The clothing had also chaffed my legs pretty good from all the friction of the material rubbing as I rode. Primary Surface: Crushed rock, compacted The longest and highest is the 90-foot-tall Breeden Trestle, 2.5 miles south of Tunnel Hill. Use caution during hunting season. 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 town is the namesake of the trail, and the 500+ foot long tunnel is located a few minutes from the trail. Multiple services are available in Vienna, including gas stations, restaurants, fast food, grocery stores, and other things. I provide it for free and it takes a while to create. The 9.3-mile section between Tunnel Hill and Vienna crosses trails already known to outdoor recreationists: the River-to-River Trails, which extends from the Mississippi to the Ohio River; the unmarked American Discovery Trails, which in southern Illinois follows back roads and some of the River-to-River Trail; the U.S. 76 Bicycle Route, a part of the TransAmerica Bike Route; and the Trail of Tears, the primary route the Cherokee Indian tribe took in the winter of 1838-39 during their forced move from the Great Smokies to Oklahoma. The trail runs for 45 miles from downtown Harrisburg to Karnak in southern Illinois. The privately owned Shawnee Forest Campground is located near the trail in Vienna. While most of the trail is in the shade, a cycling cap and sunglasses might also be ideal. We're here to help Southernmost Illinois in IL Address: PO Box 37862906 Phone:(618) 833-9928+1 618-833-9928 Trails to Adventure in IL Address: 900 S. Normal Ave Woody Hall MC431762901 Whether you bike, hike, or run the trail, dont forget to share your stories, your snaps, and your top tips with us on the Enjoy Illinois Facebook page. Its free, of course, and fun for everyone of all ages! The trail was once a bustling railroad line during the 1800s into the 1900s, back when there was a coal mining boom in the region. In 1991 the last active owners of the railroad, Norfolk Southern, abandoned operations on the line and gifted the right-of-way between Harrisburg and Karnak to the State of Illinois. Illinois Dept. You can unsubscribe anytime with ease. OnXHunt This app is a premium app that is good for exploring public land boundaries. Using a road bike is not recommended. Some areas are gravel. . The NRT Database is a free service provided by American Trails (a non-profit) and we need your support! 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. All; Albums; Appearances; Awards; In Performance; Press; Uncategorized Photo by Jonathan Voelz. If youre like me and are fascinated with snakes, youd like this section quite a bit. In the end, use common sense and always put safety first. Some apps require you to pay to download a map for use in areas without cell phone reception. The trail is mainly shaded, but there are some areas where the canopy is opened up, and the sun can reach in. Year Designated: 2005. However, you dont need something super expensive in order to have a successful ride at Tunnel Hill. Subscribe to the official Hiking with Shawn Newsletter and get a free gift! 23 trestle bridges along the trail provide great spots to stop for a break and enjoy the panoramic views out over the countryside. The tunnel is 543 feet longlong enough to plunge yourself into total darkness! It was named after Ambrose Burnside, who was a Civil War general. They also sell t-shirts and cool stuff like that as well. eBikes are fine as long as they are not modified to be faster than what theyre governed for by the manufacturer. The Tunnel Hill Trail is crossed by several major trails, including the River to River Trail; Illinois' southern route of the American Discovery Trail: the U.S. 76 bicycle Route, which is part of the TransAmerica Bike Route; the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail. Average Grade: 2% Maximum Grade: 3% Elevation Low Point: 340 Most of these Ghost Towns have nothing to show besides a few foundations and signs of past railroad usage. An abandoned train line between Harrisburg and Karnak was transformed into the Tunnel Hill Trail. New Burnside is a village along the trail located in Johnson County. My favorite bike shop is Carbondale Cycle located in Carbondale. The truly hardcore clock up 100 miles, by going both ways! Howdy folks! Journalist Linda Kelley of Rantoul writes a moving article about returning to New Castle to explore the site of her mothers childhood home. The total distance, including Eldorado, is 58 miles. There is a campground right by the trail in the Village of Karnak, where the southern terminus of the trail is located. Required fields are marked *. Settlers began building houses around 1811 to protect themselves from opposing Native American forces. If you prefer a paper-style map, a generic one is available from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. There are plenty of benches along the way to stop and rest at. Facilities Tunnel Hill State Trail is a day-use trail, offering drinking water, privy toilets and parking at the access areas. Hikers should wear comfortable hiking shoes or boots. Harrisburg is the largest city connected to the Tunnel Hill State Trail. Photo by Jonathan Voelz. Tunnel Hill State Trail. Please use caution around bodies of water, creeks, rivers, and edges of cliffs and bluffs. Helpful NRT contacts. streams and marshes. This trail is an excellent trail for running. It can take a train up to two in half miles before it can come to a complete stop in an emergency. Passengers in Pullman cars clocked the miles with these and other landmarks as they traveled one of southern Illinois' most scenic routes. Deer and other wildlife are common along the trail. If this occurs, tell the dog NO and use your water bottle to spray water at it. Illinois 200 In 1872 Burnside and others began the Vincennes & Cairo Railroad, which connected Vincennes, Indiana and Cariro, Illinois. Owner Linda Blackman is a treasure trove of information about the area and its history. Once youre at the lane, take a right and ride to the end. Abandoned church in Alberta (Shutterstock) They may not officially be haunted, but the eerie silence of Alberta's ghost towns is still enough to make the skin crawl. The following safety recommendations are meant to help you stay safe while using the trail: There will be plenty of other safety situations you might run into that are likely not listed here. Bill Reynolds Site Superintendent Illinois Dept. And you should eventually try to better your riding abilities but it should never be rushed. Tunnel Hill State Trail stretches for 45 miles from Harrisburg to Karnak. To avoid most hazards, stay on the trail. If you need help with the trail, have questions, want to see photos, or post photos and videos then we recommend you join the group. Local hiking enthusiast Shawn takes you on a video tour of the ruins of Parker City. There are not many restaurants along the way in the smaller communities that the trail passes through and while some trailheads have drinkable water, these systems are not always reliable or turned on. You are in The railway was used by passenger trains and coal, salt, wood, and local orchard shipments. Fall along southern trail segment. Whether youre a beginner to advance cyclist, a runner, a hiker, or just want to walk with the kids or your pets this trail was made for you to enjoy. Some, like Bloomfield, Sanburn, and Ledford, are barely more than hamlets. As you make your way toward Heron Pond Lane, youll see plenty of trestles, swamps, and scenic creeks. The longer the adventure, the more planning will be needed to make the journey successful. Apply for designation that are awesome bikes well worth their cost and they do a lot for my needs. Sadly, the free community of Pond Settlement was less than 20 miles away from the Southern Illinois salt mines, where indentured slavery was still permitted, despite the Thirteenth Amendment. The Tunnel Hill HQ is usually open during the daylight hours through the week and sometimes during the weekend. Please watch for snakes and give them plenty of room. Others, like New Burnside (named for our good buddy Ambrose) are shrinking. While groups of 25 or more are welcome and encouraged to use the park's facilities, they are required to register in advance with the site office to avoid crowding or scheduling conflicts. Vienna is the most popular trailhead of the entire trail and often the starting point for most trail users. Trail Management: Parks You will start to notice swamplands and even cross the deep Cache River before reaching the gate. This is a limited time offer. So, I would mainly use this to explore state and federal public land off the trail. If youve never seen Heron Pond, you will fall in love with this place. I'll be including more guides and resources in that newsletter only so be sure to subscribe! Start off from the Tunnel Hill Trailhead and ride south. They likely were abandoned after the railway operations started declining. New biker campground put in by the Village of Karnak. The last owners were the Southern Railway and following a merger, the Norfolk Southern Railroad. Subscribe now (for a limited time only) and get my free 70+ page35 Hiking Trails of Southern Illinois Guide. Midway, Tunnel Hill marks the highest point of the trail at 680 feet above sea level. The bike path was once railroad tracks which to me constitutes their paths as rail trails. Follow me onFacebook,Instagram,TwitterandTikTokfor unique content that you will only find on those pages. Remember, take only memories, leave only footprints. There is only one tunnel on the trail, but it is around 550 feet long. 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. Event on the incredibly scenic Tunnel Hill Trail. The trail, which winds through seven towns, even touches upon a handful of ghost towns that faded into the landscape after the trains . Photo by Jonathan Voelz. If you add the Wetland Center branch, the length is 53.6-miles. Motor vehicles are never allowed on the trail. For the most part, the trail is easy to ride. A trail branch goes to the Wetland Center for the Cache River State Natural Area. It is mainly uphill from Vienna to Tunnel Hill and begins to go downhill from Tunnel Hill towards Harrisburg. This would be an ideal route to take kids on. Parker City is one of the many Ghost Towns along the Tunnel Hill State Trail which was at one time, a thriving community until the decline of railroad operations turned it into nothing. tunnel hill state trail ghost towns. There is a small parking lot for the trailhead. Ah Ambrose! Four hours from Vegas is Belmont, and the sights you'll find here are some of the most amazing in the state.If the 100-foot chimney that was once used for WWII target practice . 6. The trail is well-maintained and surfaced with crushed limestone, making it suitable for mountain bikes and road bikes alike. This PDF will be sent to your email right after you subscribe (check your junkmail just in case and add me as a contact). The site office is in Vienna, and includes interpretive displays and other information. Gasoline-powered bicycles or homemade eBikes are prohibited from using the trail. Carrier Mills has a few services, including a gas station, a grocery store, and a Dollar Store. Just dont feel you need to pack everything on your ride because the more weight you have to carry, the harder it will be to ride! Be careful as vehicles do travel on this gravel road. Please use caution is biking/hiking to this store. You will get tunnel vision in most cases. Continue through the tunnel until shortly reaching Sandburn Junction, an old general store turned into a trail store. This village was established in 1905 when the post office was created. You can start biking from Vienna and heading south. Viewers of Hiking with Shawn should never perform risky activities and should watch these videos at their own risk. Your railway has been and gone, but your muttonchops live on. This is a limited time offer. Full hookup, year round campground in Shawnee Forest Country of Southernmost Illinois. South of New Burnside youll come on a railroad pier shelter marked Parker City. There are restrooms, brochures, and a Museum within the facility. This accessible trail is rated as easy and will take you through some gorgeous scenery along the way. Biking Tunnel Hill State Trail is a good way to get into shape but it will still work out your muscles and increase your fitness levels. Water boil orders or maintenance may restrict their use. Hiking with Shawn provides videos for entertainment purposes only. Photo by Jonathan Voelz. Photo by Jonathan Voelz. The trail passes through portions of the Shawnee National Forest. The Tunnel Hill State Trail passes by five ghost towns, abandoned communities that grew up around the railroad then withered and died when it closed. Photo by Jonathan Voelz. Patreons get access to extra features, exclusive articles, sticker packs, gifts and more. The foundation is best seen when the leaves are off the tree during the winter. I used to could ride through the tunnel without lights but anymore, I become disorientated and have a hard time doing it so now I try to use lights. The trail was once a bustling railroad line during the 1800s into the 1900s, back when there was a coal mining boom in the region. However, the plan to develop the trail was pushed through. Minutes away from the Tunnel Hill station is Egyptian Hills Resort where you can stop for a pizza and ice cream overlooking the Lake of Egypt. There are hiking trails along the trail including. Trestle over the Cache. This is along the Tunnel Hill State Trail for joggers and bicyclists to enjoy!Please give this video a thumbs up and if you haven't subscribed to my channel yet, please subscribe today, it's free and it motivates me to keep uploading more videos!Check out my previous video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XznMLy_Uz_UFollow me on social media for exclusive content and fun: http://www.facebook.com/hikingwithshawn/ http://www.twitter.com/hikingwithshawn/ http://plus.google.com/+hikingwithshawn/ http://www.instagram.com/hikingwithshawn/Check out my official Hiking With Shawn website at: https://www.hikingwithshawn.com/Want to send me fan mail?Hiking With ShawnP.O. The newsletter is free, sent once a month, and contains exclusive articles, tips, offers, contests, and upcomig events that you won't find anywhere else. Near Carrier Mills is the site of New Castle, a small community of homes that included a church and a school. The Tunnel Hill State Trail is a bicycle trail running from Eldorado to Karnak, Illinois. You can also stop by Sandburn Junction for treats, bike rentals, and a greenhouse. The rail-trail is part of a former railroad founded by Civil War . These diverse habitats mean youre likely to encounter local wildlife. Synthetic clothing is best as it wickers sweat and moisture from the body and dries quickly. You can also support me by becoming aPatreon Supporterfor as little as $3/month and you can cancel anytime (no contracts or catches). Vienna offers the best selection of places to eat along the trail, with the Vienna Diner offering homestyle cooking, in an old-fashioned diner setting, and Neds Shed is a delightful retro burger joint, thats beloved by the locals for their seasoned fries and homemade relish. Make sure you yield before crossing. Vienna visitor and tourism center connected to trail and park - community working to promote the trail. Hikers and horseback riders may cross the trail. Along the Ghost Town . About halfway between Vienna and Karnak look to your right to see if you can see the ghost town of Forman. It is a day-use facility, offering drinking water, privy toilets, and parking in access areas. Dont make it a competition until you are physically and athletically ready to compete against your previous rides. Harrisburg to New Burnside: (36-Mile Round) This route is like the Harrisburg to Stonefort Route above, but it adds some additional mileage. A local bike shop will also fit you for the right size of bike which is important for your health as the wrong size can lead to injuries and health issues later down the road. No purchase required. You should bring food and drinks that are geared towards athletic activities. There are also creeks and the Cache River that you can look at to see other wildlife. Search by Activity There is much private property around the area, and its essential to know and respect it. Conrail; and during its most productive years, the Cleveland, Chicago, The Tunnel Hill Trail is part of a former railroad founded by Civil War General Ambrose Burnside. Runners should bring plenty of water and snacks. If you feel fatigued, stop a bench and rest for a few moments, especially if you are new to cycling. Search by Trail Type, NRT Home Page Venomous snakes (including copperhead and cottonmouth) occur along this trail. There are plenty of opportunities for bikepacking or overnight hiking along the Tunnel Hill State Trail. I would recommend you at least do this route once. Vienna finish line for the 50/100 run. And if youre thinking that name is awfully appropriate with its proximity to sideburns, then youll be delighted to know that hes actually the source of that very term. The trail is mainly made up of crushed limestone. The trail runs along the former bed of a part of the Cairo and Vincennes Railroad, a transportation unit led during its early years by Civil War General Ambrose Burnside. A good pair of tight fitting (Spandex/Lycra) bike shorts or bib-shorts and cycling jersey will make life so much better and reduce the pain and chaffing. Knowing these towns and their services is essential when planning to visit the trail. The Forman Depot was moved to Vienna City Park and now serves as the Vienna Visitor Center. If you just want to spend a day along the trail, there are plenty of great routes. If cycling or strolling along the Tunnel Hill State Trail just isnt energetic enough for you, fear not, because weve got you covered! Tunnel Hill State Trail stretches for 45 miles from Harrisburg to Karnak. I spend a lot of money on Hiking with Shawn and because of extremely high public land permit fees, I make very little money in return so everything helps. You can use that to help determine your location and route, too. This trail is 55.6 miles long and has 23 trestle bridges and a 543-foot tunnel. The trailhead features water, restrooms, parking, bike repair tools, bike rack, signage, and picnic tables. Thank you for checking out my Tunnel Hill State Trail guide in southern Illinois. Crenshaw was acquitted for technical reasons, but the evidence strongly suggests that he was connected to illegally holding African-Americans so that they might be sold into slavery in the southern states. The trailhead features restrooms, water, picnic tables, bike racks, and information signage. Sandburn Junction has a general store with bike rentals, ice cream, drinks, produce, and veggies that is always open. Focus on a route that will take your mind off of the fact that you are exercising by choosing a route with plenty to see: The Tunnel to Breeden Trestle (5.5 Mile Round Trip): This is a fairly easy trip that starts off downhill (slight uphill grade coming back). Free African Americans founded the settlement of Lakeview, first named Pond Settlement, a mile south of Carrier Mills, shortly after the War of 1812. Hiking with Shawn offers Itinerary Planning Services at a low cost.
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