Shawnee Group of the Sierra Club

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Adventures with Uncle Bob

CLEAR SPRINGS WILDERNESS AREA

Directions: Take Hickory Ridge Rd off 20th street in Murphysboro and follow signs as we would to Little Grand Canyon. Continue past that recreation area and go several miles until it comes to a "T"  near a church.  Go right and follow to Macedonia Road to LaRue/Pine Hills.  This road turns to a narrow gravel road.  Don't take this road if it is muddy! Soon you will note a wilderness sign and find yourself in a deep canyon/or steep ravines on both sides of the road.  Unfortunately, there is no place to pull off the road to park for several miles.  Now we encounter a road intersection.  Sign says "LaRue/Pine hills 2.5 miles" -- go right. Note the picnic area as well as the rock outcroppings that suddenly appear.  After a short distance, look on your left for a small parking place and note the wilderness sign again. There is a faint trail but mostly bushwhacking.  As of this April 10th, there was an abundance of wildflowers— white and blue, common buttercup, mayapples, and a wide variety of ferns.  Back in the car again, we drive further and now see a sign to go left for Pine Hills.  Going into this deep canyon, there is a picnic area (McCann springs) and restrooms. The River to River Trail has joined our road at this point. In the picnic area we note the American Discovery Trail sign.  This well-maintained trail switchbacks to the top of Pine Hills and leads us to Inspiration Point. I estimate the length was a half mile.  There is no further indication of the American Discovery Trail.

Back to the picnic area again, drive or walk further down the road. Just before the road heads uphill to become a 4 mile drive over the top of Pine Hills and its scenic overlooks, look to your left and note another Clear Springs sign.  Park here. There is a faint trail, but a lot of fallen trees. One can bushwhack for a while between the steep ravines and lovely views.  Back in the car again, go back to the road intersection, turn left, then left again.  At the next crossing you can drive along the cliffs and swamp, or else turn right onto the levee road and follow to Highway 3.  For more trail info, contact Bob Tyson at 684-5643.°