Charles Mound - Illinois Highpoint
Nice view, but NOT Charles Mound!
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This is a SEASONALLY accessible location! See dates below and plan accordingly! You must visit the HIGH POINT coordinate and meet logging requirements to get credit. Expect a one-mile relatively flat hike/bike from the gate if it is closed.
The above coordinate will take you to the Illinois High Point. Do not expect the vista seen from Clingman's Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains pictured above. Sorry.
See below for permissions to enter property and dates of availability.
Elevation: 1,235 ft. Rank by height: 45th. From the "summit" of Charles Mound you will be able to see three states: Illinois (look down, it's where you're standing), Wisconsin (to the north) and Iowa (to the west/southwest).
The extreme northwest physiographical corner of Illinois, called THE WISCONSIN DRIFTLESS SECTION, is an area of hills formed by glaciers and deposits called 'till'.
Together with neighboring sections of Wisconsin and Iowa it forms the Driftless section, or Wisconsin Driftless section. Only the earliest of the ice sheets covered this section, and nearly all of the drift deposited has long since been eroded.
Charles Mound lies on a long hilly ridge in the Driftless section. However, this is only 600 to 700 ft. above the general level of the Grand Prairie and much of the rest of the state.
Illinois High Point Marker
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FROM THE PROPERTY OWNERS: Due to problems, we have reluctantly decided to close Charles Mound to the public except for four weekends a year. Charles Mound will be opened for highpointers to visit in the first weekends of June, July, August and September (the weekend being Saturday and Sunday). As always, we do not allow pets!
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Logging Instructions
Take a photo with your GPSr visible with the high point marker clearly visible in the background and answer these three questions:
1. Which states can be seen from this elevation?
2. What is the physiographical section of the state where the high point is located called?
3. How tall is the erratic boulder at the HIGHPOINT SIGN?
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Please email your answers to: ARF!
Please do not wait on a reply from me. FOUND IT logs which do not meet requirements will be quietly deleted.
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