BICYCLE ILLINOIS
Cairo to Carbondale

Overall Route Description
The first riding day from Cairo to Carbondale is the hilliest and from our experience, generally the toughest especially for participants from the Chicago area because they aren’t used to the hills. It is the most "intense" day - that is it has the highest gross grade (total climb per mile) of all our riding days. Luckily this day is also the shortest riding day and you will tackle it while your legs are still fresh at the start.

The first ride segment of the day will be from Ciaor down to Fort Defiance Park at the southern tip of Illinois and the confluence of the two largest rivers in the United States, the Ohio and Mississippi. From the observation platform you can see the actual difference in colors of the river waters as the muddy water of the Mississippi River mixes with the clearer water of the Ohio River. Not only can you see these two major rivers at one time you can also see three states (Illinois, Kentucky, and Missouri) and will be the southernmost person in Illinois! Make sure to baptize your wheels in both rivers!

After your trip to the southernmost point in Illinois you'll stop back at the main lodging site in Cairo for a quick rest stop. Then you’ll travel north through sparsely populated, picturesque scenery and gently rolling hills.

Then who says there aren’t any challenging hills in Illinois? After our first rest stop in Ullin, the route becomes very hilly as we pass through Anna and Cobden and the dense, lush forested areas of Shawnee National Forest. Just after Makanda, the route leads through the amazing sandstone rock boulders and bluffs and spectacular views of Giant City State Park.

Coming into to Giant City State Park you will have the option of cycling up one of the steepest hills in Illinois, affectionately known as "The Hill of Death." The hill is approximately 0.7 miles long, a 266 ft. gross climb, and a 25% maximum grade. The hill gets its name from the graveyard conveniently located at the top for cyclists who don’t make it (just kidding about the cyclists, but there is a graveyard). This option is 1.6 miles longer than the less challenging route, and the century option does not depend on which option you choose. You will definitely want to highlight the routes into and out of Giant City on your cue sheets and maps because they overlap and doubleback and can be very confusing.

Century Option
The century option will originate from the main lodging site in Carbondale, and you can stop at the rest stop there to replenish yourself before riding the century option. The century option will take you back to the third rest stop in Giant City State Park, where you can stop for a second time that day. Then you’ll recycle (pun intended) the route from Giant City State Park to the Carbondale main lodging site along the same route you rode earlier enjoying the fabulous views and picuresque scenery a second time around.

Satellite Imagery Overlay

Click Here for all rest stops overlaid on satellite imagery.

RIDE ITINERARY

Rest Stop 1 Cairo Junior/Senior High School 4201 Sycamore St. Cairo, IL 62914 (618) 734-2187

Rest Stop 2 Ullin Ball Field Ullin, IL

Rest Stop 3 Anna City Park Anna, IL

Rest Stop 4 - Lunch Giant City State Park Makanda, IL Lunch will be served at the following cumulative mileage: Less challenging option: 59.2 miles if you departed from the main lodging site 61.0 miles if you departed from the supported hotel Hill of Death option: 60.8 miles if you departed from the main lodging site 62.6 miles if you departed from the supported hotel

Rest Stop 5 Carbondale Middle School 1150 E. Grand Ave. Carbondale, IL 62901 (618) 457-2174 2.3 miles from the supported hotel

Route Profile Data

Each Ride Segment

Ride Segment Summary

Every Potential Route

Departure from main lodging site:

Departure from supported hotel: