Outdoor Physical Activity Guide

Jackson County, Illinois OUTDOOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY GUIDE

“Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis Life is like riding a of dynamic and creative intellectual bicycle. To keep your activity.” balance, you must -John Fitzgerald Kennedy

keep moving.

– Albert Einstein

Jackson County OUTDOOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY GUIDE “I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees.” – Henry David Thoreau

Table of Contents Purpose……………………………………………………….….………3 Parks………………………………………………………………..….….4 Nature Preserves & Outdoor Recreation.…....6 Walking/Running Paths……………………….….….……9 River to River Walk/Runs………………...…..……….11 Outdoor Recreation Clubs……………………………...14

Jackson County, Illinois

If you have additional sites to add to this booklet, please contact: (618) 684-3143, ext. 133 or 134 Pomona Natural Bridge. Pomona, Il 2 15 Outdoor Recreation Clubs Southern Illinois Outdoor Activity Group

Purpose is to promote outdoor activity and socialization through hiking, cy- Purpose cling, trail running etc. Everyone is welcome. Meet at the SportsBlast parking area in Carbondale at 1 PM on scheduled Sundays. Jackson County is located in the beautiful Shawnee Contact: Kelly Hoffmann, Email: [email protected]. National Forest and is home to many outdoor recreation https://www.facebook.com/groups/SIHikers/ sites, nature preserves, walking paths and parks for all to enjoy. This booklet was created as a guide for residence of River To River Runners The River to River Runners Club was established in 1984 promote running Jackson County to find places close to home to get outside and fitness in Southern Illinois. and get active! http://rivertoriver.net/index.php

SIU Triathlon Team The SIU Triathlon Team is a recreational sport club, open for membership to triathletes of all ability levels. The team exists as a recreational, competitive, and social organization within the sport of triathlon, duathlon, and other multi-sport events. We provide organized group training, sponsorship and affordable reduced student rates to all events to which it selects to partici- pate in by means of travel, accommodations, and entry fees. http://www.reccenter.siu.edu/index.php/sport-clubs-list/61-sport-clubs/sport-clubs- list/221-siu-triathlon-team

Salukis Masters Swim Club The Saluki Masters Swim Club is a swim fitness program for adults inter- ested in swimming for exercise. Offers structured workouts along with coaching and camaraderie to help improve your stroke and develop strength, speed and endurance. You determine your level of participation. http://www.swimslam.org/SMSC/

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October/“Classic” Triathlon (350-meter swim, 5-mile bike, 2-mile run) Parks and the new Spackman Sprint Triathlon (700-meter swim, 10-mile bike, and 4-mile run. http://www.spackmantriathlon.siu.edu/index.html Attucks 400-800 N Wall St. Carbondale, IL The Little Big Challenge 4mi. Attucks offers playground equipment, basketball courts, soccer fields, October/ 4 mile road run, Lake Murphysboro IL football fields, tennis, and multi-use shelters. Also has three paved walking http://rivertoriver.net/event_details.php?event_id=163&date=2014-10-18 paths that are .35, .40 and .61 miles in length.

SIUC Army ROTC 5K Walk/Run Bower Park 400 S. 3rd St & Ava Rd. Ava, IL October/ Southern Illinois University Kesnar Hall Carbondale, IL Offers baseball fields, playground equipment, and walking paths . http://armyrotc.siu.edu/?page_id=571

Boo Rochman Memorial Park The Grand Ave. Pumpkin Run (Castle Park) October/ Carbondale Middle School Carbondale, IL Giant City Rd. Carbondale, IL http://www.greenearthinc.org/pumpkinrun.htm Castle park is a gated playground made up of a wooden castle and a American Heart Association Heart Walk showcase of trees, flowers and handmade sculptures of gremlin, October/ John A. Logan College Carterville, IL gnomes and other fantasy creatures. http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Affiliate/MWA-Greater-Illinois- The park is open 8AM till dusk and Home-Page_UCM_MWA008_AffiliatePage.jsp has no admittance fee. For more information and to find more races visit:

Boo Rochman Memorial Park http://www.runningintheusa.com/Race/ListByCityRadius.aspx? Clyde Cheatham Memorial Park Rank=All&State=IL&City=Carbondale&Radius=25 155 S Russell St. Ava, IL Offers a few small picnic tables, shade trees, and parking available. Or http://www.runningintheusa.com/Race/ListByCityRadius.aspx? Doug Lee Park/Superblock City=Carbondale&State=IL&Radius=25&Rank=All&Page=1 601 S. Lewis Ln. Carbondale, IL Offers eight soccer fields and four baseball/softball fields, playground equipment, and walking paths.

Dowell Community Park Dowell, IL Offers baseball fields and playground equipment

“Time spent amongst trees is never wasted time.” –Katrina Mayer

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Rocky Ledges 5K POWERade® Park Touch of Nature Environmental Center. Makanda, Il 200 Powerade Parkway http://rockyledges5k.siu.edu/ Elkville, IL 62932 Ph. (618)568-2000 Relay for Life– Carbondale Offers baseball fields, open grass fields, and walking paths April/ Arena Drive, Carbondale, IL http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLCY15LS? Evergreen Park pg=entry&fr_id=68790 1205 W. Pleasant Hill Rd. Carbon- dale, IL River to River Relay Offers playground equipment, Teams of 8 compete in a relay race from the Mississippi to the Ohio river natural areas, walking paths, (1/3 of a April/ Starts near Wolf Lake and ends in Golconda, Il. mile) fishing and baseball and softball fields. http://rrr.olm.net/

Lenus Turley Park Grace Race 5K 109 N. Glenview Dr. Carbondale, IL June/ Carbondale Il. Playground equipment http://www.carbondalegrace.org/#/ministries/grace-race Longfellow Park Lenus Turley Park Nightlife Rock N’ Run 5K N 20th St. Murphysboro, IL September/ Evergreen Park. Carbondale, Il. Tennis courts, baseball and softball fields, basketball courts and playground http://explorecarbondale.com/node/3999 equipment.

Apple Time 5K Walk/Run Oakdale Park September/ The Old Depot. Murphysboro, Il 940 N. Oakland Ave. Carbondale, IL http://www.murphysboro.com/index.php? Soccer fields, playground equipment, natural areas, walking paths and multi- use fields. option=com_k2&view=item&id=40:apple-festival-run-walk&Itemid=319 Parkview Park (9th St. Park) For the Kid’s Sake 5K & 10K Walk/ Run N. 9th St. Murphysboro, IL September/ Turley Park. Carbondale, IL Playground equipment and basketball courts http://www.active.com/carbondale/for-kids-sake-10k5k-runwalkathon-2012 Parrish Park/ Life Community Center Saluki Kickoff 5K Walk/ Run 2500 W. Sunset Dr. Carbondale, IL Basketball courts, walking paths, soccer fields, indoor pool and multi-use September/ Southern Illinois University Stadium fields. http://rivertoriver.net/event_details.php?event_id=224&date=2014-09-27 Doc Spackman Memorial Triathlon Riverside Park 2610 W. Riverside Park Rd. Murphysboro, IL Walking and dog walking path along a one mile trail. “Nature itself is the best physician” Tatum Heights -Hippocrates Cedar view & E. Cindy St. Carbondale, IL Basketball courts, playground equipment, multi-use fields, natural areas and 12 softball fields. 5 Nature Preserves and Outdoor River to River Races Recreation Areas Fly With the Eagles Half Marathon Brush Hill Nature Preserve February/ Carb Orchard Wildlife Refuge Marion, IL http://greenearthinc.webs.com/ http://rivertoriver.net/news/?page_id=44 brushhillpreserve.htm Park St. Carbondale, IL “Rec” Your Body Indoor Triathlon Herbie Bleyer Walking Trail is approximately February/ Southern Illinois University Rec Center Carbondale, IL 1.0 mile in length and is moderately difficult. http://www.reccenter.siu.edu/index.php/current-fliers

Cedar Lake Polar Donut Dash 5K/Carbondale Polar Plunge Cedar Creek Rd. Carbondale, IL February/SIU Campus http://www.greatriverroad.com/meetohio/cedarlake.htm http://soill.donordrive.com/index.cfm? Cedar Lake is a 1,750-acre reservoir located Southwest of Carbondale. It of- fuseaction=donordrive.event&eventID=517 fers visitors fishing, swimming, boating and 4 hiking trails totaling at 14 miles. Annual Butts & Guts 5K Walk/Run Chautauqua Bottoms Nature Preserve March/Garden Grove Event Center -1215 E Walnut, Carbondale, IL http://greenearthinc.webs.com/chautauquabottoms.htm http://rivertoriver.net/event_details.php?event_id=308&date=2015-03-27 N. Chautauqua Rd. Carbondale, IL Part of the Green Earth paths, Chautauqua Bottoms has three walking/hiking Southern Illinois AIDS Walk trails: The Maurice Webb Trail is a 1.3 mile trail through tall grass prairie and March/ SIUC Newman Center - 715 S. Washington St., Carbondale, IL woodland area, The David Kenney Trail is a 1 mile trail through creeks and http://carbondaleaidswalk.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=1119649 cliff banks, and The Woodland Spur Trail is a .75 mile trail to Little Crab Or- chard creek or onto The David Kenney Trail.. St. Patrick’s Day 5K and Fun Run

March/ Race down Walnut Street and enjoy the rest of the Celtic inspired Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge events. Call Murphysboro Chamber of Commerce to inquire about details: Route 148 Marion, IL 618-684-6421 http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Crab_Orchard/visit/visitor_activities.html

This wildlife refuge rests on 44,000 acres of land and water where visitors can enjoy fishing, hiking, wildlife viewing and camping. River to River Runners Prediction Runs April & August & September/A prediction run is entirely different from other Devil’s Backbone Park races; rather than finishing first or running the fastest, the object of a predic- Park Rd. Grand Tower, IL tion run is to finish as close to your predicted time as possible. $1 to race. http://www.devilsbackbonepark.com/ http://rivertoriver.net/news/?page_id=42 Activities offered at Devil’s Backbone include: hiking and biking trails, fishing, basketball courts, batting cages and camping. Nutrition Run 5K April/ Evergreen Park Carbondale, Il. Fernlands Nature Preserve http://neighborhood.coop/happenings/nutrition-5k-race http://greenearthinc.webs.com/fernlandspreserve.htm Union Hill Rd. Carbondale, IL This 20 acre nature preserve is a forested area with a 2 mile hiking and walk- “It does not matter how slow you go, as long ing trail. The Arnold Family Trail is moderate intensity. as you do not stop.”-Confucius

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SIU Campus Lake Path Giant City State Park Southside of Southern Illinois University Campus, Carbondale, IL 235 Giant City Rd. Makanda, Il, 2 mile paved trail with exercise challenge stations http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/parks/r5/gc.htm Giant City is a 4,000 acre state park that offers visitors a variety of hiking St. Joseph Memorial Hospital Path trails ranging from .3 to 12 miles. Also offered is fishing, camping rock 2 S. Hospital Dr. Murphysboro, IL climbing and horse back riding. 1/4 mile trail with slight inclines Johnson Creek Recreational Area The David Kenney Trail Johnson Creek Rd. Ava, Il. N. Chautauqua Rd. Carbondale, IL http:// Chautauqua Bottoms Nature Preserve www.theshawneenationalforest.com/ 1 mile trial home/recreation-areas/johnson-creek-

recreation-area The Maurice Webb Trail Johnson Creek sits on the northwest fin- N. Chautauqua Rd. Carbondale, IL Chautauqua Bottoms Nature Preserve ger of Kinkaid Lake and offers a variety of 1.3 mile activities including hiking/biking trails, fishing, swimming, camping and horseback riding. The Stan Harris Trail Oakland Nature Preserve Kinkaid Lake 1 mile trail through woodland a prairie habitats 52 Cinder Hill Dr., Murphysboro Il. http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/parks/r5/Kinkaid.htm The Woodland Spur Trail Kinkaid Lake offers fishing, hiking/walking trails, swimming, boating and Chautauqua Bottoms Nature Preserve horseback riding. N. Chautauqua Rd. Carbondale, IL .75 mile trail Lake Murphysboro State Park 52 Cinder Hill Dr. Murphysboro, IL The Woodland Trail http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/PARKS/R5/MURPHYSB.HTM Oakland Nature Preserve Located next to Kinkaid Lake, the park offers visitors fishing, swimming, Oakwood Bottoms Rd. Grand Tower, IL 1 mile trail hiking and walking trails, camping and an archery range.

Trinity Christian School Path 1218 W. Freeman St. Carbondale, IL

Open to the public 6-7:30am &

4pm till dusk 1/4 mile trail

U of I Extension Path 402 Ava Rd. Murphysboro, Il. 1/4 mile trail

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Little Grand Canyon Hickory Ridge Rd. Murphysboro, IL Walking Paths http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/ Attucks Park Path shawnee/recreation/hiking/recarea/? 400-800 N Wall St. Carbondale, IL recid=27713&actid=50 Trail 1: 0.6 miles Trail 2: 0.35 miles Trail 3: 0.4 miles A 3.6 mile hiking loop that goes through rugged landscape with ex- Bike Way Path treme changes in elevation. The trail Carbondale, IL takes visitors through rocky creek Across from Eastgate Shopping Center beds, and bluffs. From the higher eleva- tions there are panoramic views of the Boys & Girls Club of Carbondale canyon, the Big Muddy River bottoms 250 N. Springer St. Carbondale, IL and Fountain Bluff. Offers an indoor gymnasium open Monday-

Friday from 9am to 11am Oakland Nature Preserve 1 Lap= 260 ft., 1 mile= 20 laps North Oakland Ave. Carbondale Il http://greenearthinc.webs.com/oaklandpreserve.htm Evergreen Park Path Part of the Green Earth Paths, Oakland Nature has two walking/hiking trails. 1205 W. Pleasant Hill Rd. Carbondale, IL The Stan Harris Trail is 1.0 mile and winds through woodland and prairie 1/3 mile trail habitats. The Woodland Trail is also approximately 1.0 mile and is entirely wooded Herbie Beyler Trail Oakwood Bottoms Greentree Reservoir Park St. Carbondale, IL Oakwood Bottoms Rd. Grand Tower, IL Brush Hill Nature Preserve http://www.greatriverroad.com/meetohio/oakbottoms.htm 1 miles trail of moderate difficulty The reservoir has 2 nature trails. The Walk of Life Trail is a .25-mile loop on a boardwalk with interpretive signage that goes through one of the flooded Marberry Arboretum timber impoundments. The .5 mile Lake Trail loops around a small pond on a S. Wall St. & Pleasant Hill Rd. Carbondale, IL mowed grass path and features rest benches and a fishing pier. 2/3 mile trail of moderate difficulty

Pyles Fork Nature Preserve Memorial Hospital of Carbondale Northwest Carbondale, East of Attucks Park on N. Wall St. Carbondale, IL 405 W. Jackson St. Carbondale, IL http://greenearthinc.webs.com/pylesforkpreserve.htm 0.7 mile flat and paved trail 124 acres of hardwood bottom land and wetlands, Pyles Fork offers a 1 mile hiking trail. Riverside Park Path 2610 W. Riverside Park Rd. Murphysboro, IL Pomona Natural Bridge 1 mile paved path with benches and restrooms. Natural Bridge Rd. Pomona, IL http://www.shawneeforest.com/Hiking/PomonaNaturalBridge.aspx An easy 1/2-mile trail features a natural bridge made of sandstone after millions of years of erosion. “All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking.” -Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche

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