Other Jewels among the Treasures of Little EgyptBald Knob Cross of Peace The Cross of Peace sits majestically atop Bald Knob Mountain and is visible for miles. The cross serves as a non-denominational site at which people may worship and view the Southern Illinois countryside. The gigantic white cross reaches 112 feet high and sixty-three-feet across, making it the largest Christian monument in North America. The cross was a dream of Wayman Presley, who raised the money for the cross himself. This symbolic structure was completed in 1963.
Big Muddy River Visitors can canoe the Big Muddy River from Riverside Park in Murphysboro to Rattlesnake Ferry near LaRue Pine Hills Ecological Area. Camping is available at Turkey Bayou and along the beautiful scenery of Little Grand Canyon. For more information, call the Shawnee National Forest Murphysboro Ranger District at (618) 687-1731. Burden Falls The tallest waterfall in the state of Illinois, it has access to Burden Falls Wilderness Area and beautiful scenery and is close to Bellsmith Springs. For more information, call the Vienna Ranger District at (618) 658-2111. Camp Cadiz This old Civilian Conservation Corps camp allows primitive camping and access to the River-to-River Trail. Follow sign off Karbers Ridge Road in Saline County. For more information, call the Elizabethtown Ranger District (618) 287-2201. Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge In the southeast part of Union County, this 35,200-acre area of swamps, bottomlands, and upland hills was established by the Emergency Wetland Resource Act. The refuge was created to preserve and restore the wetlands for public enjoyment. For more information, call (618) 634-2231. Fountain Bluff Prehistoric dwellers left their marks on the rock wall of Fountain Bluff at the north end of Big Hill about a mile southwest of Gorham. Carvings depict wolves, crosses, deer, birds, humans, and geometric figures. To reach the site, turn east off Illinois Route 3 onto Gorham Road, drive 1.2 miles to Second Street, and turn left. Continue two blocks to Lake Street, turn east, and proceed about one mile on gravel road to the petroglyphs. Jackson Hollow This extremely beautiful spot in the Shawnee National Forest is accessible by hiking and horseback and is a popular spot for rock climbers. A railroad runs through the longest tunnel in Illinois, but you would never know it until you are right upon it. For more information, call the Shawnee National Forest Vienna Ranger District at (618) 658-2111. Kaolin Pond Kaolin clay was once mined here and used by Kirkpatrick Pottery of Anna, Illinois. The pit supported a flourishing industry and a town called Kaolin for several years, but a decline in the demand for clay caused the community to dissolve in the 1920s. Kaolin Pond is now a small day-use park with fishing and picnicking facilities. Located north of Anna off Route 127 near Mountain Glen Road.
The block of storefronts dating from the 1890s has been saved, restored, and currently provides shop space for local artisans and craftspeople. The Illinois Central Railroad passes by and Drury Creek runs through this quaint village located inside Giant City State Park, just south of Carbondale. Millstone Bluff National Register Site Learn about the people of the Mississippian culture (circa 900-1450 A.D.) by walking the one-mile trail leading past a stone fort, cemetery, petroglyphs, and a village area. For more information, call the Shawnee National Forest Supervisor’s Office at (800) 699-6637. Northwest Passage Rootbeer Saloon
Rend Lake Wine Trail
Saline Springs A marker commemorating the salt industry sits where Route 1 passes over the Saline River. Salt was a necessary ingredient for the preservation of food, tanning hides, and for human health. Native Americans first had an industry here and traded it with settlers. Slaves were supposedly used in the labor-intensive evaporation process, mostly for chopping wood. For more information, call the Shawnee National Forest Supervisor’s Office at (800) 699-6637. Sand Cave The largest sandstone cave in North America, it was probably occupied for more than twelve-thousand years. Closeby cliffs and springs are also interesting. Located off Cedar Grove Church Road. For more information, call the Vienna Ranger District at (618) 658-2111. Shawnee Hills on the Ohio National Scenic Byway A seventy-mile scenic drive located on the eastern side of Southern Illinois along the Ohio River. For more information, call the Shawnee National Forest Elizabethtown Ranger District at (618) 287-2201. Shawnee Saltpetre Cave Southern Illinois’s largest bluff shelter at 215 feet, this natural amphitheater is surrounded by the Shawnee National Forest. It features rock formations, waterfall, natural trails, picnic tables, paddleboat and canoe rides, and camping; it frequently hosts concerts by local and out-of-town acts. Located six miles south of Murphysboro on Route 127. For more information, call (618) 684-8394 or (618) 684-2839. Stone Face A sandstone outcrop that looks like a man’s face keeping watch over the forest. For more information, call the Shawnee National Forest Supervisor’s Office at (800) 699-6637. Trigg Tower The last of the fire towers in Southern Illinois, with beautiful scenery from atop the tower and access to the River-to-River Trail. Located off Route 147 north of Simpson, Illinois. For more information, call the Vienna Ranger District at (618) 658-2111. Williams Hill The second highest point in Illinois at 1,064 feet, it’s also the largest rise above the Illinois common plain. A trail begins in Herod, Illinois. For more information, call the Elizabethtown Ranger District at (618) 287-2201. Locations, Events, and Organizations
For Even More Information:
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An Introduction to Little Egypt | Outdoor Hazards | The Shawnee National Forest | Southern Illinois’s State Parks | The River to River Trail | Southern Illinois’s Lakes | Southern Illinois’s Beaches | The Shawnee Hills Wine Trail | Golfing in Little Egypt |
Links, Phone Numbers, and Points of Interest |
