Musings from Illinois: 12-12-11 Stone Bridge Trail 11.7 Mile Hike

This was a longish hike for us. 11.7 miles per the GPS track. Just under 6 hours. We had nice cool weather. It started out in the low 30s and edged up into the low 40s. We passed by Stone Bridge and Roland Olson FPs, and turned around when we got to the Long Prairie Trail.

It is an easy walk, not much grade change. It is an old RR right of way and trains don't like much in the way of grade change. The surface is an easy walking crushed stone.

It was a Monday morning. I did not expect much traffic. We ran across maybe a dozen people on foot, most with dogs, and another half dozen or so on bikes.

The trail surface is about 10 feet wide, with 20-50 feet of buffer on either side. Much of it is hardwood, some is prairie. Much of the trail abuts residential areas so it is sort of like walking through people's back yards. The trail often has deep gullies along side it, sometimes exhibiting a 50 foot drop or more, and in one section there are 10-30 foot high berms on either side.

I did not notice much in the way of facilities along the way. A bench at Elevator Road, and a well and outhouses at Roland Olson FP were about it. There were also benches at the observation deck at Stone Bridge. There are 19 parking spots at the Rockton Road access point. About the same at Roland Olson FP. You probably could park in the Roscoe Township offices at Elevator Road as well. None of the other access points had any parking.

Access points going NW to SE.
Rockton Road (NW end)
McCurry Road
Elevator Road
Burr Oak Road (the Stone Bridge is about 1/2 mile south of this access point)
Atwood Road (Roland Olson FP)
McMichael Road (SE end)

We passed over 4 or 5 creeks. Wilma wanted to visit them, but there was not any real convenient access. Maybe next time.

The trail passes adjacent to the south side of Stone Bridge FP. The observation deck provides a nice view of the bridge. I think one could get down to the creek there for a closer look without a lot of trouble. There is indication others do so on a pretty regular basis.

I took more photos than usual. Mostly of signs that have some interesting information on them. They are posted in chronological order as we hiked it. This first two are at the Rockton Road access point.

I think this was at McCurry Road.

I know this was at McCurry Road.

Someone has put somne dubious directions on this sign along the trail. The trail does not go anywhere near Durand or Winnebago, or Clinton, WI for that matter. It may be there is some connection to get to those places, but it is none are on this trail.

I think this was near Elevator Road.

This is at Elevator Road near the Roscoe Township offices. I needed a break on the way back so this bench turned out to be han dy. Thanks to the Harlem-Roscoe firefighters who supplied it!

No idea why the snowmobilers put up this sign. Maybe the VFW is a place they go to warm up or something.

The observation platform is down the side of the hill, maybe 100+ feet down a series of switchbacks.

Views from the observation deck.

The bridge is pretty impressive.

I think this is a camera.

This is near the end. Roland Olson FP is across the street at Atwood Road.

End of the line. The trail becomes the Long Prairie Trail and heads into Boone County on the other side of McMichael Road. It is paved.

The sign announcing the start of the Long Prairie Trail. I am pretty sure it is still Winnebago County at this point. This is where we turned around and went back.

A uility pole with some kind of metal sign on it that appears to have been shot full of holes. It was the only pole I noticed along the trail. Probably a leftover from when the trains still ran down this line.

At the gate to Stone Bridge FP along the trail. Despite what the sign says, the property is FP property. I hope the dog haters and eco wackos of the Natural Land Institute don't get their paws on this one and ban dogs like at Severson Dells. I will send an email to the district and ask.

I got a response back saying the NLI gave the property to the FPD, and they may have forgotten to take down the NLI sign.

We saw this fire truck while I was taking a break on the bench kindly provided by the Harlem-Roscoe firefighters at Elevator Road near the Roscoe Township offices.

Paw prints I took pictures of on the way back. Maybe someone can help me ID them. Pretty distinctive print here. 4 claws. Almost looks like a bird. Note the boot print next to it. It is not a small print. I tried to ID them from Internet sources. Maybe a woodchuck?

ETA 12-15-11: A guy I work with says beaver. it does have webbed feet but I always thought beavers had 4 claws.