Little Grand Canyon Trail Loop
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3.0 mi
Distance
1 hrs 34 min
Time
terrain
380 ft
Elev Gain
Overview
This is a easy loop trail to Chalk Bluff in Illinois.
Sights to See
Rate this Hike
★★★★★
stars
Little Grand Canyon Trail is a fun and somewhat challenging trail. No Flip Flops here only sturdy shoes with a good sole. You’re going to need good traction as you climb down or up the rocks at the waterfalls. Little Grand Canyon is a loop trail where you decide whether you’re going to go clockwise or counterclockwise. The trailheads are located on different sides of the parking lot. The clockwise trailhead is located at near the pit toilets. Both directions have there advantages and disadvantages. If this is your first time here I would recommend the clockwise directions. Be aware no mater which direction you chose you’re going have to descend or ascend the sandstone rocks next to a waterfall. If there is water running these can be slippery. Some of the rock faces have steps cut into them and these can be slippery to. Going clockwise the descent down the waterfall is shorter. When you’re near the end of the hike you will be ascending the longer waterfall. The trade off here is the last half mile of the clockwise direction is all up hill. Enjoy your hike, but be careful.
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Public Tracks
Little Grand Canyon Trail Shawnee
Trail starts by descending fallowing a long steep waterfall. Slippery even when not wet. At the bottom we found patch of Virginia blue bells and happy butterflies. Walked along nice rock formations, climbed up a bluff to Little Grand Canyon Overlook. From there we saw Muddy River, Mississippi River basin Flood plain and Missouri state.
We admired huge Beech trees with white smooth trunks.
Discovered the wine trail after we left. The route to our next destination had a “Route Closed” sign in the middle. We still proceed just to find out that the route is completely washed off. We had to take a detour and saw Barred Owl right above our heads as the sun was setting.
Track (12/14/14, 12:09:49PM)
Trip to Little Grand Canyon in Southern Illinois. There was a bit of off-trail exploring done this trip.
Track (12/14/14, 12:09:49PM)
Trip to Little Grand Canyon in Southern Illinois. There was a bit of off-trail exploring done this trip.
Track (12/14/14, 12:09:49PM)
Trip to Little Grand Canyon in Southern Illinois. There was a bit of off-trail exploring done this trip.
