Day 1:
8:00am - Leave Jackson, TN
10:00am to 10:30pm - Fort Defiance State Park - Fort Defiance Rd., Cairo, IL
11:00am to 11:30am - Trail of Tears Information Center - I-57, Anna, IL
Grave of King Neptune the Pig
12:00pm to 1:00pm - Giant City State Park - 235 Giant City Rd., Makanda, IL
Visitor Center Hours: 8am to 4pm
Camp: $20 night
Trails:
Stop at the Visitor Center to pick up free self-guided tour brochures for each trail. The brochures are very informative and they gave the kids something to watch for on the trails instead of complaining.
Arrow-wood Self-Interpretive Nature Trail - 1/3 mile - Easy
This trail is located at the far end of the visitor center parking lot.
As you walk through this 1/3 mile loop trail you will see many different trees, a few have signs indicating the type of tree it is. The self-guided tour brochure that you can pick up in the visitor center tells you a little about each tree that is labeled.
*Devils Standtable Nature Trail - 1/3 mile - Moderate
This trail is located next to Shelter #2.
This large free-standing pillar of sandstone is Devil's Standtable, sometimes called Mushroom Rock.
Stonefort Nature Trail - 1/3 mile
This trail is located near the main entrance off US 51 past Shelter #1.
This short but steep climb up to the stone wall contains large sandstone boulders in the trail.
We were expecting a much bigger wall but it was still and great hike and the view was beauitful.
Indian Creek Trail - 3/4 mile
*Giant City Nature Trail - 1 mile
This trail is located at Shelter #3 parking lot.
This trail was our favorite. We especially enjoyed the "giant city streets"
This trail is how the park got it's name. The self-guided brochure you picked up from the visitor center will talk you through the highlights of the trail.
*Trillium Trail - 2 miles (bring a flashlight) - Rugged
This trail takes you around, over, down and back around the other side of a giant sandstone bluff. It is a beautiful trail and worth the exersion but difficult.
Red Cedar Hiking Trail - 12 miles
Post Oak Nature Trail - 1/3 mile
The bridge going over the pond is closed...and that was the most exciting thing about the trail. Just a easy, short walk through the trees.
*Trails I found most interesting
Day 2:
9:00am to 11:00am - Trillium Trail
(see above)
12:00pm to 1:30pm - Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site - 94 Green Street, Wickliffe, KY
Hours: 10:00am -4:00pm Thursday thru Sunday, April thru October
Admission: Adults $5, Adults $4
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| Lifeways Building |
2:00pm to 3:30pm - Columbus-Belmont State Park - 350 Park Road, Columbus, KY
Museum Hours: April thru September
Museum Admission: Adults $4, Kids $3
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| Museum |
5:00pm - Arrive Jackson, TN
