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Karnak goes way back with railroad history, The impact from the days when freight and passenger service made regular stops here is still evident on this tiny community at the southern end of the trail. A trailhead with plenty of parking sits alongside the backwaters of the Cache River. Almost all services are available here. Click here to view a list.
Probably one of the quietest towns you'll find in all of Illinois, Belknap is more than 100 years old and it's thriving days were also tied to the success of the railroad. With a prime location amid the wetlands, the town hosts a trailhead with limited resources, so plan ahead. You will find a few of the older trestles along this stretch of trail.
The history of Johnson County and Vienna is extensive and rich in railroad connections. Home to The Vienna Times - one of the oldest newspapers in Illinois. The trailhead here is also home to the Site Manager's offices. Events scheduled throughout the year. All services are available in this community. Click here for a list of ammenities & resources. .
Located south of Whitehill on Illinois Route 37, the center is named for Henry N. Barkhausen, who served as Director for the Illinois Department of Conservation from 1970-73 and for 18 years, served as Secretary of the Citizens Committee to Save the Cache River. He worked to encourage government agencies, organizations and residents to protect and restore the natural character of the Cache Wetlands.
A very popular trailhead and destination, this town is situated at the highest point along, and is the namesake of, this trail. The tunnel is also nearby, along with several old trestles going south toward Vienna. The trailhead has water available, along with restrooms, but other services are limited. You can click here for a list.
Ambrose Burnside, after whom the town is named, was a general during the civil war. In 1876, the population of this town was 1200 and the railroad was the new kid on the block. Coming from Tunnel Hill, you'll also pass through Parker, a ghost town with stories to tell. This is a good starting point for trips to Tunnel Hill, though with some basic services available here you will want to plan accordingly. Click here for a list.
Named after an ancient nearby structure, Stonefort was renamed from Bolton which was originally founded as another railroad community. This section of the trail is very flat and has several services available nearby. Click here for a list.
This town was laid out in 1872 and, as it was commonly referred to by the name of a mill located here - Carrier's Mill - the name has stayed the same, though it was the railroad that assigned 'Carrier Mills' to the new mail stop. Most services are available here. Click here for the listing of ammenities and resources
Platted in 1853, named after a Tennessee native that moved here in the 1820's, and defined by the railroad. The nearby Ohio River has had it influences over the years as well with a history dotted with flooding. All services are available here and you can see the list here
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