| NATIONAL PARKS QUICKLINKS |
Also on Backpacker.com
Related Topics
Backpacker Magazine – September 2012
Top 3: Wine Country Hikes
The fine fall colors and comfortable weather of harvest season will make you want to raise a glass.
Mt. St. Helena (Heller Family Vineyards)
-
Tags:
Shawnee National Forest, IL
Panther Den Loop
Escape into a craggy oasis.
Wine in Illinois? You betcha. The Shawnee Hills along the state’s southern border feature high ridges loaded with gnarled limestone and sandstone formations, plus summers that linger but don’t swelter. The result? Great hiking and a federally-recognized grape-growing region that’s more Loire Valley than Corn Belt. Start by exploring the state’s smallest wilderness, 839-acre Panther Den, on a 4.6-mile figure-eight through a maze of sandstone outcrops. Link Trails 371, 389, and 001 through pine forest to explore the passageways and caves created by 70-foot rock walls. Post-hike, drive 2.4 miles to Blue Sky Vineyards (blueskyvineyard.com) for a glass of velvety Cab Franc. The hard-to-grow varietal thrives in the area’s rocky soil. (618-833-8576; fs.usda.gov/shawnee) Trip data backpacker.com/hikes/1732038
The way From Carbondale, link Giant City Rd., Grassy Rd., Rocky Comfort Rd., Panther Den Rd., and Panther Den Ln. for an 18-mile drive to the trailhead.
Subscribe to Backpacker magazine
Sign up for our free weekly e-newsletter
Reader Rating:
-
My Profile
Join Now
Most recent threads
Rocky Mountains
WIND RIVER RANGE pack: July 4-12
Posted On: May 18, 2013
Submitted By: melikeethewild
Submitted By: melikeethewild
Editors' Choice 2013
412 trail-tested products
Boost Your Apps
Add powerful tools and exclusive maps to your BACKPACKER apps through our partnership with Trimble Outdoors.
Carry the Best Maps
With BACKPACKER PRO Maps, get life-list destinations and local trips on adventure-ready waterproof myTopo paper.
FREE Rocky Mountain Trip Planner
Sign up for a free Rocky Mountain National Park trip planning kit from our sister site MyRockyMountainPark.com.
Get 2 FREE Trial Issues and 3 FREE GIFTS
Survival Skills 101 • Eat BetterThe Best Trails in America
YES! Please send me my FREE trial issues of Backpacker
and my 3 FREE downloadable booklets.
Free trial offer valid for US subscribers only.
Canadian subscriptions |
International subscriptions
and my 3 FREE downloadable booklets.
READERS COMMENTS
Here, you can buy all kinds of cheap nfl jerseys ,we provide jerseys which wholesale from China with high quality.It¡¯s our principle in business to honor the contract and keep our promise .more information visit http://www.3cjerseys.com/
http://www.3cjerseys.com/Nike-NFL-Jerseys-c124/
http://www.3cjerseys.com/NBA-Jerseys-c77/
http://www.3cjerseys.com/Customized-Jerseys-c116/
http://www.3cjerseys.com/Hats-&-Caps-c119/
http://www.3cjerseys.com/Footwear-c122/
Lijiang is located in the upper reaches of the Jinsha River, has a long history, beautiful scenery, majestic natural environment, the descendants of the ancient Qiang, Naxi hometown.
http://www.21elitenfljerseys.com cheap nfl jerseys
http://www.21elitenfljerseys.com/Nike-NFL-Jerseys-c124.html Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys
http://www.21elitenfljerseys.com/MLB-Jerseys-c94.html Cheap MLB Jerseys
Old Town of Lijiang 2,400 meters above sea level, is the center of the city of Lijiang Naxi Autonomous County, is one of the historical and cultural city, is a national key scenic spots.
     Here is located in Yunnan, Sichuan and Tibetan roads, ancient times, frequent business travel activities, prompting locals flourishing population, and soon became famous bazaar and town. Generally believed Lijiang city began in the early Song Dynasty.,i hope you will like it!
http://www.21elitenfljerseys.com cheap nfl jerseys
http://www.21elitenfljerseys.com/Nike-NFL-Jerseys-c124.html Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys
http://www.21elitenfljerseys.com/MLB-Jerseys-c94.html Cheap MLB Jerseys
http://www.21elitenfljerseys.com/NFL-Jerseys-c68.html Discount NFL Jerseys
http://www.21elitenfljerseys.com/NFL-T-Shirt-c126.html]wholesale NFL T-Shirt
This is not a 'fire road' it's a road! There is a communications complex at the summit and service trucks use this road. The day I walked it there were at least 10 trucks going by. Also since this is mostly a road, it's not that interesting.
I would recommend it as a bike route.
A better walk is the trail south from the same parking area to Table rock (4.4 mi. out and back).
If you go in the summer bring lots of water. It gets HOT!
I don't know how the author picked Lakewood from among all the wineries on Seneca Lake.
ADD A COMMENT