The River-to River Trail Society announces its schedule of free guided hikes in and about the Shawnee National Forest for Spring. Hikes begin on Saturday, March 4 and occur every week through May 6, 2023.

All hikes are open to the public free of charge. No reservations are required. These hikes are of at least moderate difficulty, and are intended for people in good health who have done some hiking. Boots or sturdy shoes and a walking stick are recommended for all hikes. Hikers should bring their own water and a snack. No dogs, please.

March 4:
Hike: Wonders of Grindstaff Hollow (Gallatin County)
Leader: Todd Carr 618 499 9629
Meet: High Knob
Time: 10:00 AM

March 11:
Hike: Dixon Springs Bluff Trail/Red Dog Trail (Pope County)
Leader: Bill Gilmour 270 331 1553
Meet: Shelter #2 Dixon Springs State Park
Time: 10:00 AM

March 18:
Hike: Dunntown Double Falls (Johnson County)
Leader: Bill Gilmour 270 331 1553
Meet: Goreville City Park
Time: 10:00 AM

March 25:
Hike: Benham Ridge to One Horse Gap (Pope County)
Leader: Shawn Gossman 618 694 7034
Meet: Benham Ridge Trailhead
Time: 10:00 AM

April 1:
Hike: Gum Springs to JD Falls (Johnson County)
Leader: Sam Morales 618 384 1312
Meet: Gum Springs Trailhead
Time: 10:00 AM

April 8:
Hike: Ripple Canyon Camp Cadiz (Hardin County)
Leader: Steve Melville 314 223 3061
Meet: Camp Cadiz
Time: 10:00 AM

April 15:
Hike: Crow Knob and Miller Grove National Historic area (Pope County)
Leader: Bob Mulcahy 708 471 7500
Meet: Cedar Grove Road & R2R Trail
Time: 10:00 AM

April 22:
Hike: Dutchman Lake Area (Johnson County)
Leader: Cathy Jennings & Melanie Kasson 618 759 1924/618 791 3086
Meet: Dutchman Lake
Time: 10:00 AM

April 29:
Hike: Ruby Falls (Pope County)
Leader: Chris Drone 618 926 3250
Meet: Shawnee Mart Eddyville
Time: 10:00 AM

May 6:
Hike: Max Creek (Johnson County)
Leader: Fred Scott 618 841 4838
Meet: Taylor Methodist Church
Time: 10:00 AM

The River-to-River Trail Society is an Illinois not-for-profit corporation founded in 1993 by John O’Dell to promote completion of the River-to-River Trail, which now runs 157 miles through the Shawnee National Forest between Elizabethtown on the Ohio River and Grand Tower on the Mississippi River. The Society engages in trail maintenance and advocacy, and it offers free guided hikes to members and the public during the spring and fall hiking seasons. In addition, the Society has a Trail Guide to the entire River-to-River Trail, which can be downloaded for free from the Society’s website: https://www.rivertorivertrail.net/.