You can walk or bicycle through a former railroad tunnel and across a 90-foot high former railroad bridge along the Tunnel Hill State Trail.
The trailhead for the tunnel is about 23 miles south of Marion, Il., and Tunnel Hill State Trail stretches 47.5-miles from Harrisburg, Ill., to Karnak, Ill.
My son enjoys coming here since the long dark tunnel makes it feel like you are in a cave.
This trail is mostly gravel with only slight changes in elevation.
History
Tunnel Hill State Trail was a rail-to-trail built on the former Cairo and Vincennes Railroad, which was completed in 1874.
Norfolk Southern Railroad handed the rail line over to the state in 1991 with the first trail section completed in 1998.
Our Time Here
Our adventure today was a long one since we were going to the Breeden Trestle bridge from the Tunnel Hill Trailhead.
This is a bit over a six-mile walk for us with our son riding his bike.
Tunnel Hill Trailhead has a small parking lot. An informational sign talks about the former railroad and towns along the trail.
Going Towards the Tunnel
Going towards the tunnel on the trail you can see the cuts made into the rock to construct it.
If it has rained recently, small drip falls can be seen along the porous black rock.
This tunnel is 543-feet long. It was dug to keep the grade gentle for the trains.
It had originally been 800 feet long, but a section collapsed in 1929.
Inside the Tunnel
It can be almost pitch black inside, so give your eyes time to adjust as you go through it. I haven’t found it a problem, but you could bring a flashlight to provide light in the dark.
Going onto Sandburn Junction
Next, we headed towards our first stop for the day Sandburn Junction.
We stopped at a large group of rocks for a short break and my son Andrew got up on one.
Further down the trail on the left side, I found rocky terrain with a dripping waterfall.
Then we stopped at Sandburn Junction for some water at the small store. Here you can find sodas, water, ice pops, ice cream, and Gatorade. There is no one here, but you write down what you take and then put money through a hole in a plastic jug. It is open most of the time since it is self-service.
The Next Stop is the Trestle
Now we still had 1.7 miles to the trestle. We passed by bikers and the trail curved a few times. Every time it curved I hoped to see the trestle. I didn’t realize how far the hike was until I checked my distance at the bridge. None of the maps gave a very good idea of the length of the walk.
Finally, we came around a curve and saw a bench and the trestle bridge nearby.
At the Trestle
My son wanted to be the first so he headed for it with me close behind.
I found the long metal supports of the bridge more interesting than the bridge itself.
Along the walk, there are lookouts that you can stop at for views into the forest below.
Turning Around
After the trestle, we headed back noticing different sites than we did before.
We came across old vehicles and a boat parked near the former rail line.
Then I noticed cliffs jutting out towards the trail as we neared the train tunnel once more.
After going through the tunnel we came across a pool of water with two camouflaged frogs. Earlier we saw tadpoles in a brook along the way.
Then we were back at the trailhead and ready to head on home first stopping at Bojangles in Marion, Ill., for some fried chicken and biscuits!
Final Thoughts
It felt like a long hike at a little over six miles. This was partly because of the heat and then how wide and level it was. It is a bit of a trek to the trestle. If we come back I would probably only hike to the Sandburn Junction for a snack and drink and head back. Going to the trestle is a 3.7-mile hike all its own with the Sandburn Junction being a 2.8-mile hike itself. Of course, a lot easier on a bike!
More on the Trail
For more information check out the Illinois Department of Natural Resources page on the trail and for possible closings for part of the trail.
DETAILS:
Drive: Take Interstate 64 out of St. Louis and then turn south onto Interstate 57 in Mount Vernon. Then take Interstate 24 and look for Exit 7. Make a left onto Tunnel Hill Road and take it to Tunnel Hill and look for the Tunnel Hill Trailhead on your left.
Hours: Sunrise to Sunset
Address for Tunnel Hill Trailhead: Tunnel Hill State Trail, Ozark, IL 62972
More Southern Illinois Hikes
The Double Descent of Burden Creek Falls
Burden Creek falls 20 feet over a sandstone ledge and then descends another 80 feet in a series of cascades making it the highest free-falling waterfall in Illinois.
Finding Camel Rock at Garden of the Gods
Awe-inspiring sandstone cliffs that form different shapes with views of the surrounding Shawnee Hills are what you will find at Garden of the Gods in southern Illinois.
Waterfalls and Caves at Fern Clyffe State Park
Walking along a clear stream to waterfalls and going up into the cliffs to see a cave are some of the natural treasures at Ferne Clyffe State Park.
Hiking Into Cave-In-Rock
A wide cave along the Ohio River where bandits once were once found is Cave-In-Rock State Park.
The 55-foot wide Cave-In-Rock was carved out of the limestone rock by water thousands of years ago.
Larue-Pine Hills and Snake Road
Larue-Pine Hills bluffs have inspirational views and below it is Snake Road, known for its snake migration in the spring and fall. This area is part of the Shawnee National Forest and has a diverse habitat to explore.
Dad Hikes: Pomona Natural Bridge
A short loop hike through an oak and beech forest leads to the 90 foot Pomona Natural Bridge nestled in trees by a cliff.
Dad Hikes: Piney Creek Ravine Nature Preserve
The largest area of Native American Rock art in Illinois is found at Piney Creek Ravine Nature Preserve.
This 198-acre nature preserve also has cascading waterfalls and colorful limestone cliffs.
