Sandstone & Solitude Traditional Geocache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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An easily accessed, but hidden, collection of natural rock
formations near Breeden Trestle, just off the Tunnel Hill
Rail-to-Trail.
What a collection of hidden treasures this location is. Within just
500 feet from the Tunnel Hill Trail and just 200 feet of the cache
you will see many great rock formations, vistas, and maybe even a
water fall. Just south of the cache is a small sandstone
arch/window with a spring and lush moss just past the arch.
Following the ledge south you will see a balanced rock, a large
split boulder that you can walk between the two halves and then
emerge onto terraced sandstone with a nice view. Above the arch and
split boulder is a really nice sandstone glade. South east along
the bluff from the terraced sandstone you may see seasonal water
falls. If you hear water falling you can make your way through the
scrub oak to the water falls or you can work your way down the
sandstone terraces west to get in the valley where you will find a
lush area with two more springs. From the valley you can work your
way to beneath Breeden Trestle or follow the horse trail back to
the bike trail.
To reach the cache from Tunnel Hill Trail, follow the horse trail
at N37 30.550 W88 51.825.
There are many access points to the Tunnel Hill Trail depending on
your ability and distance you want to ride/hike. The Park offers
parking lots with restrooms, water and picnic tables at Tunnel Hill
(N37 31.423 W88 50.317) and Vienna (N37 24.993 W88 53.183. Breeden
Trestle is 2.5 miles down hill from Tunnel Hill (5 miles round
trip) and 7.5 miles from Vienna mostly flat for the first 5 miles
then slight uphill grade to the Trestle (15 mile round trip). I
also use two other access points and just park along the road by
the Bike trail. The first is at Bloomfield (N37 27.211 W88 52.434)
and this is 4.25 miles to the trestle mostly uphill but a nice down
hill ride back to the car (8.5 mile round trip). The closest access
point is at Sandburn (N37 30.553 W88 50.534) at just 1.5 miles down
hill to the trestle (3 mile round trip). From Sandburn you can
easily ride the .5 mile north to see the tunnel near my Tunnel Hill
cache, then ride the steepest grade of the trail down to Breeden
Trestle and then just ride back the 1.5 to your car when finished.
If you can arrange two cars or a shuttle the prettiest and easiest
ride on the Tunnel Hill Trail is from Tunnel Hill to Vienna.
For more information on Tunnel Hill State Trail go to :
http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/Landmgt/PARKS/R5/tunnel.htm
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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