Dixon Springs, Burden Falls, and Ferne Clyffe - Shawnee National Forest, Southern Illinois

April 5, 2015

Happy Easter!  Today we packed our lunches and headed for a road trip to Southern Illinois.  We spent Easter hiking in the beautiful Shawnee National Forest.  We managed to make it to three waterfalls today.

Dixon Springs State Park - Golconda, IL

Our first stop was at Dixon Springs State Park.  We arrived at lunch time so we eat our picnic lunch in one of the picnic shelters.  This early in the year, there weren't very many people in the park, but it seems like it would be a very nice place once summer comes around.  We stopped and took a quick picture at the springs before we hit the trail.

Dixon Springs.  That is the WKYQ Rabbit we took along on our trip.

We decided to hike the Ghost Dance Canyon Trail.  The trails wasn't marked very well, and the trail was hard to follow in a few places.  The trail heads under a large bridge on the highway and follows the stream into the canyon.  Shortly after the bridge, we had to make a stream crossing.  It wasn't too difficult but some of the stones we used to cross were very wobbly.  The cascades were just a short distance further down the trail.  The cascades were very nice, but not as big as many of the waterfalls we've grown accustomed to.  The canyon was very nice and would be pretty once the flowers bloom and trees start to green.

My brother and I at the cascades of Ghost Dance Canyon.

CJ and the WKYQ Bunny peeking for a picture.

Burden Falls - Burden Falls Wilderness, Shawnee National Forest, IL

We next drove up to Burden Falls.  We visited this waterfall last spring, but loved it so much we came back again.  It is probably our favorite waterfall in Southern Illinois.  Even though the hike to the falls is extremely short, we like that you can (very carefully) climb your way down to the base of the falls.  Unlike last year, we learned of a trail downstream of the falls that would climb the bluffs and loop back to the top of the falls.  We enjoyed this hike since it added some distance for us to hike and gave us some good views into the gorge.

Guarding stance!

Teaching the WKYQ bunny how to make a cairn.

CJ staring down Burden Falls.

Ferne Clyffe State Park - Goreville, IL

We love Ferne Clyffe!  This was our third trip to Ferne Clyffe.  This was the longest hike of the day, which only turned out to be about a mile round trip.  It was cool to remember the different parts of the trail as we passed them.  We again climbed the left cliff face of the waterfall to get "behind" the falls and walk a small trail partway up the bluffs.  There is a good elevation change from the trail head down to the falls, so this was a great way to end our day!  I made it all the way back to the car only having to stop once, I'm proud of myself!  Last year we had to stop often for me to catch my breath.

All in all, it was a great way to celebrate Easter, out enjoying nature!


For more information about the places we visited...
Dixon Springs -  http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/Landmgt/parks/r5/DIXON.HTM
Burden Falls - http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/shawnee/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=32309&actid=50
Ferne Clyffe - http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/Landmgt/parks/r5/FERNE.HTM


Notes to parents, from parents:
The Ghost Dance Canyon hike was VERY short (less than 1/2 mile round trip).  There were no signs to lead to the trail (it started near the pool), there were very faint markers on trees, and the trail was not always very apparent.  It should be easy to get to the destination, as you follow the creek the whole way, but down near the cascades, you have to go around and through the trees to get to the base of the falls.  There is a stream crossing to be made during the hike, and we feel it may be difficult after a hard rain.

Burden falls is also a very short hike if all you are wanting to do is see the falls.  You can walk a few feet from your car (if you park in the VERY small, limited parking lot) and see the first of the falls.  You can walk right up to the edge of the large falls (pictured above) so please be extremely careful, especially with small children.  If you decide to hike down to the base of the falls, you have two options.  Option number one is to climb on the right (going down) side of the falls.  It will be pretty apparent the course you will take, but it can be very dangerous as there are semi-steep drop offs and many large boulders.  Option number two is how we hiked out, a trail that crosses the top of the upper falls and follows the bluffs until you climb down a much easier path into the gorge, then hike back upstream to the base of the falls.

We have previously discussed Ferne Clyffe Waterfall Trail in another blog, so for more information, see the previous blog about Ferne Clyffe.

As with all Southern Illinois waterfalls, water levels are best in spring time and after a hard rain.  These waterfalls will be dry or nearly dry come summer.  Happy hiking!

Ferne Clyffe State Park

Ferne Clyffe State Park - Goreville, IL

April 5, 2014

Today I took my very first hike!  My family decided on driving up into the Shawnee National Forest for our first hike.  I really wanted to see a waterfall, so my parents decided on Ferne Clyffe State Park.  It was a great first hike!

We decided on the 0.75 mile Waterfall Trail.  The map we got said that the trail was moderately hard.  The trip to the waterfall was all downhill, so it wasn't so bad!  I got really tired on the way back up though!

After a few minutes on the trail, we stopped at this small creek to rest and take some pictures.  Its hard to see in the pictures, but it was almost a mini waterfall!

Playing in the creek!

Further down the trail you reach the bluffs.  There were some neat things to see.  We spent some time walking around and looking at all the huge rocks that have broken off from the bluffs.

Between a rock and a hard place.

 A lot of the rocks were covered in a fuzzy green carpet.  My mom taught me that it is moss.

So soft!

At the bottom of the cliffs we found a much larger creek.  Walking towards the falls, we spotted a cave that had been carved by water.  We took some time to explore and climb!

Kings of the mountain!

 After a few more minutes, we finally reached our destination.  It was my first time seeing a waterfall!  It was so cool!  There was a small pond in front of the falls, and to reach the falls you had to cross a bridge made of logs.

My brother crossing the log "bridge."

My brother didn't hesitate to be the first to the falls.

We spent a long time at the falls.  We climbed the rocks as much as we could, threw stones into the pond, and had a snack.  Eventually we climbed up the side of the falls so we could get in the cavern behind the falls.  I was scared!  It was slippery and hard to do, but I made it.

I made it!

After a few more minutes, we hiked back the way we came back up the Waterfall Trail.  It was a lot harder going up than down.  When we got back to the car, I was so tired!  It was a great first hike though, and my first waterfall experience!

For more information, visit http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/Landmgt/parks/r5/FERNE.HTM

Notes to parents:  We will do our best to let parents know about the hikes we do with our kids, with the hopes to give parents a better idea of what to expect if you hike these locations with young children.  At the time of the hike, our children were 5 and 7 years old.  

As Logan said, the hike down was pretty easy, but there were many slick spots on bare rocks that you need to be careful on.  At the bottom of the trail, the trail combines with a paved walking trail (Big Rocky Hollow Trail).  That particular trail was very popular that day and the "easy" way to get to the falls.  Once at the falls, there is a slippery log "bridge" to get close to the falls.  Just take your time and you should be fine.  We climbed the rocks on the left side of the falls to access the upper section of the waterfall.  This was very difficult and slippery, so if you decide to do this, be VERY careful with your children.  The hike back was uphill, but we considered it moderate in difficulty.

Also be aware that this is a wet season waterfall.  The falls as seen were in April.  We came back to the site in June and there was barely a trickle of water in the falls.

***EDIT:  On our most recent trip in 2016 the log "bridge" is gone.  To access the area behind the falls, there is a trail about 0.1 miles before you reach the falls that climbs the hill and takes you along the cliff to the falls.***