Illinois Travel Guide 2009 - (Page 26) Top to Bottom: Explore waterfall canyons at Starved Rock State Park, take to the slopes at Ski Snowstar Winter Sports Park, bike along a scenic old railroad route at Tunnel Hill State Trail Explore waterfalls and canyons carved out of sandstone cliffs more than 400 million years ago at Starved Rock State Park in Utica. Hike the trails or jump on a trolley at Star ved Rock Lodge and take a guided tour of the area (including seasonal fall color tours and winter bald eagle watching). Other outdoor adventures include fishing, boating, horseback riding with Star ved Rock Stables, Illinois River cruises on the Belle of the Rock paddleboat, plus crosscountry skiing and ice climbing in the winter. Across the road from Starved Rock State Park is Matthiessen State Park. Although smaller in size, Matthiessen also features stunning waterfalls (don’t miss Cascade Falls), along with bluffs and canyons great for hiking. Cross-country skiing is a popular winter sport here, with ski rentals available at the Matthiessen Dells Area on the weekends December through March. Nearby is the I&M Canal Trail, offering 60 miles of picturesque hiking and biking trails that follow the historic route of the I&M Canal from COURTESY OF QUAD CITIES CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU Bar Y Horse Rides in Nauvoo, a river town steeped in Mormon history, offers guided trail rides that pass some of the area’s important landKAREN HIRSCH Opposite Page: Get a bird’seye view of the countryside aboard a hot air balloon from Galena on the Fly, glide along the Chicago lakefront with City Segway Tours LaSalle to Channahon. The trail also boasts Illinois’ longest continuous snowmobile trail and is a favored route for cross-country skiers. You can ski, snowboard or tube down the snow-covered hills at Ski Snowstar Winter Sports Park in Andalusia, near the Quad Cities. Warm up with a hot drink in the lounge or grab a snack in the day lodge. Lessons and equipment rental are available. marks, including the imposing Nauvoo Temple. On the half-day Old Martyrdom Trail ride you can travel via horseback or covered wagon along the fateful path that Mormon prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum took from Nauvoo to Carthage, where they were killed by an angry mob while being held at the Carthage Jail in 1844. Southern Illinois’ expansive Shawnee National Forest, best known for its awesome Garden of the Gods, features unusual sandstone formations with quirky names such as Camel Rock and Devil’s Smokestack, near Harrisburg. At nearby Rim Rock Recreational Trail, hike through native hardwoods, climb the observation deck for a look at Pounds Hollow Lake and try to squeeze through Fat Man’s Misery, a narrow passageway crammed between huge boulders. At the Pounds Hollow Lake Recreation Area you can rent a boat and fish, or hike the nature trails. Make tracks to Giant City State Park in Makanda, named for its “city streets” of sheer sandstone walls that a giant could comfortably stroll through. Giant City offers various trails for hikers of all levels, along with rock climbing and rappelling. Giant City Stables leads guided horseback rides through the park. Stay the night at the historic Giant City Lodge. Bike the beautiful 45-mile-long Tunnel Hill State Tr a i l i n J o h n s o n County, named the Bicycling Capital of Illinois. The trail gets its name from the old railroad route it follows, with tunnels and trestles as picturesque markers along the way. Be sure to turn onto the 2.5-mile spur in MIKE SERONI 26 ILLINOIS. MILE AFTER MAGNIFICENT MILE. enjoyillinois.com http://www.enjoyillinois.com
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