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.

Information sign along Trail to Cave — Information sign by the trailhead.

Outlaw History of Cave-in-Rock

The first European explorer to encounter it was M. de Lery of France, who in 1729 called it caverne dans Le Rock.

After the Revolutionary War, this immense recess came to serve as the ideal lair for outlaws and robbers.

Samuel Mason, once an officer in George Washington’s Revolutionary Army, turned the cavern into a tavern which he called Cave-in-Rock, but he had nefarious purposes for it.

Mason would dispatch his cohorts upriver to befriend unwary and bewildered travelers with offers of help and guidance.

As they neared the cave, these henchmen would disable their boats or force them toward the hollow, where the hapless pioneers would be robbed or worse. Few victims lived to tell their tale.

The cave was also used in a scene from the movie How The West Was Won.

In 1929 the State of Illinois acquired the property for a park.

Our Time Here

Trail to Cave

We took the Trail to Cave from the main Cave Parking area near the entrance into the park.

This involves going up steps to the hill above the cave entrance and then going back down another set of stairs to the short walk to the cave along the river.

Along the Ohio River shoreline, we headed to the left to the cave entrance.

Going into the Cave

We walk through a narrow path into the cave with a high rock shelf on both sides.

As you go past the shelf the cave widens into a larger room.

You have to mind your step here since the sandy floor of the cave can be a bit slippery and it is dark.

In the back, there are small dark areas to the side of a large open space.

The way the cave is formed with rock shelves and side rooms you can easily imagine how robbers could use it.

If you look up you can see a crack in the cave showing a remnant of how water formed the cave.

Lower Cave Trail

After checking out the cave for a bit we headed out along the Lower Cave Trail. It goes below the high cliff walls along the Ohio River to the Lower Cave Trail parking lot.

Along this trail, we found a small rock shelter where water had seeped down from the hill above. This is a small enclosure filled with two long tree trunks that slipped down from above.

Instead of going to the parking lot we walked back the way we came and up the hill to the car.

Andrew sitting on a rock shelf in the cave.

Final Thoughts

Going back and forth to the cave was not a long hike, but it was well worth it. The cave was big enough to wander around on your own without having to do a cave tour and was free.

You can also take in the views of the Ohio River and the high cliffs themselves.

Map of the park showing the trails -- Illinois State Parks — Map of the park showing the trails — Illinois State Parks

Other Trails at Cave-In-Rock State Park

Hickory Ridge and Pirates’ Bluff Trails are two other trails on the east side of the park to explore, but we didn’t have time to do them.

Side view of the cave along the Ohio River

DETAILS:

This park also has picnicking, a restaurant with southern-style cooking, lodging, a campground, and a playground. For more information go to the park’s website.

Drive: Take Interstate 64 to exit 110 and go south on U.S. Highway 45. Then south of Norris City continue straight on Highway 1 turning off of U.S. Highway 45. In Cave-In-Rock, Il., make a left onto Main Street and then a right on Broadway which becomes Park Avenue and goes into Cave-in-Rock State Park.

Hours: 6 am – 10 pm

Admission: Free

Address: 1 New State Park Rd, Cave-In-Rock, IL 62919

Painted bicycles in Cave-In Rock — Painted bicycles in Cave-In-Rock

Downtown Cave In Rock

The townspeople have been working to redevelop their downtown. If you walk in this area you will see old-style bicycles with baskets parked at street corners and near shops. They are painted all different colors providing a rainbow of color along the streets.