River to River Trail

The River to River Trail is a 160 mile (256 km)-long hiking trail that serves Shawnee National Forest in far southern Illinois. The trail is used by both equestrians and hikers. About half is on off road trails. Its eastern terminus has historically been Battery Rock, overlooking the Ohio River but now generally Elizabethtown, Illinois is used as the eastern terminus. The western terminus is in Grand Tower, Illinois, at the Mississippi River. Sections of the River to River Trail form part of the Southern Section of the American Discovery Trail.[1][2]

River to River Trail
Location within the state of Illinois
Nearest cityGrand Tower (west), Goreville (center west), Eddyville (center east), Elizabethtown (east)
Coordinates37°29′26″N 88°54′43″W
Governing body
River to River Trail
Length162 Miles
LocationIllinois
TrailheadsGrand Tower, Illinois, Elizabethtown, Illinois, Battery Rock
UseHiking, Equestrian
Trail difficultyModerate
SeasonHiking All, Equestrian May–October
HazardsTicks, Rattlesnake, Copperhead Snake

From east to west, the trail serves the following settlements and resources:

The River to River Trail Society has published a guidebook to the trail's campsites, orientation, safe water sources, and other useful information.[1] A significant spur trail serves Elizabethtown, Illinois.[2]

Waypoints

Following are waypoints on the trail:

WaypointCoordinates
Battery Rock37°31′45″N 88°04′47″W
IL 137°33′19″N 88°10′31″W
Elizabethtown37°26′45″N 88°18′23″W
County 1237°29′50″N 88°19′26″W
Junction E'Town & Battery Rock37°35′36″N 88°18′22″W
Garden of the Gods State Park37°36′09″N 88°23′02″W
Herod37°34′49″N 88°26′11″W
One Horse Gap37°31′03″N 88°27′31″W
Lusk Creek37°31′31″N 88°33′01″W
Eddyville37°30′03″N 88°35′11″W
Bay Creek / Millstone Bluff37°29′02″N 88°41′29″W
US 4537°29′14″N 88°50′34″W
Tunnel Hill State Trail37°29′37″N 88°52′16″W
Interstate 2437°29′26″N 88°53′41″W
Gould Lake37°28′52″N 88°56′41″W
IL 3737°31′29″N 88°57′56″W
Goreville / Ferne Cliffe37°32′55″N 88°58′45″W
Interstate 5737°33′21″N 89°01′58″W
Panther Den Wilderness37°34′58″N 89°05′17″W
Giant City State Park37°35′32″N 89°10′58″W
Makanda37°37′04″N 89°12′34″W
US 5137°36′38″N 89°14′01″W
Cedar Lake37°36′46″N 89°17′21″W
Alto Pass37°34′13″N 89°19′04″W
Bald Knob Wilderness37°34′08″N 89°21′41″W
Clear Springs Wilderness37°35′27″N 89°26′22″W
Big Muddy River / IL 337°33′43″N 89°28′19″W
Devils Backbone Park / Grand Tower37°38′20″N 89°30′39″W

References
  1. "River to River Trail". River to River Trail Society. Retrieved 2009-05-09.
  2. Zyznieuski, Walt (2009-05-07). "Exploring the Shawnee National Forest". Illinois Times. Retrieved 2009-05-09.
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