Update your records! I think we may take another trip and see what we missed. Illinois Adventure program on Barkhausen Wetland Center. Nice path The room was clean, comfortable, and reasonably priced. Thought maybe all the rain in spring of 2019 would cause washouts, but surface is in great condition. A fallen tree that we had to climb over on the way out was already cut and pulled off the trail on our way back. My bike ride started in Harrisburg at a small parking lot next to the trail just off of Highway 45. Visitors will pass 23 trestle bridges (one of which is 450 feet long), a ghost town, a park, and the 543-foot tunnel for which the trail … Trail Maps Resources Contact Book Now Tunnel Hill Trail, Vienna, IL. Shaded 95%. Previously an unused railroad corridor, this "rail-trail" is now a great place to walk Fido in Cypress! And our hostess at the Country Schemes B&B in Vienna was most delightful. You can then turn around and zoom back to Vienna. "First of all, complete disclosure: I am the co director of the Tunnel Hill 10 mile trail race held in November so I have a vested interest in this trail. Loved this trail and want to do more of it! We have ridden many trails in many states and I must say this is one of the top 5. We sighted a cougar on the trail!!! We rode from Vienna to Tunnel Hill & back. Bring water but know there are a lot of water stops. The only exception to this I found going into the Nature Center at Karnak. I'd recommend a light when going through the tunnel. Plan on going back this year with the wife and do just a downhill part. We will be back!! Lunch at the Vienna diner was delicious and the overall ride was delightful. Harrisburg has a shop, "You're So Vane" which has a website. The Vienna trailhead, a town park, is reasonably large for a rural IL town. I had never ridden on a rr line converted to a trail, and was very curious how my tri bike would hold hold up on mostly packed, crushed stone. My daughter hit the wall..She was going straight then all of a sudden lost her bearing and took a 20 degree turn. ". At least one snake, five deer, several hawks and what I thought was a very challenging ride since I rarely do 46 miles. Get directions, reviews and information for Tunnel Hill State Trail in Vienna, IL. Today, when you plan your visit to the Paw Paw Tunnel, bring a flashlight and discover the weep holes, rope burns, rub rails, as well brass plates that bring the tunnel’s history to life. When you have eliminated the JavaScript , whatever remains must be an empty page. The trail continues on a trails spur for 2.5 miles from Karnak to Cache River State Natural Area - Henry Barkhausen Wetlands Center on the old Chicago and Eastern Illinois railroad bed. The trail is well kept, no real rough spots, saw deer almost immediately, saw very interesting spider webs worth stopping to photograph. The trail has a lot to offer and is well-maintained. I have seen several deer along the way too. Coming into it out of the bright sun, even with a pretty good headlight, your eyes can't adjust quickly enough to see anything but inky blackness all around you, except for the other end of the tunnel which is large enough and bright enough to keep your eyes from readjusting. There are rest stops every 7 or 8 miles with water and there are multiple places to eat along the way. for our 29th anniversary, Uh lala how romantic (he says with a wink). Anyway, the tunnel was fun so we went through a few times.My only regret is that we did not stop and explore around the Cache River Wetland center. Good picnic area also.Trail climbs from here to the tunnel and descends all the way to Harrisburg. Bald Knob Cross Ride, Alto Pass Illinois. The longest is Breeden Trestle, which is also the highest at 90 feet. Great ride! Join TrailLink (a non-profit) to view more than 30,000 miles of trail maps and more! I'll be bringing a headlamp with me next time I ride this trail. I'd wish they'd extend it further. When you have eliminated the JavaScript , whatever remains must be an empty page. The General store in Stonefort was a nice place to stop for a sandwich and cold drinks. Today, the railroad is gone. State of Illinois Coronavirus Response Site. Check or FAQs for more common login questions. The trailhead is on the right. My only suggestion would be to mark rest areas, towns, creeks and roads, it's nice to know where I am. (( It's true,, if you don't have a flash light of some sort, You'll soon wish you did !! )) Discover trails like Tunnel Hill State Trail Illinois, find information like trail length, elevation, difficulty, activities, and nearby businesses. First time on crushed limestone and I think it rides like pavement, although it will really dirty up your bike. We used it as a base camp before and after the ride. Tunnel Hill, California topographic map and nearby trails. The next 7.5 miles meander past farm fields and the outskirts of Harrisburg, the largest town on the trail. You have about 2 1/2 of up hill as you get into Tunnel hill coming from the south. Also, if starting from the SW end, you'll want to park at Karnak, as the wetlands center parking lot is only open during their business hours. That is the reason for the train tunnel in the first place. The trail follows a stream for much of the ride and is well removed from any roads making the trip very quiet. Trail was in great condition with packed fine rock. Note that not all trail-heads provide water and/or restroom capabilities. After viewing the eclipse I rode back in the heat. As an “overland” alternative to walking a half mile through the Paw Paw Tunnel, the Tunnel Hill Trail offers a walk through history and outstanding views of the Potomac River and tunnel gorge.. The station, where you'd think the bathrooms would be, was closed both times we were there. Still a great ride! Works great Not long after leaving the junction, I got my 2nd flat. Motorized vehicles, horses and hunting are not allowed on the trail. There are no services there but 3 mi. We hope to do another portion another time. I only wish there had been signage showing mileage from town to town. ", "From farmlands to forest to rocky hills and finally to the Cache River swamp & wetlands. I have ridden the trail since its opening and would suggest novice riders wanting an easy, scenic ride to depart from the trailhead at Tunnel Hill and ride South to Vienna. But,,, once inside it goes to pitch black and you lose your bearings from side to side. South of Vienna and north of the tunnel the surface was looser and grabbed our 28c tires a few times. The abandoned railroad right-of-way varies between 40 and 200 feet in width. I'd heard this and found it hard to believe. Visitors will pass 23 trestle bridges (one of which is 450 feet long), a ghost town, a park, and the 543-foot tunnel for which the trail … farther Southwest in Karnak you will find water, restrooms as well as a restaurant and store open on Monday thru Saturday. Local Attractions: While groups of 25 or more are welcome and encouraged to use the park's facilities, they are required to register in advance with the site office to avoid crowding or scheduling conflicts. I've ridden trail surfaces like this on 23mm tires, but, wouldn't recommend it. Tunnel Hill Road is a 4 mile less popular doubletrack trail located near Winter Park Colorado. Fortunately, it wanted nothing to do with us. Tunnel Hill State Trail stretches for 45 miles from Harrisburg to Karnak. When you hit the tunnel don't be fooled, that's a fairly long tunnel and about 1/3 of the way in you're in the dark! Bald Knob Cross Ride, Alto Pass Illinois. A lot of the south end is shaded woods, with the usual downstate IL mix of steep-sided, creek-bottom ravines-- including a few that are surprisingly deep-- and poison ivy. The Northernmost end of the trail is in Harrisburg, IL. Trail north of Vienna is uphill all the way to the tunnel, then downhill to the north. You can always see the light at the end, but once you get in to the darkness, you can feel yourself moving, but don't seem to be getting any closer to the end. We've ridden from Karnack to Vienna before so we have completed the whole trail. I had eaten lunch, but I just had to try one. The trail surface was fine for my hybrid bike. The trail is well maintained with packed crushed limestone. The most picturesque section of the Tunnel Hill Trail is between Tunnel Hill and Karnak and in the fall is absolutely gorgeous and serene! Trail Maps Resources Contact Book Now Tunnel Hill Trail, Vienna, IL. Gorgeous woodland as you cross thru Shawnee. 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