Scott County High Point Trip Report

two areas - one with BM Sand (710+ ft)

Date: June 7, 2002
Author: Dick Ellsworth

One of the counties I visited this last summer was Scott County in west central Illinois. Neither HP is in a field!

From I72 take the IL 100 exit (about 4 miles east of the Illinois River) and drive south about 4 miles to IL 106 (a T-intersection). Turn left (east) and drive ~ 2.7 miles to Hillside Drive. Just to the east of Hillside you will see a prominent north-south hillside -- the road is well named. Both of Scott County's HPs are best approached from Hillside and lie about 4 miles apart, BM Sand to the north and the quarry point to the south.

For the first, BM Sand, drive south on Hillside for about 2.8 miles to 700 East, a dirt road heading east. Follow 700 E for 0.2 mile to Moore Road and turn left (north). Drive 0.7 mile on Moore to a black mailbox on the left (north) side of the road. The number is 489 and is in front of the Rumple's house. Hayden Rumple, a fifth grader, guided me up the grassy road behind their house to BM Sand 1939, about 1/4 mile to the NW. I also found BM Sand #1 about 60 ft west of Sand. BM Sand still has a witness post just to the south of it. 30 minutes round-trip.

For the quarry point return to Hillside and 700 E. Continue south about 4.6 miles to a gravel driveway that comes to aY at Hillside, just to the north of an active gravel pit. If you drive past this you will be at the Scott/Greene County line in a half mile.

Turn left (east) and drive up the drive to a T. The right fork goes to a Y in about 40 feet. I followed the left fork to the house and knocked for permission to walk around. Nobody was there. I walked around the house visiting all areas of interest, then returned to the Y. I then took the other fork and drove uphill to a shed with a rusty tin roof and a small garden plot. I think this is the second HP, on the north side of the fence and large tree. My Etrex GPS read about 30 feet higher here than BM Sand, but it was within the error range so better visit both areas. Sand has by far the better view.