Little Grand Canyon near Pomona, Illinois

Little Grand Canyon near Pomona, Illinois

Below: View of the trail and the terrain created using the Map My Hike app Below: Summary of the hike created using the Map My Hike app

Presented by: Jennifer Swan, 2014-2015 Executive Director Possible Activities & Features: Hiking Photography Bird & Wildlife Viewing Herpetology Geological Formations Fall foliage colors Variety of plant life Changing landscapes Beautiful View at the Ascent Great workout Potential Hazards: Descend through an often wet and slippery rocky creek bed with little traction The ascent starts with some slippery surfaces. There is a bit of a steep climb for approximately one-third of a mile on the return from the canyon In the hot months of summer be advised to pack plenty of water During periods of heavy rain the trail may be flooded in the areas that run alongside the river. Be cautious of flash flooding in heavy storms Ticks are also a hazard during the summer months. Long pants are recommended Footwear with good tread, preferably boots or shoes, not sandals Directions: To view an interactive map that you can put your address in, click here

Description: This 2.95 mile hike is my favorite trail to bring friends and family to when they visit southern Illinois for the first time. It is close to my house which makes it convenient but there are a lot of features about this hike that makes me want to show it off and that bring me back to this trail more than any other. The best way to experience the hike is starting at the trail head on the right side of the parking lot (not the left side near the outhouses). Left: Landscape at the trailhead. Below: The hike winds downhill as you experience the densely wooded and rolling hills of the Shawnee National Forest. In my opinion this hike is challenging enough for an avid hiker but not too far beyond the comfort zone for someone searching for a new trail that is challenging but not extremely difficult to a healthy and ablebodied person. There are a few places along the hike I really feel my heart rate increasing due to the steep incline. Likewise, the journey down to the canyon floor requires a little bit of a balancing act because the creek is often wet and slippery, as seen in the photo to the left. Take your time. However, as you can see it is an incredibly picturesque sight and unlike what most people picture in their minds when they think about Illinois. Noticing rain water dripping off of the rocky ledges, random puddles with a frog or two swimming around, and the cool air

surrounding you as you maneuver down ancient walls of rock make it a great portion to a really magnificent hike. There are even openings in the rocky walls large enough for an adult to sit inside of. At the bottom of the trail is the canyon floor. In the photo to the right is a view looking back up the canyon from the bottom. During this section of the hike you find yourself venturing through the floodplains. The path (pictured below) sometimes becomes overgrown with grasses and other plants. Important Note: It is advised to always keep sight of the trail markers on the trees. It is this section of the trail that people have gotten off the right path and have become lost.

Throughout the canyon you get to hike on flat terrain alongside the creek that follows the base of the cliffs on the left (below) and the Big Muddy River on your right. You will see small fish in the water along with possible reptile and amphibian sightings. (I was lucky enough once to witness, completely by chance, a water snake capturing a frog in its mouth and taking it back under the water. I wasn t quick enough for a photo). The layers, crevices, and small waterfalls within the rock face (as show below) are intricately textured and make you feel small compared to the height and size of the cliffs when standing below and looking up.

In periods of heavy rainfall the trails can be flooded, as shown below. You ll start the descent back up with bit of maneuvering along the rocks (shown to the left) back to the trail. Be careful this area is also slippery and requires steady footing and traction. When you arrive back to the dry ground trail the incline becomes steep during this third of a mile segment. After the climb you ll arrive at the vista point (shown below) that overlooks the Mississippi River floodplain.

Below: More views from the top This is the approximate half-way point when hiking the entire loop starting at the main trailhead located at the right side of the parking lot. Be sure to take lots of pictures. Quite often you will see large birds of prey circling in the sky above and over the trees below. At this point you are overlooking part of the Mississippi River floodplain, agricultural fields, and thick stands of bottomland hardwood trees.

The journey back leads you along some moderate inclines and declines, through thick stands of trees, and underneath patches of shade and canopy cover. ***However, to see the vista without hiking the entire trail you can start at the parking lot at the carved steps near the outhouses to remain along a paved and gravel trail (as shown above) that does not contain any slippery surfaces and is elevated far beyond the floodplain (flooding will not be a hazard on the partial trail to the vista). There are also some benches along this portion of the trail. This option may be preferable to those who still want to experience the vista but are limited in time, novice hikers, or those who have some hesitations about their physical abilities due to some of the steeper and slippery surfaces. Instead of experiencing the full loop you will just walk to the vista and back, which is will be a little bit over 2 miles round trip. In my opinion the three distinct landscape areas on this trail it make the hike interesting and beautiful with the opportunity to see a variety of wildlife species and plants. It is a great representation of the varying southern Illinois topography. This hike combines the area s geological history as the rocky outcroppings and bluffs are present because this region of Illinois was the cutoff for the southernmost reach of the glaciers during the ice age. These features make the landscapes and ecosystems very unique from central and Northern Illinois. Visitors get to see two different rivers (Big Muddy and Mississippi), as well as experiencing a view from the peak of the bluffs that allows you to see for miles.

I hope that you will enjoy this hike as much as I do! My favorite times of the year to visit Little Grand Canyon are during the spring and fall. You will certainly work up an appetite during this hike. I like to go early and follow-up the hike with breakfast at Longbranch Café & Bakery or Harbaugh s Café. If it is lunch time, my choices to refuel are at either Quatro s Pizza or Fat Patties (try the veggie burger!).