There Is Something For Every Outdoor Lover In Johnson County Print

Nestled in the heart of the Shawnee National Forest, Johnson County has beauty unsurpassed by  any other county in the state. With the Cache River State Natural Area including Heron Pond and the Little Black Slough, wildlife and rare species of plants and animals are plentiful.

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The Tunnel Hill State Trail Print

The Tunnel Hill State Trail offers bicyclists and other outdoor recreationists with 45 of the most beautiful and peaceful miles in Illinois. The Trail stretches south from Harrisburg, through Vienna to Karnak, and includes a 2.5-mile spur through the Cache River State Nature Area from Karnak to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ Cache River Education Center in Rago. Because a majority of the 45 miles crosses through Johnson County, Illinois State legislators named Johnson County the Bicycling Capital of Illinois.

Developed on a portion of the Norfolk Southern Railroad rail bed, the crushed gravel Tunnel Hill State Trail is suitable for multiple uses. Bicycling is the most popular, but many people also walk, run, hike, and cross-country ski. As cyclists travel on the trail they can experience a wide variety of scenery, history and cultural sites as well as the chance to see wildlife ranging from turtles and deer to birds.

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Wine Country Print

If you’re a wine connoisseur or simply someone that enjoys a casual glass of wine with family and friends, you will truly take pleasure in the hospitality the Southern Illinois wine trails provide. After some free samples at the tasting bar you are welcome to stay and visit for a while or pick up a bottle for your next dinner party.

The Southern Illinois Wine Trail

http://www.southernillinoiswinetrail.net/

During your Southern Illinois Wine Trail Tour take pleasure in spending a relaxing day outdoors as you over look the beautiful scenery Southern Illinois has to offer. Drink a glass of wine, play bocce ball, listen to live music, enjoy a great meal, or just daydream as you gaze upon the nearby rows of grapevines. These are just a few of the casual pleasures you can expect when you visit the six wineries on the Southern Illinois Wine Trail, all located East of Interstate 57 in Saline, Pope and Johnson Counties.

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The Cache River Wetlands Print

The eleven counties of southernmost Illinois, mostly south of Illinois Route 13, offer birding possibilities that are truly remarkable.  This area is comprised of six Natural Divisions, physio-graphically distinct regions, (the Southern Till Plain, the Ozarks, the Lower Mississippi River Bottoms, the Shawnee Hills, the Coastal Plain, and the Wabash Border) each supporting distinctly different flora and fauna.

Southernmost Illinois is bordered by the Mighty Mississippi River to the west and the Ohio River to the east and south.  Along these two great rivers can be found bird species not common to inland regions of southernmost Illinois.  Each river serves as a road map for migratory birds, seasonally funneling migratory species to and through the area.

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The Shawnee National Forest Print

The Shawnee was designated in August 1933 as the Illini and Shawnee Purchase Units. It was proclaimed the Shawnee National Forest by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in September 1939.

Most of the Forest consists of land obtained in the 1930's that was over farmed, and land on which people could no longer make a living.

In the 1930's & 40's, the Civilian Conservation Corps planted much of this land to pine trees to prevent erosion and restore the soil.

The Forest consists of more than 278,537 acres and two Ranger Districts: Mississippi Bluffs, and Hidden Springs Ranger Districts. It has portions of six rivers and creeks that are recommended for inclusion in National Wild and Scenic River System: Bay Creek, Big Creek, Big Grand Pierre Creek, Big Muddy River, Hutchins Creek, and Lusk Creek.

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