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Lisa

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River to River Trail — Elizabethtown to Grand Tower

Lisa

Saved routes

River to River Trail — Elizabethtown to Grand Tower

Lisa planned a hike

December 15, 2025

River to River Trail — Elizabethtown to Grand Tower

Hard

69:12

255km

3.7km/h

3,520m

🇨🇭 IceBlazeMp 🇨🇭 liked this tour.

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Overview

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

Includes an off-grid segment

Navigation instructions may be limited.

After 22.9 km for 361 m

Most people would complete this in 10-23 days

Better plan each individual stage of your adventure with the multi-day planner — available as a part of komoot Premium.

Waypoints

Start point

Get Directions

7.29 km

River to River Trail (north of Elizabethtown)

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

This trail section north of E-town takes you away from the road and into the forest. It's very pleasant walking, but still close enough to civilization that you're likely to …

Tip by

34.3 km

Garden of the Gods Recreation Area

Highlight • Natural Monument

This portion of the River to River Trail wends into the Garden of the Gods — a stunning collection of sandstone formations, sprouting out of the forest as if they …

Tip by

78.1 km

Bowed Tree crossing

Highlight • River

One of the major crossing points of Lusk Creek; keep an eye out for a good primitive camping spot east of here, within an easy walk of the crossing but …

Tip by

86.8 km

Eddyville

Highlight • Settlement

The River to River Trail follows the roads in Eddyville, going straight past the post office along the way. Traffic isn't bad, though, and you can get a hot lunch …

Tip by

103 km

Millstone Lake (Bay Creek Lake)

Highlight • Lake

Just north of here is a small reservoir along the River to River Trail. If you're thru-hiking it can be a nice place to camp, although there are no designated …

Tip by

138 km

Dutchman Lake

Highlight • Lake

The River to River Trail goes straight across the dam for Dutchman Lake. The views from the trail can be particularly pretty in the fall, when the trees blaze with …

Tip by

157 km

Ferne Clyffe State Park

Highlight • Forest

Set in the lush Shawnee Hills of southern Illinois, Ferne Clyffe State Park spreads across roughly 2,430 acres just south of Goreville and offers a rich mix of forest, bluffs, …

Tip by

192 km

Giant City State Park (River to River Trail)

Highlight • Natural Monument

Giant City State Park has some dramatically beautiful scenery, with massive, fantastically shaped chunks of sandstone set against a lush forest. There are plenty of trails for hiking and other …

Tip by

221 km

Alto Pass

Highlight • Settlement

Alto Pass is a pretty little town on the River to River Trail. It has great views and a little country store. Here (at the intersection of Chestnut & Main) …

Tip by

255 km

Devil's Backbone Park overlooks the Mississippi River and serves as the western terminus of the River to River Trail. Long distance hikers and begin or end their cross-state trek here on a journey between the Mississippi and Ohio rivers.

Tip by

255 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

83.6 km

65.5 km

42.7 km

31.4 km

29.7 km

2.55 km

296 m

Surfaces

124 km

47.8 km

32.1 km

26.3 km

17.9 km

7.46 km

Route Details

Elevation

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Want to know more?

River to River Trail — Elizabethtown to Grand Tower

River to River Trail (north of Elizabethtown)

Garden of the Gods Recreation Area

Bowed Tree crossing

Eddyville

Millstone Lake (Bay Creek Lake)

Dutchman Lake

Ferne Clyffe State Park

Giant City State Park (River to River Trail)

Alto Pass

Devil's Backbone Park

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