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Route: River to River Trail (IL)

Location
Illinois, US
Distance
160 mi
Vertical Gain
14,000 ft
Description

From Wikipedia:

The River to River Trail is a 160 mile (256 km)-long hiking trail that serves Shawnee National Forest in far southern Illinois. The trail is used by both equestrians and hikers. About half is on off road trails. Its eastern terminus has historically been Battery Rock, overlooking the Ohio River but now generally Elizabethtown, Illinois is used as the eastern terminus. The western terminus is in Grand Tower, Illinois, at the Mississippi River. Sections of the River to River Trail form part of the Southern Section of the American Discovery Trail.

RiverToRiverTrail.net is the official source of information for the trail.

GPS Track
2019_Complete_R2R_Trail East-West.gpx2.34 MB

FKTs

This route on the old FKT site
http://fastestknowntime.proboards.com/thread/562/river-trail-il

Comments

Austin Pryor
Fri, 04/13/2018 - 08:56am

Hey All! I believe that I am supposed to state my intentions at an FKT attempt? So myself and 3-5 others are going to attempt a new Unsupported FKT on the R2R Starting May 23 or 24th, 2018.

Joe Kallo
Wed, 06/24/2020 - 03:47am

Allison Kallo and I will start the R2R on 6/28, westbound, attempting to establish the mixed-gender team FKT.

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LynnzRunz
Thu, 01/28/2021 - 09:49pm

Hello All, I am planning a supported FKT for the R2R in late March. I have tried to find the route on the previous site as directed, but did not have any luck. Am I correct that the route posted here (https://www.rivertorivertrail.net/home/trail-information/) would not count because it is not the original trail? I am used to running long distances, but I am new to this FKT stuff, so any help is much appreciated. Thank you!

Glad you are planning on giving it a go in March!

Most people consider Elizabethtown to Grand Tower (or vise-versa) to be the 'route'. One could also use Cave-in-rock as a terminal point instead of Elizabethtown, which would be the 'old' route. There are trails to both terminus.

I went from from Elizabethtown to Grand Tower both times.

Also there not much interest in R-2-R trail, so I don't think anyone is real serious as long as you define what you did.

See my trip reports on the old website:

https://fastestknowntime.proboards.com/thread/562/river-trail-il

Kevin Gottlieb
Tue, 03/02/2021 - 09:16am

Officially stating my intentions to complete an unsupported FKT of my home trail in early April, 2021. I've been training for the past year and will aim to come in under Matt Halfar's 4d and 5ms, following the Elizabeth to Grand Tower Route. 

I'll be using maps and mileages provided by Bob of the River to River Society which pegs the official mileage as 157.7mi, but will be tracking total miles via GPS. 

This trip will be half physical challenge and half spiritual journey, so I'm very excited and looking forward to sharing the trip in the near future!

Trip was a success! Report submitted and published yesterday.

Jonsparks13
Fri, 05/07/2021 - 08:09am

Hello fellow hikers, i am officially stating my intent to attempt the fkr for the river to river trail in shawnee national forest 

Jonsparks13
Sun, 05/09/2021 - 09:13am

Myself and a fellow hiker will be attempting the fkr for the river to river trail, shawnee national forest beginning may 20

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LynnzRunz
Thu, 03/24/2022 - 02:45pm

Hello all, 

I am attempting a self-supported FKT of the River to River Trail starting March 26, 2022. Hoping for clear skies! Happy trails to you.

Pickle4475
Sat, 04/08/2023 - 04:17pm

Attempting the unsupported FKT with my friend, Will Ortmayer, tomorrow. Hopefully more info to come after the run!

austinaugs
Fri, 09/01/2023 - 04:31pm

Hey! Attempting the unsupported FKT with my friend Connor Chapdelaine tomorrow.