Motorized vehicles, horses and hunting are not allowed on the trail. Some foundations are visible on a bench next to a sign with no information. If you prefer a paper-style map, a generic one is available from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Check out my Google Custom Map below for the Tunnel Hill State Trail length and different stops along the way. Watching runners head into the tunnel from above. The rail-trail is part of a former railroad founded by Civil War . Other Ghost Town names along the trail include Rago, New Castle, and Bender. There isnt much historical information about this post office. 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. There is an adventure for everyone on Tunnel Hill State Trail. Belmont Ghost Town Belmont & Manhattan Ghost Towns. The longest, Breeden Trestle, is also the highest at 90 feet. For more information and current conditions, contact the trail manager (listed below). Biking is fun and makes you feel like a kid again but its still exercise. 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. Continue on for another couple of miles enjoying the views of bluffs, hardwood forests, pine plantations and smaller trestles along the way. I also use this app and have purchased the premium version of it. That is Parker City! Deer and other wildlife are common along the trail. Be careful as vehicles do travel on this gravel road. Start at the Karnak Trailhead (south), ride to the end of the Harrisburg Trail (north), and ride back. This used to be one of the smallest post office facilities in the state. The best type of bicycle to ride on Tunnel Hill State Trail is a hybrid-style bike or a gravel bike. 62995 (618) 658-2168 http://dnr.state.il.us. The town was initially spelled Eldereado but later changed to Eldorado. Outside of the Wetlands Center, there are a few hiking trails and an observation deck on top of an awesome looking swamp. Enjoy these photos taken around this area! Doing so, I wanted to create a guide all about biking Tunnel Hill State Trail but focusing on absolute beginners so that everyone can be able to enjoy the trail just as much as a seasoned cyclist would. When biking Tunnel Hill State Trail as a beginner, the most important thing to remember is that it shouldnt be a race. At one time, the rumble of freight cars reverberated through the narrow tunnel. Some of the 400 Tunnel Hill 50/100 mile fall run participants enjoy a beautiful fall day; photo by Jonathan Voelz, View more details for this trail in the NRT Database. Other cycling gear to consider when biking Tunnel Hill State Trail should be on your list as well. Accessibility: There are 2 designated accessible spaces in the paved parking lot off of Route 37 at the southwest end of the trail. 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. If you ride this route during the warmer months, note that youll likely see snakes along the way. Lakeview is the oldest African American settlement in Illinois and the founding families hold an annual reunion. Starting at Vienna City Park, head north on the trail and stop at the Tunnel Hill Trailhead when youre ready to turn around and come back. The Tunnel Hill State Trail, which was begun by General Ambrose Burnside in the late 1800s, is a Civil War-era relic. The Cairo & Vincennes became a branch line of the Southern Railway before its trail . Getting around Chicago and Illinois is easy with our guide to ways to travel around the state. In the end, use common sense and always put safety first. The ride to the trestle is downhill, but the grade isnt too strenuous. Length: 55.8 mi Est. Restrooms, benches, parking, and water are all available in the town. I like to ride it when I want a long bike ride exercise trip. Tunnel Hill State Trail is a 50+ mile rail trail in Southern Illinois. Once youre at the lane, take a right and ride to the end. If you ride to the Wetland Center past the Karnak Trailhead, you can take a tour inside and even watch a video if you ask about it. Message us on Facebook with your tales or photos of exploring the ghost town of the Tunnel Hill State Trail. Photo by Jonathan Voelz. While second-skin styles are best when riding, they make a baggier option for folks who are concerned about modesty. Join the trail in downtown Harrisburg and roll south to Karnak, through farmland, forests and wetlands. Pack a couple of water bottles and consider a hydration backpack to carry extra water, snacks and stuff like that. Sandburn Junction near the Village of Tunnel Hills offers bike rentals. The trail is managed by Illinois Department of Natural Resources. It crosses the River to River State Trail, which could be used for dispersed camping outside of recreational and natural area designations. You can unsubscribe anytime with ease. Dont make it a competition until you are physically and athletically ready to compete against your previous rides. Some apps require you to pay to download a map for use in areas without cell phone reception. The Trail of Tears is a settlement where Native Americans were forced from their homes and marched to reservations. The city, not IDNR, maintains the section of the trail that runs through Harrisburg. Along the Ghost Town . Vienna is the most popular trailhead of the entire trail and often the starting point for most trail users. The NRT Database is a free service provided by American Trails (a non-profit) and we need your support! The water fountains at each trailhead are not guaranteed to be turned on. I rode about 20 miles wearing regular clothing and my bottom was in some pretty serious pain after I was done. Im unsure if theyve officially designated them as a rail trail system, but if not, they should because, legally, they can be a rail trail system. Several campgrounds are located nearby. 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. Add a portable air pump and a saddle bag with basic bike tools and a spare inner tube to ensure that you can fix flats and minor issues if they arise. 2023 Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, A Ride Along Tunnel Hill State Trail in Southern Illinois, Eco-Friendly Hotels and GreenGetaways in Illinois, Five Champaign Restaurants Perfect for a Romantic Outing, Free African Americans founded the settlement of Lakeview, has been discussion of plans to open it as a State Historic Site, first coal-fired iron furnace in Illinois, a moving article about returning to New Castle to explore the site of her mothers childhood home, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. All wildlife is protected under state law along this trail. The Tunnel Hill State Trail is a state park in Vienna, Illinois. Mosquitoes can be bad during the warmer months bring plenty of bug spray. And you should eventually try to better your riding abilities but it should never be rushed. Along the way, enjoy forests and bluffs and scenic environments. You can start biking from Vienna and heading south. The railroad track that crosses the trail near Belknap is an unprotected crossing. Reviews from cyclists and hikers mention wild turkey, quail, whitetail deer, lizards, turtles, and frogs. Harrisburg is the largest city connected to the Tunnel Hill State Trail. Southern Illinois' Tunnel Hill State Trail is a gem of a route, with 23 trestle bridges (including one that is 450 feet long), several ghost towns, a beautiful park, a comfortable trailhead in Vienna Station and, of course, its namesake tunnelan impressive corridor that once measured 800-feet-long until a collapse in 1929 shortened it by some No purchase required. 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. Cabin rental near Cedar Lake, horse campground, tack store and outdoor recreation. Counties: Saline, Williamson, Johnson, Pulaski It also connects to several other trails including the American Discovery Trail, US Bicycle Route 76, River to River Trail, and the . The central section of Tunnel Hill Trail passes through the Shawnee National Forest, Illinois' only national forest. Harrisburg is a stable economic community but is said to have once thrived during the coal mining and railroad booms. Parker City was founded at the crossings of the former Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway and the Marion to Brookport branch of the Illinois Central Railroad. Continue through the tunnel until shortly reaching Sandburn Junction, an old general store turned into a trail store. Are you a cyclist, runner, or hiker? Designations by Year The trailhead and the 1.5-mile easy Heron Pond hike are at the end of the road. Lets check out some of the adventures you can enjoy today! The railway transported coal and locally grown fruit from orchards around the area. Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Conservation Inclusive Construction and Development Archive (CICADA). The bathrooms here are usually locked, and the water is often turned off. Vienna is the location of the Tunnel Hill State Trail Headquarters, which is located at the trailhead next to the City Park. Youll also pass several abandoned ghost towns, that lost their lifeblood after the trains stopped running. As you make your way toward Heron Pond Lane, youll see plenty of trestles, swamps, and scenic creeks. Check your junk mail and add my address to contact list if you don't get the email with my guide download. Most of these Ghost Towns have nothing to show besides a few foundations and signs of past railroad usage. Photo by Jonathan Voelz. Based on your abilities and current health condition, decide on a route that will keep you happy and dont worry about trying to challenge yourself with the most miles possible. Event on the incredibly scenic Tunnel Hill Trail. To promote safety, ensure everyone is out of the tunnel before you go through it. Videos and displays introduce you to the natural history of the area and the flora and fauna that live here. The Tunnel Hill State Trail is a bicycle trail running from Eldorado to Karnak, Illinois. To ways to travel around the State make your way toward Heron Pond hike at! Be bad during the warmer months bring plenty of bug spray also pass several abandoned Ghost Towns, that their... Accessible spaces in the end, use common sense and always put safety first,! Vehicles, horses tunnel hill state trail ghost towns hunting are not guaranteed to be one of the road most important thing remember... 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