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Prowl Impressive Bluffs at Panther Den Wilderness
Panther Den is a southern Illinois hike that we had meant to do for years, but never got around to. I was a little wary about the trail reports I had read where people had trouble finding the trailhead or following the trail. Well, we finally made the trip and this Shawnee National Forest hike was easy to follow and amazing to see! Read on to learn how to hike the Panther Den Wilderness Trail. Panther Den Wilderness Hike Distance:…
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Hiking Illinois’s Stemler Cave Woods Preserve
Stemler Cave Woods Nature Preserve is another quiet spot of nature developed in part by Clifftop Alliance. This non-profit was developed to help promote the conservation, preservation, and protection of the Mississippi River bluffs corridor in Monroe, Randolph and St. Clair Counties of Illinois. We have explored several of the other preserves Clifftop supports such as White Rock and Salt Lick Point. As the largest dedicated Illinois nature preserve in St. Clair County, Stemler Cave Woods contains 20 acres of…
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Family Travel Guide to Carlyle Lake and Eldon Hazlet State Park
Less than an hour east of St. Louis you can explore Illinois’s largest manmade lake. Carlyle Lake is a popular lake for sailing, camping, fishing, hiking, and more. There are several state parks and recreation areas located along the shores of the lake with Eldon Hazlet being the largest. This recreation area is a great spot to spend a day or weekend on the lake without having to travel far. Read on for a family travel guide to both Carlyle…
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Cedar Falls and Phantom Canyon Trails at Camp Ondessonk
One of my adventure bucket list items had been to visit the tallest free-flowing waterfall in the state of Illinois. We managed to check off that item in 2022 by hiking to Cedar Falls and Phantom Canyon, both located on the Camp Ondessonk property. Camp Ondessonk is the site of a Catholic summer camp in far southern Illinois. When summer camp is not in session, this private property is open to the public for hiking with permission. There are 25…
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The Best Waterfall Hikes Near St. Louis
While rainy days may keep most people away from the trails, wet weather is the best time for waterfall hunting. The St. Louis area may not have the continuously flowing waterfalls of other states, but heavy spring rains transform ordinary trickles into rushing cascades. Try to time your visit to these places after a good downpour. Bring those boots, brave the muddy trails, and ready your camera for an adventure. Here are over 25 of the best waterfalls to explore…
