Greenspace East from Heritage Trail Hike

Rolling hills and a walk along a former railroad line are part of the hike joining the Heritage Bike Trail and Greenspace East Park in Glen Carbon, Ill.

The hike is 2.9 miles long with 138 feet of elevation gain along a paved surface.

Start of the Walk

I parked at the Mont Junction Trailhead off Old Troy Road.

The Ronald J. Foster (full name) Heritage Trail is to the north of the parking area.

A connector trail on the south side of the parking area goes by an old grain elevator and to another bike trail called Goshen Trail.

I headed to the Heritage trail and at the bottom made a left towards Greenspace East.

*Going under the Goshen Trail overpass.*

After a short way, you cross under a former a red painted train overpass of what is now the Goshen Trail. Near the overpass, I came across a large nest in the tree.

Then I noticed in the trees on the left part of a power line when they used to follow along the railroad tracks.

A small creek flows in the woods on the right.

*The trail goes to the right of the sign.*

Coming to a wooden kiosk with a bike trail map I was at the intersection for the Greenspace East part of the walk

Greenspace East

I made a right into this park area. It is pedestrian only and bicyclists cannot ride their bikes in the park.

Greenspace East includes 80 acres of hills, small woods, and prairie grass.

Heading to the right. — *Heading to the right*

Start of the Loop

The paved trail leads to the loop section of the Greenspace East trail. I started the loop by going right.

In the trees, I noticed a wooden fence that was once part of the property line. You can discover a lot more in the woods in the winter when the leaves are gone.

Now I came to another intersection, on the left is a trail that splits Greenspace East into two halves, thus shortening your hike. The trail on the right leads to a neighborhood street. I went straight ahead.

*The trail to South Trace Court trailhead.*

Connector Trail

I walked the loop to another connector trail. In the past, I’ve entered this park from the South Trace Court trailhead. I like his hike through the woods here and decided to do an out-and-back on it.

It twists through the woods before coming to the South Trace Court. Near the street is a lean-to that looks like it was built by a kid since it contains a brown stuffed animal.

At the trailhead is a wooden kiosk with information and a map of Greenspace East.

I turned back around crossing back over a creek and going uphill.

*Now going to the right around the loop.*

On the Loop Again

At the loop, I went to the right heading into fields.

Along the way, I passed by a covered bench. There are a few here for breaks along the way and out of the sun.

Then the trail headed downhill toward the connector trail. I stopped for a moment by a tree surrounded by hedge apples. These trees were once used to mark boundary lines.

To Heritage Trail

At Heritage Trail, I turned and made a left. For a much longer hike, you can go right and explore along Heritage Trail which is 12.2 miles in total.

This time I noticed a brook on the right side of the road. Even though I had walked this before, it is amazing how different a trail can look from the other direction.

Then I was back at the connector trail noticing the trail overpass for Old Troy Road. If you continue on the Heritage Trail you would be in the town of Marine, Ill., in 8.8 miles.

*The map shows nearby roads, Greenspace East and the Heritage Trail.*

Final Thoughts

This is not a hard hike but there are some hilly sections. I enjoy exploring the fields and woods here and this is easy to get to hike in Glen Carbon which is stroller friendly and paved.

Sign by the trailhead provides the history on the area.

History of Mont Station Trailhead

Nelson Montgomery in 1892 donated the strip of land for the right-of-way for what became the Illinois Central railroad and a small settlement came to be known as Mont Station.

Up Old Troy Road you can see the two-story red brick home of the Montgomery family, now a private residence.

Mont Station had a railroad depot, post office, country store, blacksmith shop, a few houses, and the grain elevator mentioned earlier.

A spur of the Illinois Terminal (Goshen Trail) is a connector to the Illinois Central creating a triangle of tracks that became known as the “Lost Three Acres.” The Glen Carbon water tower now stands in the Lost Three Acres along with trail parking.

DETAILS

Drive: Take Interstate 55 across the Mississippi River then take the exit for Illinois Highway 162 and go left onto it. Then make a right onto Old Troy Road and look for the parking lot on the right at the intersection for Mont Road.

Hours: Sunrise to Sunset, Daily

Address:

Mont Rd, Glen Carbon, IL 62034