Shawnee Group of the Sierra Club

Adventures with Uncle Bob

I recommend for your hiking pleasure the Rim Rock Forest Trail in the Shawnee National Forest.

Directions: From Harrisburg, go south on US 45 to the junction with Illinois 145. Take 145 to Illinois 34. Turn left and travel through the community of Herod. Continue south to Karber Ridge Road and turn left. After passing the Karber Ridge post office continue about 4 miles and watch for a small sign on your left. Turn into the parking lot.

You are confronted with three choices of trails. 1) The one on your right goes below the cliff line. 2) The one on your left ascends the bluff top to hike the west side. 3) The one in the middle is also a bluff top trail, exposing one to the east side. A loop of the bluff top would be 2 miles. Note that the trails are paved with flagstone. Hiking along the top offers continual views of ravines and the surrounding forest. At the midway point (northside), you will have a choice of continuing the loop on top or descending down staircases which squeeze you thru moss-covered rock walls, mazes, and "ox-lot" cave. Go either way at the bottom to follow along the bluff. There will be continuous views of the cliffs and rock formations.

Wooden bridges and stone steps make the trail easier to negotiate. If you are on the East bottom trail, take note of the junction for Beaver Trail. Following that trail for a mile will take you to the Pounds Hollow Lake Recreation Area. The West bottom trail is less well defined, lacks signage, and involves some scrambling over rocks; however, the scenery is worthwhile.

More information from Bob Tyson at 684-5643 or at mailto:sh-outings@illinois.sierraclub.org