Start by heading to Eddyville IL along IL Route 145. Turn
eastward
onto Eddyville Blacktop Rd, this is the corner with the gas
station
and Convenience store. Proceed down Eddyville Bltp to fourth
road
to the left, this will be Ragan Rd. Turn left and proceed 1.3
miles
and park along side the road. Use caution on this road after
a
rainy spell, low clearance vehicle not recommended.
At the parking location you will find an old road, this is
the
start of your trek to Rock House. It will be an uphill climb for
a
while on a wide rocky road. Just past top of hill you will come
to
a 'V' in the trail. To the LEFT is an old farmstead N37
29.663
W088 32.114 , be careful if you go exporing there is lots of
old
metal etc scattered about the ground.
Turn or follow trail at the 'V' to the right to head toward the
cache. Keep your eyes
open for old cisterns and wells along the trail, I'll help you
with
some coordinates later. There will be a few times where you
may
need to decide whichway to go on the trail - always take the
trail
to the left.
Trail continues to narrow and there will be lots of loose
rock
in some areas more than other. Along this trail you will come to
a
horse tie up area - you are close now! As you continue to the
Rock
House, see if you can find the smoke hole in the ceiling, you
are
going to walk right past it just before your decent to the
House.
Descending toward the Rock House, use extreme caution,
this
trail is very steep with lots of loose rock. After explore the
cave
and Rock House area, just a little further down the hill is
Lusk
Creek, if you brought your fishing gear, nows the time to catch
a
few!
Don't forget to find the cache before you head back out the
way
you came in. Hopefully in the future I can make this a
'round-trip'
trek.
Remember to look for the smoke hole on your way out, now
you
should be able to easily find it. And, don't forget those old
wells
they are at: N37 29.795 W088 31.825; N37 29.764 W088 31.889; oops
I
forget to mark GPS when passing the cistern, it is on your
left
just past the old barn flattened to the ground.
Once back to your vehicle, head a little further down the
road
if passable (7/10th) to find FS trail #405 if interested in
more
hiking.