Greene County High Point Trip Report

Date: December 29, 2002
Author: John Mitchler

This significant hill in southwest IL north of St. Louis, along the Illinois River, can be reached via a farm lane and a short walk. Although there are 3 areas of similar contour, field observation suggests the southern hill is much higher than the two bluff spots. I hadn't read Jon Mann's account of this cohp so I visited all three areas and can confirm the relative relief.

For the southern area and likely highpoint, you'll need to find US67 which is no small feat, seeing that DeLorme and the state highway map have it labeled as IL267. Take exit 64 off I-72 at Jacksonville. Go south on IL267 for 26.7 miles to IL108 and go right (west) for 11 miles to Carrolton. From Carrolton, go south on US67 for 2.7 miles and turn right (west) on 1000N and go 3.4 miles to 800E. Turn left (south) and go 0.8 mile to a gravel lane on your right (west). The owner should be contacted before driving to the white water tower at the end of the lane (passing through a metal gate along the way). The highpoint is in a crop field west and south of the Greene County Rural Water District tower.

To reach the two bluff areas, return back north to 1000N and go west, passing through Woody. After 5.0 miles reach 325E at the base of the Illinois River bluffs. Turn right (north) on 325E and go 2.0 miles to Eldred and IL108. US67 is 8 miles east of here. Continue north on 325E which is Eldred Road. After 1.7 miles (passing a magnificent white stone house on the right) stop at Eldred Cemetery. Note the old graves on both sides of the road. From the east side cemetery, find a path that leads east into the woods and up a ravine past an isolated block of rock. Go 50 yards and then right to follow a narrow cliff ridge up to the flat woods on top of the bluffs. The HP is here in the woods.

From Eldred Cemetery, go north on the road at the base of the bluffs. At mile 0.6 cross a ditch. At mile 1.4 stop the car and look for an old lane on the right (east) that climbs up the cliff. If you drove to mile 1.6 you'd see a house and at mile 2.0 you'd see the Bluffdale Farm. The topo shows a house on the west side of the road where the old lane reaches the road, but the house no longer exists. The old lane climbs north to the "600" on the topo, and then cuts back south, and then again back north, ending 400 feet south of the broad rise in the woods which is the HP.