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April 20, 2002 Ferne Clyffe State Park is in the heart of the Shawnee National Forest, and the River to River Trail coincides with the Happy Hollow Trail through the length of the park. Ferne Clyffe boasts of Hawk's Cave -- a huge rock overhang, a natural bridge, numerous overlooks, a stream worthy of one in the Cumberland Plateau, rock bluffs and, on this particular day, a carpet of wildflowers. Nine members and friends of the Northwest Chapter made the hike: Vivian Norwood, Anna Clark, Amanda Lamberth and her brother Jerry, Hao Nguyen, Nancy Warren, Jim Toomey, and Jim Clark. Rain threatened as we parked in an area on the edge of Goreville and began the descent along the River to River Trail. We didn't realize it, but as we crossed a stream that trickled over a bluff about 30 feet away, we were at the top of Hawk's cave. A spur trail lead to the cave and two or three went down to it as others pushed on amid the spectacle of flowering dogwoods and redbud trees. The eight mile loop trail continued along a ridge line and by some wildlife feeding areas along a gravel walkway (horses also use the trail) until it began to make its descent from the ridge to the valle below. We stopped for lunch on one of the outcroppings just before we came to the natural bridge, which frankly we did not recognize until we passed beneath it. (On a fall trip, we spotted the natural bridge as we passed it above.) Continuing our descent to the bottomland were Happy Hollow Creek exits the park, we encountered a sea of violas. They covered the entire forest floor in this area. Jack in the Pulpit, Trillium, and other wildflowers were also plentiful. Numerous creek crossings were in the offing as we continued up the valley. Indeed, because of recent rains, we had to pick our stepping stones carefully!. Small waterfalls could be seen and heard in side "canyons," and it was up some of these that both red and white trillium could be spotted. After following this "mountain-like" stream for perhaps a mile, miles, we returned to the last 1.5 mile stretch that required our doubling back on our original route. About 15 minutes before the end, the rain that had held off all day, could not be held off any longer and we were thankful for the rain gear (and in some cases umbrellas) that we had had the foresight to bring. The surprise of the day (other than the fact that most folks don't realize that southern Illinois has some beautiful natural areas with significant rock formations) was the wildflowers, especially the bottomland covered with a carpet of violas. Ferne Clyffe State Park is almost exactly 100 miles from Martin via Paducah and I-24. It is well worth the investment in time to go there. |
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