The River-to-River Trail as a concept has been a part of the Shawnee National Forest since its beginning. Until recently, however, the trail started from Cave-In-Rock and ended at the crossing of route 45 for a distance of about 80 miles. Over the past decades there have been several attempts at establishing a permanent route extending completely from river-to-river. This has appeared to be a pet project of Delyte Morris, then president of Southern Illinois University, aided by the Geography Department and Egon Kamarasy, a faculty member and a horseman. Indeed, the trail owes a debt of gratitude for it’s existence because, for the past generation, it has been kept open and cleared by horsemen using these old trails.

Most trails are passable all year, except for the coldest days in January or February. The average winter temperature however will be in the 40s which is good hiking or riding weather. Summer brings the usual Midwestern insects, but August has cobwebs in the woods to accompany the heat which can make it uncomfortable for the less seasoned hiker. August has some cool days when a front moves in, but we do not recommend a lot of backpacking unless you are out to lose weight.

The Trail is marked with wooden diamonds painted white overlaid with a blue “i” which has been the symbol of the trail from the beginning. Some “i”s may be painted on trees. Generally, when a trail turns, the diamond will be pointed in the direction of the turn. Interesting side trails may be marked with only the white diamond.

Measurement of the trail on the map yields 160 to 176 miles. Most people who have not finished the trail do so because they have sore feet, sore backs, blisters, or didn’t ship their food ahead. A pack over 40-45 pounds should be avoided as a cause of these problems. Almost all hikers find they can only cover about 1 mile per hour because much of the trail goes side to side although it is shown as a straight line. Through hikers find that it takes at least fourteen days to do the total trail. It is our hope that more people will make several weekend trips rather than trying to do the whole trail at once. Once becoming familiar with each section of the trail, it is interesting to return and hike the side trails. That’s what I am doing and I learn something new every year.

The terrain varies from moderate to difficult. Although this trail does not have the long sustained climbs that might be found in the mountainous areas, some of the grades are pretty rugged. You should never attempt to use the trail without a compass and adequate water. Frequently, a hiker will be looking down or away and miss a trail sign. If you become confused, it is better to walk back to the last marker you saw and start again from that point. There will be times when side trails go off and look as though you should turn. If there are no signs, a rule of thumb is to follow the main tread.
This trail guide cannot be precise in measurements but it is as close to reality as we can make it at this point. I have found that many people like to set records that have no particular significance to us. It is far better to take your time, and your enjoyment will be increased. This is a shared trail between horses and hikers to our mutual benefit.

Long hikers often report of special circumstances that seem almost mystical. These wondrous events often take the form of some extraordinary luck and is called “Trail Magic.” If any of these events occur to you, please report them to the Society for sharing with others.

To honor the spirit of those who first immigrated to Illinois, this guide follows an east to west description. It is interesting to consider the hopes and dreams of those people as they viewed the new land and began the search for their place in this wilderness. We can still see some of the beautiful vistas and gorgeous valleys of those early days, and in some small way compare our efforts with theirs. Perhaps as we notice that all of the most beautiful places have wagon roads to them, we will realize that they too shared a spiritual need for the power of such beauty.

Remember to bring your trail etiquette and carry out whatever you carry in. Tread easy. The trail is a blessing to everyone, so please leave it better than you found it.