Staring at the Karnak Trailhead, ride west along the trail towards the Barkhausen Cache River Wetlands Center! There are many areas along the trail that will not have any cell phone reception. 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. After youre done, head back and enjoy the uphill exercise you will get. Ive previously created a guide for biking the trail as a beginner in case youre interested in that information. According to Google Maps, the trail is 50.8-miles in length from the southern terminus at Karnak to the northern terminus at Harrisburg. These plans include the best routes, lodging, dining, shopping, and sightseeing along the way you plan to visit. Vienna towards Tunnel Hill is the most popular route on the trail. Share the trail with other users. The trail runs for 45 miles from Feazel Street in Harrisburg to Karmak in southern Illinois. South of New Burnside youll come on a railroad pier shelter marked Parker City. Check your junk mail and add my address to contact list if you don't get the email with my guide download. Its essential to stay safe while using the trail. The Tunnel Hill State Trail connects a number of communities, hamlets, and ghost towns. Getting around Chicago and Illinois is easy with our guide to ways to travel around the state. Get a plan from the people who know the trail the most. Thank you for taking the time to read this guide about biking Tunnel Hill State Trail. Photo by Jonathan Voelz. You can use that to help determine your location and route, too. Mountain bikes could also be used as well as larger tire eBikes. The southern section of the trail traverses the Cache River State Natural Area, a significant state, national, and international wetland resource. Some areas (especially around Harrisburg) are paved. A road bike is not recommended. This route tends to have more open canopy areas, so be sure to use sunblock. / 34.04194N 117.36389W / 34.04194; -117.36389. Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Conservation Inclusive Construction and Development Archive (CICADA). Passengers in Pullman cars clocked the miles with these and other landmarks as they traveled one of southern Illinois' most scenic routes. Some snakes may be on the trail (please yield to them and give them plenty of room as you go around them). The City of Harrisburg maintains this section of the trail. 23 trestle bridges along the trail provide great spots to stop for a break and enjoy the panoramic views out over the countryside. Continue through the tunnel until shortly reaching Sandburn Junction, an old general store turned into a trail store. Gasoline-powered bicycles or homemade eBikes are prohibited from using the trail. As an absolute beginner, you should make sure to choose a good route before biking Tunnel Hill State Trail based on your abilities. There are wineries at both ends and even camping at both ends. The River to River Trail crosses Tunnel Hill State Trail between Vienna and Tunnel Hill. Required fields are marked *. Sandburn Junction has a general store with bike rentals, ice cream, drinks, produce, and veggies that is always open. Some additional resources to the Tunnel Hill State Trail are available. However, many trail users will also ride into the town to use their bikes/walking paths. If you ride this route during the warmer months, note that youll likely see snakes along the way. In the 1990s, the railway diminished in operation and was handed over to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, which turned it into a rail trail. My first experience of biking Tunnel Hill State Trail allowed me to fall in love with it and I found myself biking Tunnel Hill State Trail every chance I got thereafter. Youll see the 500+ foot tunnel within a few minutes, and if you make it a 5-mile round trip, you can get even the Breeden Trestle, the longest trestle on the trail. Photo by Jonathan Voelz. 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. Water, adequate parking, picnic tables, information signage, and restrooms are available. Beginning in Harrisburg, the trail is at 370 feet above sea level, rising to 680 feet at Tunnel Hill and then dropping to 340 feet at Karnak. You can always fix your hair but you cant always fix brain damage. Find out what's on in Illinois and Chicago with your guide to events, festivals, markets, music, theater, sports and more. I recommend this app first because it helps Tunnel Hill and rail trails. Parker City was a neighborhood in New Burnside that was located between Tunnel Hill and New Aside from a few foundations and traces of railway usage, the majority of these Ghost Towns have nothing to offer. If you plan to be on the trail for more than 4 hours, consider bringing a lunch that doesnt require cooking to fuel yourself up. This dynamic duo of living ghost towns might take you outta day trip territory, but we'd be doing you a huge disservice if we didn't get 'em on your radar. 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. These are some of the applications Ive used and recommend you to use, too. On this ride, youll see everything: the tunnel, Breeden Trestle, other trestles, bridges, waterfall cascades, Sandburn Junction, railroad items left behind, old home sites, and plenty of bluffage, too! Mostlypart, there arent many dog-chasing-people encounters along the trail. Are you a cyclist, runner, or hiker? Tunnel Hill is an unincorporated village in Johnson County. streams and marshes. described as ghost townsForman, Bender, Rago, Parker City and New Castle. If you have to, get off and push and you might consider a bike light as well. You will need to eat and drink right while on the trail. In less than an eighth of a mile, you will pass through the Tunnel which is the tunnel that gave the trail its name. If you would be so kind enough to support my efforts, you can do so by sharing this post with others, especially on social media. I like to ride it when I want a long bike ride exercise trip. Tunnel Hill State Trail stretches for 45 miles from Harrisburg to Karnak. Hiking with Shawn provides videos for entertainment purposes only. The trail should be easy for most groups, from beginners to advanced. However, in modern times, the City appears to be doing well. A grandson of Hampton was also a founder of the nearby City of Harrisburg. Tunnel Hill State Trail is a 50+ mile rail trail in Southern Illinois. If you fancy a historic detour while youre in Vienna, check out the first coal-fired iron furnace in Illinois, now on the National Register of Historic Places. Muddy is an unincorporated community located north of Harrisburg along the Tunnel Hill State Trail. What was likely a vibrant community is merely a living ghost town in modern times. Vienna finish line for the 50/100 run. All of the trail in Harrisburg is paved and striped. Temporary signage for the 50/100 run at Vienna headquarters building. The trail crosses 23 trestles ranging from 34 feet long to 450 feet. Monarch Tagging Program. The first sections of Tunnel Hill State Trail opened in 1998, and it was completed in 2001. I provide it for free and it takes a while to create. For more information and current conditions, contact the trail manager (listed below). The bikes are hybrid-style, and most have reflectors and baskets. There are a few rest areas and trailheads for the trail located within Harrisburgs city limits. Douglas/Glenrock, Wyoming Your railway has been and gone, but your muttonchops live on. 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. There are many features at this trailhead. Visitors will pass 23 trestle bridges (one of which is 450 feet long), a ghost town, a park, and the 543-foot tunnel for which the trail was named. Thanks again for checking out another one of my articles and until next time, Ill see you on the trail! Elevation High Point: 680 document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hiking with Shawn is an entity of Hiking with Shawn LLC, registered in the State of Illinois. Bicycling (on pavement)CampingDogs - On leashPedestrian - Walking/Hiking/RunningRoller/Inline Skating, Location: Counties of Saline, Williamson, Johnson, and Pulaski The abandoned railroad right-of-way varies between 40 and 200 feet in width. The site office is in Vienna in a former railroad station, which includes interpretive displays and other information. The Tunnel Hill State Trail, which was begun by General Ambrose Burnside in the late 1800s, is a Civil War-era relic. A few Ghost Towns users of the trail will pass through. 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 corridor was originally built during the early 1870s by a predecessor system that eventually became part of the massive New York Central (NYC). The trailhead offers parking, restrooms, picnic tables and benches, water, and information signage. The Tunnel Hill State Trail is a bicycle trail running from Eldorado to Karnak, Illinois. 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. In the end, use common sense and always put safety first. Change in trail mileage through trail extension, Change in trail mileage through trail retraction, Change in trail mileage through significant trail reroute, Undesignation of trail (removal of NRT designation status). Only ride, hike, or run the amount in which youre physically able to do. It crosses the River to River State Trail, which could be used for dispersed camping outside of recreational and natural area designations. Click here to learn more about Shawn Gossman, Your email address will not be published. Start at the Karnak Trailhead (south), ride to the end of the Harrisburg Trail (north), and ride back. Crenshaws mansion is owned by the state, and while there has been discussion of plans to open it as a State Historic Site, this project appears to be on hold due to lack of funding. This used to be one of the smallest post office facilities in the state. Hiking with Shawn offers Itinerary Planning Services at a low cost. When biking Tunnel Hill State Trail as a beginner, the most important thing to remember is that it shouldnt be a race. 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. Dont get me wrong, I have very expensive bicycles (not that much though!!) 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. Venomous snakes (including copperhead and cottonmouth) occur along this trail. 45 miles of wonderous Southern Illinois, running along the route of the old Vincennes and Cairo Railroad. This trail was widely responsible for the creation of Hiking with Shawn. I use and love this app. The tunnel is usually extremely dark in the middle. Runners should bring plenty of water and snacks. Make sure you bring plenty of bug spray for the hike. The Eldorado extension is 4.2-miles from the additional trail. Tunnels aren't only man-made along Tunnel Hill State Trail. Your email address will not be published. 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). During and after severe weather, there could be eroded spots (from heavy rain), trees down, and other debris (from wind) along the trail. Whether you split the trip up over a couple days or do it in one, you have to do the entirety of the trail. Photo by Jonathan Voelz. Winner 2022 NRT Photo Contest, Winter Trails. Hiking or athletic-specific clothing is also recommended for using this trail. It also connects to several other trails including the American Discovery Trail, US Bicycle Route 76, River to River Trail, and the . Continue on for another couple of miles enjoying the views of bluffs, hardwood forests, pine plantations and smaller trestles along the way. Avoid junk food like candy and soda, especially on hotter days as these items will usually have a reverse effect on hydration and fueling for athletic activities.

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