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Trail of Tears State Park is a nice place that I've enjoyed going to multiple times over the last 50 years or so. My dad was from the Cape Girardeau area before moving to Illinois and we went there several times when I was a boy. I've visited the park many times and camped there a few nights, but I've not hiked on the Shepard Point trail before. Sadly, if I'm not mistaken, that may be the area where James Baughn met his untimely end. It was somewhere at TTSP. RIP James. There are some big cliffs on the north side by the river overlook deck too. I've been out a ways on that trail before. There is an old quarry up there that is dangerous and off limits because people have fallen there before.

One reason Missouri has nice state parks and conservation areas is because they have a special dedicated sales tax that funds them. I guess it is a worthy thing to spend money on and I would probably support it. The trouble is Missouri has several of these little sales taxes for this and that at the state and local level that add up. Some places in Cape Girardeau, for example, have sales tax rates approaching 10 percent. I know that is the case for some Illinois cities too. Missouri has generally lower property taxes and gas tax, but I don't think their roads are as good as those in Illinois overall. Missouri also has a 3 percent tax on groceries. I think they also have the personal property tax still.

If Illinois government didn't embezzle so much money, we'd have enough for nicer parks and roads. You'd think with all the lottery money, gambling revenue, and weed sales they keep touting about in the newspaper, they'd be out of debt. Missouri is wiser with its finances (except for St Louis). It shows in the well maintained parks.

Wow! Where? Definitely amazing

I didn't know that S Illinois had a high number of fires. I wonder if that's why some areas are "prescribed burn" so they can be watched while they are burning? It's a beautiful overlook, isn't it?

Hell no, that is stale water with a one way ticket to the hospital.

I didn't know we had yucca indigenous in IL. I suppose if bluebells and daffodils can grow, they can be planted by homesteaders. Thanks for taking me along.

I thought there were snakes in there?

Yes ❤

I know where that is. I was there 2 weeks ago

Yep, many times at the Rockhouse

John 3:16 Jesus loved you so much he died And resurrected for YOU🫵❤️✝️

watch out for the wild hogs in that area. Piss off the horse people, they think they can go where ever they want

The orchid was Goodyera pubescens, the downy rattlesnake orchid.

Epic

🎵 I like these spots and I cannot lie. Those other hikers can't deny. Area near GC Stonefort trail?

Just a helpful reminder... when you handle turtles, DO wash your hands with soap and water when you are finished. ALL turtles are thought to be a vector for Salmonella. Great video.

have you had issues with ticks? i am from central illinois, and i went to the ozark area last month, and i was tent camping 3 nights, and i had the worst experience; about 70 bites... most of them were nymphs. / i know that the winter was very warm, so maybe this is why ? / i have been on antibiotics for a month, and it looks like i didn't get lymes disease! amazing. but i still have the bites, and the horror of the memory if removing them from my body 😢.... so, what is it like where you are? because that would be my choice to camp next... any advice?

great mushroom hunting. I love that you know names.

Sulphur? Did it smell like brimstone?

I know there are prairie rattlesnakes in il, but I can't see it.

That looks like it might have been your truck!! Thanks for another great video!

Speaking of trail maintenance, someone spray painted their initials in yellow and a date on the rocks right off the trail as it starts to become the rock barrens at Bell Smith mill creek branch trail.

I saw that fountain this morning and tried to find out what it was online and was led to this video. Did you ever find out what it was? Thanks!

I tried to get to saltpeter cave to camp at the site again but I couldn't find it. We ended up camping at natural bridge instead. I wish I knew where we deviated.

I'm not following Shawn, isn't about every Lake in the state made by damming up a river or creek? the exception being those that are fed by natural springs like Weldon Springs lake in DeWitt County?

Great video Shawn I enjoyed it very much.

I was just there today...

This is a beautiful place, Shawn!! I think I could take my crutches on this trail. I remember seeing someone else doing a Big Muddy video, and you could see where a snake had been making marks in the snow. I wouldn't even think that was possible.

This is a beautiful place!!! Thanks so much for sharing.

Thank you for sharing your hike at Giant City. Sixty years ago I worked as a naturalist at Giant City and lived in Makanda. One of the best times in my life.