Across the bridge: Southern Illinois offers lots of adventures within 50 miles of Cape Girardeau

Tourist guidebooks typically describe "one tank trips" to places that are not very far away. Southern Illinois features many scenic attractions that are less than 50 miles away from Cape Girardeau, only requiring a short jaunt across the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge. Here is a selection of 10 of these destinations with driving directions given from the Highway 3/146 intersection past the Emerson Bridge.

Horse Creek Trail Distance from Cape: 12 miles

This rugged loop trail passes through the hills overlooking the Mississippi River floodplain east of McClure. One half of the trail threads along a narrow ridgeline, while the other half follows Horse Creek through a deep hollow. If you don't feel up to the challenge of hiking the whole five miles, the road to the trailhead is scenic in its own right.

Directions: Turn left on Highway 3 north to McClure. Turn right on Grapevine Trail and go 4.7 miles to the turnoff for Oxford Road on the right. Take this gravel road to the top of the hill and bear right at the first intersection. Continue on Oxford Road to the trailhead at the end.

Horsehoe Lake

Horseshoe Lake Distance from Cape:18 miles

When it comes to watching bald eagles in the winter, it's hard to beat Horseshoe Lake near Olive Branch. Straddling an old channel of the Mississippi River, this natural area features an island connected to the mainland by a narrow causeway. The trail to the island provides plenty of viewing opportunities for eagles -- and, during the right time of year, thousands and thousands of geese.

Directions: Turn right on Highway 3 south and go 12 miles to Olive Branch. Turn right on Miller City Road and drive 1.2 miles, then turn left on Island Road. Follow this short drive to the parking area.

Laure-Pine HIlls

Larue-Pine Hills Distance from Cape: 28 miles

LaRue-Pine Hills is a wonderland of bluffs and rock formations that tower over the swamps below. The best views are at Big Muddy Levee Road, which rounds a curve and comes face-to-face with the tall bluffs, and at Inspiration Point, where a trail leads to the edge of the bluffs from above. If, like many people, you have a touch of ophidiophobia (fear of snakes), then you may want to steer clear of the Snake Road, a road closed to traffic during the spring and fall to allow snakes to migrate in safety.

Directions: Turn left on Highway 3 north and continue past Wolf Lake. Just before crossing the bridge over Big Muddy River, turn right on Big Muddy Levee Road and continue to the Pine Hills, which are hard to miss.

Quetill Trail

Quetil Trail Distance from Cape: 30 miles

Alto Pass, originally called Quetil, was home to the Cairo & St. Louis Railroad, one of the longest narrow-guage railroads in the world when it was built in 1875. Most of the railroad grade is long gone, but a short stretch beginning at "downtown" Alto Pass has been converted into a walking trail along tall bluffs and massive rock formations. A steep staircase leads from the trail to an overlook at the top of the bluffs providing a commanding view of Bald Knob Cross.

Directions: Turn left on Highway 3, then turn right on Highway 146 at Ware, and left on Highway 127. Follow this highway to the overpass at Alto Pass. After going under the bridge, turn right and then make a left at the top of the ramp. This street, Chestnut Street, continues to the center of Alto Pass. The trailhead is on the right just before the intersection with Main Street.

Bald Knob Trail

Bald Knob Trail Distance from Cape: 30 miles

The newly restored Bald Knob Cross is a popular landmark in Illinois, but most people take the "easy" way to the cross: by car. It's more fun to make a pilgrimage to the top of the mountain on foot by taking a three-mile loop trail through National Forest land.

Directions: Turn left on Highway 3, then turn right on Highway 146 at Ware, and left on Highway 127. After 4.4 miles on Highway 127, turn left on Brown Section Road. Go 1.6 miles to a T-junction with Rhine Road and turn left. The parking area and trailhead is located on the right, 1.3 miles down the road.

Cove Hollow

Cove Hollow Distance from Cape: 38 miles

"Cove" seems to be an Illinois code name for a canyon, especially one surrounded by steep rock walls. Cove Hollow, sitting along Cedar Lake near Pomona, lives up to that description. A short trail leads to a pair of rock shelters that overlook the man-made lake. For a longer hike, the trail passes a series of nooks and crannies along the canyon walls as it weaves along the water's edge.

Directions: Turn left on Highway 3, then turn right on Highway 146 at Ware, and left on Highway 127. Follow this highway 12.5 miles to the turnoff for Dutch Ridge Road. Make a sharp right on this paved road, then bear left where the road curves in front of a church. At the intersection with Meadows Ridge Road, bear left to continue on Dutch Ridge Road. Then veer right on Cove Hollow Road and follow this narrow paved lane for 1 mile to the parking lot at the end.

Pomona Natural Bridge

Pomona Natural Bridge Distance from Cape: 40 miles

With a length of 90 feet, Pomona Natural Bridge is one of the more impressive rock spans in the Midwest. The bridge is photogenic from any angle, including the trail across the top, making this a popular "must see" destination for Southern Illinois. Despite the popularity, however, the road to the bridge can be difficult to follow.

Directions:Turn left on Highway 3, then turn right on Highway 146 at Ware, and left on Highway 127. Continue past Alto Pass and make a left turn at the sign for Pomona. At the stop sign in Pomona, turn right, then bear right at the Y-junction with Natural Bridge Road. Follow this gravel road past a few houses, across a bridge and up a steep hill (ignore the turnoffs on the left). At the top of the hill, continue as the road curves right, goes through a clearing and re-enters the woods. Drive to the parking lot at the end of the road.

Panther Den Wilderness

Panther Den Wilderness Distance from Cape: 42 miles

If you like mazes, you'll love the Panther Den in Illinois. A tall sandstone bluff has partially broken apart, creating a series of twisty passages and narrow rooms. Part of the Shawnee National Forest, the Panther Den is the smallest designated wilderness area in Illinois.

Directions: Turn left on Highway 3 north, then follow Highway 146 east through Ware, Jonesboro and Anna. At the eastern outskirts of Anna, just beyond the last stoplight, turn left on Lick Creek Road. After 8 miles, veer left on Grandview Road, then bear left on Hall Church Road. Turn right on Rocky Comfort Road and go north for almost 3 miles. Make a right turn on Panther Den Road, a good gravel road, and go east for 1.5 miles. Look for the turnoff for Panther Den Lane on the left. Take this rough, one-lane gravel road north for half a mile to the parking area, located on the right at the far end of the road.

Little Grand Canyon

Little Grand Canyon Distance from Cape: 42 miles

It doesn't quite hold a candle to the real Grand Canyon, but this National Forest recreation area does feature one of the more impressive canyons in Illinois. It's also one of the more difficult hiking trails in the region; the hair-raising descent into the canyon has caught more than a few people by surprise.

Directions: Turn left on Highway 3, then turn right on Highway 146 at Ware, and left on Highway 127. Go 16 miles and look for the turnoff for Etherton Road on the left. Continue on Etherton Road as it turns into Poplar Ridge Road and then Hickory Ridge Road. The turnoff for Little Grand Canyon Road will be on the right at a sharp curve. The parking area is just down this road.

Cache River State Natural Area Distance from Cape: 50 miles

California has redwood trees, Southern Illinois has bald cypress. Some of the cypress trees at Cache River are more than a thousand years old; they have the size and stature to match their age. For the best look at some of these big trees, start at Big Cypress Access near Karnak, which features a short trail ending at two massive trees.

Directions: Turn left on Highway 3 north, then follow Highway 146 east through Ware, Jonesboro and Anna. Continue on Highway 146 past I-57 to the intersection with Highway 37. Turn right and follow Highway 37 south to Highway 169 and turn left. Just before reaching the town of Karnak, turn left on Urbana Road. This paved road soon gives way to gravel and becomes Porter House Road. Look for the parking area for Big Cypress Access on the right.

James Baughn is the webmaster of the Southeast Missourian and its sister papers. In his spare time, James explores natural and historic sites in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois. Check out James' Pavement Ends blog on semissourian.com where he recounts his adventures.