Southern IL. Hiking and Biking Trip Report
4/18/2026 – 4/19/2026
Report Submitted by Chris Hugo
Attendees: Chris and Mary Hugo, Igor Veksler, his son Ben and Ben’s two kids, Chloe and Jacob, Jimmy and Robyn Burkeen, Mike and Ellen Watson, Keith and Sherri Watson, Bill and Tina Dunaway, Patrick and Cindy Mayo, Paul and Teresa Beebe, Sue Cosmini, and Kevin and Tracy Burkeen.
The Bluff City Canoe Club headed north for a spring getaway to Giant City State Park in Makanda, Illinois, located at the southern tip of the state. While the weather didn’t completely cooperate, the scenery and fellowship more than made up for it.
Some members arrived on Thursday, with others joining the group on Friday. We camped at Giant City State Park and enjoyed beautiful weather on Friday. Saturday morning brought rain and much cooler temperatures, which continued throughout the day. Because of the conditions, we decided to skip our planned bike ride and instead enjoy a driving tour of the area.
Our first stop was Garden of the Gods, where we took in some of the most spectacular scenery southern Illinois has to offer. We then stopped for lunch at a local favorite, Shotgun Eddie’s Bar and Grill. After lunch, we visited Burden Falls, which—despite the recent rainfall—was not running quite as high as expected. We wrapped up the afternoon with a visit to one of the area wineries before heading back to camp. That evening, we gathered at Giant City Lodge to enjoy their famous all‑you‑can‑eat, family‑style fried chicken dinner. It was a full and memorable day.
Sunday greeted us with much better weather. A small group chose to ride the Tunnel Hill State Bike Trail, while others opted to explore one of the many beautiful hiking trails within Giant City State Park. This time of year is prime season for wildflowers, and one of the most popular trails—the Trillium Trail—lived up to its name with abundant blooming trilliums throughout the area.
Some attendees headed home on Sunday, while others stayed through Monday. As with all Bluff City Canoe Club trips, the highlight was spending time outdoors and sharing great experiences with good friends.