Hawk's Cave Trail

Hawk's Cave Trail is in Fern Clyffe State Park, in Goreville.  A place I've been many times, but had never taken this other trail.  In fact, there are several trails here I still need to explore.

Hawk's Cave is a short trail, probably a little less than a mile loop, about the same as the waterfall trail.  When you park in the lot, instead of hiking straight onto the waterfall trail, veer left and go across the stepping stones.  That trail will split into three, Hawk's Cave trail is on the far left.

The trail itself will Y a little ways into it, but it's a loop, you can't get lost.  Your only decision is really if you want to go uphill before or after exploring the cave (haha.  We chose before in which case you go right.)

You won't see the cave coming until your nearly in it.  That's the beauty of it.  This massive cave site so perfectly in the rock face that your just walking along minding your own business wondering when this cave will appear and Bam! Your in it.  It's massive.  It doesn't go back too terribly far, but it is move cave than overhang.  There's a lot of big stones that have fallen laying around that you can climb on and have fun with, just be careful, play at your own risk.  I don't have the slightest clue where the nearest hospital is or how long it would take them to get to you.

There's a smaller cave as you leave Hawk's Cave, I could see it from the trail (which is really pretty at that point) but we didn't go back to it, simply because I was doing a photo shoot at the time and light is never on our side.

Walking back down you'll cross a cute little footbridge crossing a stream.  The kids loved it, and had it been a little warmer, I'm sure would have been in it.

You go back down the hill you walked up, then meet back up at the main trail.  You should still have plenty of energy to go and see the waterfall. :)

Take rt 37 to Goreville, and follow it through town.  Just outside of town you'll see the sign for Fern Clyffe.  If you want more to see, Tunnel Hill State Trail isn't far!

Castle Park

Technically, this space is called the Jeremy 'Boo' Rochman Memorial Park, but locals know it as Castle Park, or Dungeons and Dragons Park.  You have to pass right by it to get to Giant City or Makanda, so we've passed it a good many times, never stopping.  Our son, KJ, took a school field trip here a few years ago, and talked about it often, but he had not been back, either.  So after stuffing ourselves on fried chicken at Giant City Lodge, we stopped on the way home.

Boo, the son of the president of a local investing firm, was tragically killed in 1993 at the age of 19, just a few hundred feet from his home (which, ironically, also resembles a castle.)  Boo loved the magical Dungeons & Dragons (quite popular back in the 90's) so dad Barrett Rochman hired sculptors from his Alma Mater, SIU Carbondale, to craft the fantasy park.  Some of the wizards seen around the park were sculpted after Boo's own D&D characters, found hand painted in his things.

Opening officially in 2005, the park focuses on the huge wood and stone castle playground in its center.  There is a plethora of tunnels for little ones, and many adults (including us) walk the ramparts and bigger spaces.  KJ was within for 15 minutes before we caught sight of him again, it really is much bigger than it appears, twisting and turning within itself.  Pennants fly in the breeze, swords, gargoyles, and lanterns hang from nooks and crannies.  

The grounds are just as amazing.  A beautiful iron tower holds a donation box and memorial to Boo.  A huge half-sleeping dragon lays in a corner.  A burial mound boasts of the knight entombed within.  Everywhere are musical wind chimes, hand crafted and hanging from the boughs of a good many trees.  Look up, things are everywhere.  A fountain sits near the entrance, a gathering place for adults.  All around are sorcerers, magicians, archers, warriors, on the grass, in the trees, upon the battlements.  A bell tower actually holds a large bell.  Everywhere is enchantment.

Jeremy 'Boo' Rochman Memorial Park
31 Homewood Dr,
Carbondale IL

Open 8am to dusk
Free admittance, but donations are welcome.

how to get there:
From Carbondale drive east two miles on Hwy 13, then turn south at the Wal-Mart onto Hwy 12/Giant City Rd. Drive 3.5 miles. Turn left, onto Homewood Drive to the parking lot. If you cross No Name Rd you've gone too far.