefort Nature Trail our first official stop. Little did we know, but we actually
caught a glimpse of the Stonefort Nature Trail's breathtaking
observation point from atop an 80 foot sandstone bluff as we entered the
main park...
(click for more)
Little Grand Canyon, tucked away in the Shawnee National Forest, was one
of my very favorite hiking spots back in college. I discovered it on a
field trip in my botany class back in 1998, I was impressed with the
lush green beauty of the area, the "ruggedness" of the 3.6 mile hike and
the relative feeling of remoteness as our instructor led class
traversed the sandstone walled canyon trail in search of endangered
local plant species. Would I feel the same sense of remoteness, would I
encounter the same beauty, would the trail seem as "rugged" in a 2011
revisit with my family?... (
click for more)
Panther Den Wilderness
may be the smallest wilderness area in the state of Illinois, but it
packs in some of the most distinctive and maze-like rock formations you
may ever see! This distinctive and unique area boasts over 820 acres of
land and is bordered by Crab Orchard Wilderness,
which offers an additional 4050 acres of Illinois wilderness to its
north. Before you read on, you may want to brush up on exactly what a Wilderness Areas is and print yourself off a map of the area...
(click for more)
Thank you for collecting. I'm needing them
ReplyDeleteJohn
No problem, hope you enjoy them.
Delete