Trail Markings: Trail Ethics: “Please practice Leave No Trace principles” Pack It In, Pack It Out. Some General Forest Trails marked by white Multi Day Loop Trail Maps rare and endangered species of plants are located diamonds with trail numbers written onto in the area so please stay on the designated trails them. and leave the rocks and plants for others to enjoy. Lusk Creek Loop River to River Trail (R2R) features white Equestrians frequent this trail system: hikers diamonds with a blue “i”, except in should yield to horses. Approximately half of wilderness where it is a natural wood this hike is within Lusk Creek Wilderness. Shawnee National Forest 2020 diamond with the “i” routed. Please abide by wilderness guidelines and re- strictions. Description: The 25.5-mile Lusk Creek Oak Blanchard Road, the unofficial halfway Safety: Personal safety-make sure someone Loop (LCL) is characterized by multiple creek point and the last place with vehicle access to Facilities: There are no facilities along this knows your route and establish a check in time. crossings and the wooded slopes and valleys of this trail loop. Wear appropriate clothing and footwear depend- entire trail. Bury human waste and toilet tissue one of Illinois' most pristine waterways. It fea- Follow 459 for about 1.3 mi. to the beginning of ing on the weather and terrain. Carry plenty of in a 6 inch deep “cat hole” at least 200 feet from tures historical evidence of past use, rock for- a small bluff line with a table rock behind of water, food, compass and a first aid kit. This water. mations, wilderness solitude, abundant wildlife, which is a small guillotine formation. There is a hike is remote cell phone coverage could be spot- Travel Time: Plan for two days if you are scenic views, and a section of the 158-mile River small rock overhang and then Little Lusk Den a ty. capable of hiking 13 mi. per day and three days to River Trail. Plan for two to three days to "doorway" in the side of the rock. Next, a huge Extra caution should be used where the trail is at 9 mi. per day. Remember that exploring side backpack the loop. boulder with beautiful rock formations called near the bluffs and when traveling on wet slip- trails and creeks can add several miles to the trip, Beginning at the Lusk Creek Trailhead on New Liesegang rings. Named after German Chemist, pery rocks. Beware of poison ivy and oak. Vari- so plan accordingly. Hope Road, follow the River to River Trail east Raphael E Liesegang, these sedimentary rocks ous insects including ticks and mosquitoes are along Little Bear Branch about one mile, then go feature ring-like designs in an array of colors. present here during spring, summer and fall. Surface Type: rock, dirt and mud left/north on 481B/Wishing Well trail. This sec- Then you come to Little Lusk Creek and the end Venomous snakes are also present here including tion tells a story of the past: You’ll pass the Avenza: The map included with this bro- of 459. There is a natural spring on the eastern timber rattlesnakes and copperheads. “wishing well” and the wheels of an Old Hay chure is available in the Avenza Map Store for bank near here. The LCL continues right, uphill Rake. When you cross Stone Bottoms Rd. Lusk Creek can rise quickly to flash flood levels downloading to your smart phone. The Avenza on 480. Along trail 480 you will pass a large you’ll see the remains of an old farm. Go left of during heavy rain events. App can be downloaded by searching the app campsite. the metal roof to start trail 487 for the next 5.5 store on your phone for this: Emergencies: The nearest hospital is Har- mi. Pay attention at intersections and enjoy Follow the creek to the intersection with the River to River Trail (R2R), then across the creek risburg Medical Center. Cell phone service views of upper Lusk Creek and its tributaries. At and continue south 0.75 mi. to a campsite at along the trail can be spotty so be prepared and the eastern terminus of 487K, keep left on 487 another crossing. In the Wilderness Area follow know where your closest outlet is when dialing over to the Statue. wooden diamonds up a long gradual climb, past 911. Optional side trip- Zimmer Cemetery lies north the Rock Wall through some open woodlands to of the Statue .6 mi. up the forest road and is the Camping: There are no designated camping “Owl Bluff,” a scenic overlook. resting place of some early pioneers and the areas along the trail but numerous ideal trail side Once the app is downloaded access the map store former location of a St. Stephen's Catholic From “Owl Bluff” hike 0.8 mi. along the bluff camping areas. Note that camping is prohibited and search for the following map: Shawnee NF Church that burned by lightning strike in the and down to Bowed Tree Crossing at Lusk within Natural Areas. Use existing campsites, Multi-Day Hikes 1920's. Creek. From here continue west then up some don’t create new ones. Use portable camp stove steep switchbacks along the R2R to the Lusk This brochure will still be a handy reference to for cooking. If a campfire is needed, keep it From the Statue, continue east along 487 past a Creek Trailhead and the end of the LCL. small and use existing fire rings. Protect water know what the points of interest might be. rock bluff, along a little creek, some mossy quality by washing and camping 200 feet from glades and a campsite. Then start trail 459 di- any water sources. Leave the campsite cleaner rectly across FR 1624. You are now entering than you found it. Dog Hollow, a place of solitude and abundant wildlife. After about 2.5 mi. on 459 you cross Bowed Tree Crossing Tree Bowed - Canyon Secret features green in highlighted hike mile 14 A Statue - Cave. ter An 11 mile hike is turning off the yellow route onto magenta will take you past Salt Pe- Salt past you take will magenta onto route yellow the off turning is hike mile 11 An consider: hikes, shorter For end. the from miles 1.1 481B and crossing, tree bowed the intersections with trails 425 and 490 before Owl Bluff, 457 and 404 at at 404 and 457 Bluff, Owl before 490 and 425 trails with intersections the Bowed Ttree crossing at 23.2. Stay on the R2R trail when passing passing when trail R2R the on Stay 23.2. at crossing Ttree Bowed the Lusk Creek trailhead. Owl Bluff is reached at the 22.5 mile point and and point mile 22.5 the at reached is Bluff Owl trailhead. Creek Lusk Owl Bluff Owl - 25.5 the to back miles 9.1 for it follow and trail R2R the on right/south Veer 1 Old Hay Rake Hay Old - trail. R2R the at ends 0.3 miles. Trail 480 follows Little Lusk Creek for 0.9 miles and dead dead and miles 0.9 for Creek Lusk Little follows 480 Trail miles. 0.3 16.4 about after 480 trail into turns which road old the on right/south Turn 7 road. forest old an This could be an exit point. Continue on trail 459 another 3.7 miles to to miles 3.7 another 459 trail on Continue point. exit an be could This 15.5 point. miles 11.8 the at Road Blanchard Oak crossing 459 trail Follow 6 road. the across 459 trail on Continue 1624. 9.0 road forest old & 484 459, trails intersects 487 miles 6.1 about At 5 wilderness. the outside 487K and 457, all of which will go right. The forest land along 487 is is 487 along land forest The right. go will which of all 457, and 487K Zimmer Cemetery Zimmer - metal roof. Stay on 487 at the intersections with trails 487H, 487K, 487K, 487H, trails with intersections the at 487 on Stay roof. metal 2.9 old the of left the to off takes it where 487 trail follow road, the Across 4 Tuning Fork Tree Tree Fork Tuning - homestead. old an is there where Road Bottoms 2.1 Stone to miles 0.8 for it follow and 481 trail onto left/northwest Turn 3 481. trail the with intersection 1.1 the to miles 1.0 about it follow and 481B trail onto left/northeast Turn 2 Intersection. 481B Trail to miles 1.1 0.0 for trail R2R the along East head and Trailhead Creek Lusk the at Start 1 Mile Directions # (The numbers show on the map) the on show numbers (The Wishing Well Wishing - Loop Creek Lusk Interest: of Points Little Lusk Den Lusk Little - Zimmer Cemetery 5 6 4 7 3 1 2 .