One Horse Gap
About One Horse Gap
One Horse Gap is accessed by the River-to-River Trail or by road from Raum Road. One Horse Gap is a unique geological area. The rock formations remind me of a moon scape. Large areas are rounded and bare of vegetation.
The Gap is a natural narrow passage in the rocks thorough which the River-to-River trail passes. There is a large camping area with a fire rings. There is a loop trail that follows along the top of the ridge and then descends below the cliffs and returns to the gap. One Horse Gap lake is .5 miles south of the Gap.
Trail
One Horse Gap Loop
Loop trail (.4 miles) Easy, from top of One Horse Gap
0.00 Trail begins to left along the ridge top and follows the contour of the ridge.
0.20 Trail descends below ridge. Trail merges with River-to-River trail. Trail to he left leads to Herod, continue right.
0.23 Interesting rock houses along the trail.
0.40 Trail intersects with trail to One Horse Gap Lake. Left to lake. Right to Gap camping area. Straight continues on River-River Trail below the bluffs.
River-to-River trail
Rocky Top to Little Lusk Creek Campsite
White diamond marker with blue i (11 miles) Easy/Moderate
0.00 Begin from camp area at One Horse Gap.
0.80 One Horse Gap Trail (106A) junction. Left to One Horse Gap Lake. Continue straight.
0.85 Campsite below One Horse Gap. One Horse Gap Loop goes to the right up the gap to the top following the ridge above before descending below and looping back to the campsite. River-to-River trail continues straight past the campsite.
1.30 Descending, take a sharp right turn. Straight leads to West Camp.
4.35 Arrive Benham Hill Parking lot. Continue through gravel lot at left entrance.
6.12 Trail emerges to gravel road, continue right.
7.32 After ascending, trail leaves road to the left.
8.84 Ford small creek on stepping stones. trail moves along steep banks and continues up away from the creek.
9.95 Trail becomes a little difficult to follow. Continue toward the creek and you will see the signs of a campsite. Cross creek below campsite and trail mark is up and to your left.
10.31 Trail has deep crossing which can be avoided if you continue up the left of the creek to a shallower crossing.
10.93 Cross Little Lusk Creek to campsite.
Illinios Contacts
Shawnee National Forest
Harrisburg, IL 62946
(618) 253-7114
Questions or comments about this website? Send me a message at: backpackcamp
Getting There
From Herod take Raum Road to Concord Cemetery. Markers for the River-to-River trail can be seen for the first 1.5 miles. The first road to the right leads to Williams Hill. The highest point in the area. Continue till the next fork in the road, bear right. The next intersection is Hartsville. Continue left, after a short distance the road makes a 90º turn to the right. A trail head for the River-to-River trail can be found to the left at Concord Cemetery. The River-to-River trail follows the road for a short time before crossing the road at small creek, just before the next turn, heading toward Lusk Creek Wilderness area. Just past the cemetery the road turns 90º to the left. Follow the road about a mile to the Old Grand Pierre cemetery. Turn left, continue .5 miles till you see the next gravel road. Turn left. at .25 miles the River-to-River trail crosses from the right and continues down the road for a short distance before crossing the road to the left. In about a mile you will see a trail head that leads to the right, it is about .33 miles to the top of the Gap.