Beaver Trail

Hike Name: Beaver Trail Location: southeast IL Length: 8 Submitted by: Michael Dickerson Date Submitted: 0/0/00 Rating:	more Illinois trail reviews Illinois national parks Illinois state parks
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Description
I dub thee, "The White Trash Trail!"

This was a joke. The trail is supposed to lead from Camp Cadiz to Pounds Escarpment in the Shawnee National Forest. Our plan was to take the trail from Camp Cadiz to Pounds Escarpment and then pick up the River-to-River trail and double back on it, giving us a nice little loop for a quick 14 mile or so overnighter. (We had a 6-hour drive from Chicago to get there so we were taking it easy.)

It didn't help that we didn't start at Camp Cadiz (our intended trailhead) and ended up bushwhacking our way to the trail via map and compass, but that can't be held against the trail.

This, however, CAN be held against it:

The Shawnee National Forest website said there would be "indications of past use." It didn't say there would be rusty trucks on the sides of ravines half a mile from the nearest road or old washing machines three miles from the nearest house.

When we weren't walking across ugly little creeks with a nice rainbow sheen (indication of some chemical, probably petroleum products in it) or a thick layer of scum on it, we were actually walking through what appeared to be dad-gum creek-beds all clearly but irregularly blazed.

The "trail blazes" were the most comical part of this entire deal. Once we found what we believed to be the trail, we were bewildered by the lack of blazes and concerned that we hadn't come across any. We had, however, become accustomed to seeing trash and various bits of debris on the ground and in the trees. However, we began noticing that there were pieces of fabric actually tied to tree limbs at irregular intervals but always on the trail and we eventually realized that the bits of torn sheets and T-shirt were, in fact, our blazes. (Bringing to mind a song from Wizard of Oz with the words "white T-shirt" substituted for "yellow brick.")

In fairness, the scenery did have its moments, not breath taking, but nice (when not obstructed by some random appliance or Keystone beer can). And the part of the trail that was nearest to the parking lots was very well maintained (smiling contemptuously) and well appointed with restrooms and water faucets and all. But God help you if you try to start at Camp Cadiz instead of the Escarpment, as the trailhead is not marked there. At all.

The part of the River-to-River that we took was actually rather nice. Nice views and well-maintained trails (though slightly abused by ATV's). A little blacktop walking but some really nice walking overall. (The River-to-River is superbly blazed!)

So, in short, do yourself a favor and stay home rather than bother with the Beaver Trail at Shawnee National Forest. Watch some basketball or take a walk in your neighborhood. They can keep that trail for themselves.

NOTE: If you DO decide to try the trail out of morbid curiosity, get a USGS topo map because the one provided by the ranger station looked like a pretty good guess at the trails.

Directions to Hike
Get on highway 13, drive south toward Hell. You'll see it there on your left.

Contact Information
Elizabethtown Ranger District
Route 2, Box 4
Elizabethtown, IL 62931
618-287-2201

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