The Streets of Giant City EarthCache
The Streets of Giant City
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Post Oak Trail is Handicap Accessible. Arrow-Wood Interpretive Trail is difficulty level of 1.5. Giant City Trail is a 2.5 with some moderately steep locations.
This is an EarthCache. The coordinates will take you to a starting point outside the Visitor's Center. Trail maps and information are available at the Visitors Center from 8AM - 4PM daily.
"With its breathtaking natural beauty and unlimited opportunities for outdoor recreation, a trip to Giant City State Park near Carbondale is sure to delight visitors of all ages. From camping and horseback riding to fishing and rappelling, it's an outdoor lover's paradise. Visitors will marvel at the many wilderness trails, and a sure treat awaits anyone hiking the Giant City Nature Trail, home of the "Giant City Streets" formed 12,000 years ago by huge bluffs of sandstone."
Nestled in the Shawnee National Forest, just minutes south of Carbondale, the area was named for the unique impressions made by its massive sandstone structures. Eons of geological faulting and folding have molded a landscape like none other, which is now clothed in lush garments of fern, moss, large flowering mints, hundreds of species of wild flowers and 75-plus varieties of towering trees. The natural splendor of Giant City has made it a renowned retreat that attracts more than 1.2 million visitors annually.
"Shelter bluffs, or rock shelters, worn into the sides of the cliffs have revealed evidence of human habitation in this region from as early as 10,000 years ago, and the blackened ceilings caused by their fires are still visible today. On an 80-foot sandstone cliff near the main entrance, one can see the remains of a Native American stone wall that was erected between A.D. 600-800.
The first European settlers moved into the area from Kentucky and Tennessee in the early 1800s, and by 1850, settlers were using the land to cultivate fruit trees. During the Civil War, many of the cliffs and canyons were used as havens by soldiers of both the Union and Confederate armies.
By the early 1900s, many biologists, geologists and visitors had become intrigued with the region for study and relaxation. It provided ample opportunity for both.
In 1927, the State of Illinois acquired more than 1,100 acres of land in Union and Jackson counties and dedicated the area as Giant City State Park.
The Visitor Center provides interpretive displays on the geology, plants, animals, and history of the park. An audio-visual room with a running 10 minute film about the park guides visitors through the interesting features."
Geology:
The sandstone bluffs of the Shawnee Hills were formed more than 250 million years ago as the sandbars and dunes of a river delta that drained the Pennsylvanian swamps of Illinois. This delta emptied freshwater into a shallow ocean just to the south. These sand sediments compacted over millions of years becoming sandstone. Earthquakes, faulting and folding, created the hills, bluffs and fissures in the rock. Over millions of years, erosion by wind and water have etched the bluffs by removing softer areas of stone. Observe the pocket-like depressions called honeycombs.
This hill of sandstone sits atop Drury shale which is slippery and breaks easily. Past earth movements and glacial melt waters of 12,000 yrs ago aided in the sliding of the sandstone leaving narrow canyons between the bluffs. Some geologists think that acidic rainwater also aided in this process.
Please take some time and explore the following trails:
Arrowwood Self-Interpretive Nature Trail
Just off of the parking lot at the Visitors Center lies Giant City's newest trail. This 1/3 mile tree identification trail is an easy walk through a young forest. Twelve interpretive signs are located along the trail with tips on identification and uses of trees. Hike this trail first for a refresher on many of the trees of Giant City.
Post Oak Nature Trail
This 1/3 mile handicapped-accessible trail winds along the top of a beautiful forested sandstone cliff. The paved trail leads visitors through many natural experiences including viewing the life around a small wildlife pond and exploring a dry bluff top oak forest with gorgeous overlooks. This trail is also perfect for elderly visitors or parents with very young children.
Giant City Nature Trail
By far the most popular trail at Giant City, this 1 mile trail is home to the famous "streets" of Giant City. The massive sandstone bluffs and the narrow shaded areas between them resemble a city, thus the name "Giant City" was coined. You'll walk on a mulched trail with wooden walkways at difficult spots. There are some strenuous uphill portions on this trail. Take this trail to view a diversity of plant habitats from creek bottomland to dry bluff top. This is also a promising trail for seeing the largest woodpecker in the United States, the pileated woodpecker.
We used the Google Search on the internet to access information sources for this Earth Cache.
We also visited this site and garnered a wealth of information from the Visitor's Interpretive Center and Trail Map publications.
REMEMBER TO:
LEAVE NO TRACE
TAKE ONLY PICTURES, LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINTS
Many thanks to Mr. Bob Martin, Site Superintendent of Giant City State Park for granting approval for this EarthCache.
Their official website is: (visit link)
Address: 235 Giant City Road
Makanda, IL 62958
Telephone: 618-457-4836
TTY: 217-782-9175
The park is open 8AM-4PM Daily
Donations are accepted but not mandatory.
TO LOG THIS FIND YOU MUST:
Post a picture of yourself with your GPSr at the coordinates with the Visitor Center in the background or at the Giant City Trail Head.
Please email your answers to the following questions to me at the following address:
ILGEONANA@gmail.com.
Please be sure to include the GC ID for this Earthcache as part of your email so you may receive credit for the correct EarthCache find.
Please DO NOT post your answers in your found it log.
Logs that do not meet the requirements to claim the find will be deleted.
1. In what period did the rocks in Giant City State Park begin forming?
2. What types of items are made from the Tulip Poplar Tree?
3. What caused the large blocks of Makanda sandstone to slide downhill?
Congratulations to catdad and Fire Fox 03 on being FTF
Additional Hints
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