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 Cairo 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 picturesque
scenery a second time around.
Satellite Imagery Overlay
- Click
Here for all
rest stops overlaid on satellite
imagery.
RIDE
ITINERARY
|
Rest Stop 1
- Cairo Main Lodging
Site
Cairo Junior/Senior
High School
4201 Sycamore St.
Cairo, IL 62914
(618) 734-2187
Rest Stop 1 will close
at 7:45 am.
8.5 mile loop from the
main lodging site
10.3 mile loop from the supported hotel |
|
Rest Stop 2
Ullin Ball Field
Ullin, IL
19.3 miles from rest
stop 1
Rest Stop 2 will close at
10:00 am. |
|
Rest Stop 3
Lincoln Memorial Picnic
Grounds
521 N. Main St.
Jonesboro, IL 62952
(618) 833-8576
18.5 miles from rest stop
2
Rest Stop 3 will close
at 12:00 pm. |
|
Rest Stop 4
Giant City State Park
Makanda, IL
15.4 miles from rest
stop 3 (less challenging
route)
17.1 miles from rest
stop 3 (harder
route)
Rest Stop 4 will close
at 5:30 pm. |
|
End - Carbondale
Main Lodging Site
Grand
Avenue Christian Church
1305 E. Grand Ave.
Carbondale, IL 62901
(618) 457-4222
11.1 miles from rest
stop 4 |
Route
Profile Data
Each
Ride Segment
|
Confluence
Loop |
Cairo
to
Ullin |
Ullin
to
Anna |
Anna
to Giant
City
State Park
|
Giant City
State Park
to
Carbondale
Main
Lodging |
Carbondale
Main
Lodging to
Giant City
Century
Option |
Carbondale
Main
Lodging to
Carbondale
Hotel |
Less
Challenging |
Hill
of
Death |
From
Cairo
Hotel |
From
Main
Lodging |
Distance (mi) |
|
8.5 |
19.3 |
18.5 |
15.4 |
17.1 |
11.1 |
18.4 |
1.4 |
Elevation Profile |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Starting Elevation (ft) |
328 |
349 |
349 |
341 |
549 |
549 |
694 |
431 |
431 |
Ending Elevation (ft) |
349 |
349 |
341 |
549 |
694 |
694 |
431 |
694 |
387 |
Highest Elevation (ft) |
389 |
386 |
489 |
694 |
818 |
812 |
719 |
698 |
431 |
Lowest Elevation (ft) |
303 |
294 |
322 |
341 |
491 |
459 |
399 |
391 |
356 |
Gross Climb (ft) |
435 |
387 |
690 |
1323 |
1279 |
1469 |
685 |
1078 |
67 |
Gross
Climb Profile |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Climb (ft) |
21 |
0 |
-8 |
208 |
145 |
145 |
-263 |
263 |
-44 |
Gross Grade |
0.8 |
0.9 |
0.7 |
1.4 |
1.6 |
1.6 |
1.2 |
1.1 |
0.9 |
Net Grade |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
-0.4 |
0.3 |
-0.6 |
Ride
Segment Summary
Unique Ride Segments |
9 |
Total Possible Routes |
16 |
Total Rest Stops |
5 |
On Road Rest Stops |
4 |
Rest Stops Ridden To |
5 |
Every
Potential Route
Departure from main lodging
site:
Departure
Location
|
Main
Lodging |
Main
Lodging |
Main
Lodging |
Main
Lodging |
Main
Lodging |
Main
Lodging |
Main
Lodging |
Main
Lodging |
Daily
Option(s) |
Less
Challenging |
Less
Challenging |
Hill of
Death |
Hill
of
Death |
Less
Challenging |
Less
Challenging |
Hill
of
Death |
Hill
of
Death |
Arrival
Location |
Main
Lodging |
Main
Lodging |
Main
Lodging |
Main
Lodging |
Supported
Hotel |
Supported
Hotel |
Supported
Hotel |
Supported
Hotel |
Century
Option |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Rest Stops |
5 |
7 |
5 |
7 |
5 |
7 |
5 |
7 |
Total
Distance
(mi) |
72.8 |
102.3 |
74.5 |
104.0 |
74.2 |
103.7 |
75.9 |
105.4 |
Elevation
Profile |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Starting
Elevation
(ft) |
349 |
349 |
349 |
349 |
349 |
349 |
349 |
349 |
Ending
Elevation
(ft) |
431 |
431 |
431 |
431 |
387 |
387 |
387 |
387 |
Highest
Elevation
(ft) |
818 |
818 |
812 |
812 |
818 |
818 |
812 |
812 |
Lowest
Elevation
(ft) |
294 |
294 |
294 |
294 |
294 |
294 |
294 |
294 |
Gross
Climb
(ft) |
4364 |
6127 |
4554 |
6317 |
4431 |
6194 |
4621 |
6384 |
Gross Climb
Profile |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Climb (ft) |
82 |
82 |
82 |
82 |
38 |
38 |
38 |
38 |
Longest
Ride
Segment
Distance
(mi) |
19.3 |
19.3 |
19.3 |
19.3 |
19.3 |
19.3 |
19.3 |
19.3 |
Shortest
Ride
Segment
Distance
(mi) |
8.5 |
8.5 |
8.5 |
8.5 |
8.5 |
8.5 |
8.5 |
8.5 |
Average
Distance
Between Rest
Stops (mi) |
18.2 |
17.1 |
18.6 |
17.3 |
18.2 |
17.1 |
18.6 |
17.3 |
Longest
Ride
Segment
Gross
Climb
(ft) |
1323 |
1323 |
1469 |
1469 |
1323 |
1323 |
1469 |
1469 |
Shortest
Ride
Segment
Gross
Climb
(ft) |
387 |
387 |
387 |
387 |
387 |
387 |
387 |
387 |
Average
Gross
Climb
Between Rest
Stops (ft) |
1091 |
1021 |
1139 |
1053 |
1091 |
1021 |
1139 |
1053 |
Gross Grade |
1.1 |
1.1 |
1.2 |
1.2 |
1.1 |
1.1 |
1.2 |
1.1 |
Net Grade |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
Departure from supported hotel:
Departure
Location
|
Supported
Hotel
|
Supported
Hotel
|
Supported
Hotel
|
Supported
Hotel
|
Supported
Hotel
|
Supported
Hotel
|
Supported
Hotel
|
Supported
Hotel
|
Daily
Option(s) |
Less
Challenging
|
Less
Challenging
|
Hill
of
Death
|
Hill
of
Death
|
Less
Challenging
|
Less
Challenging
|
Hill
of
Death
|
Hill
of
Death
|
Arrival
Location |
Main
Lodging
|
Main
Lodging
|
Main
Lodging
|
Main
Lodging
|
Supported
Hotel
|
Supported
Hotel
|
Supported
Hotel
|
Supported
Hotel
|
Century
Option |
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
Yes
|
Rest Stops |
5
|
7
|
5
|
7
|
5
|
7
|
5
|
7
|
Total
Distance (mi) |
74.6
|
104.1
|
76.3
|
105.8
|
76.0
|
105.5
|
77.7
|
107.2
|
Elevation
Profile |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Starting
Elevation (ft) |
328
|
328
|
328
|
328
|
328
|
328
|
328
|
328
|
Ending
Elevation (ft) |
431
|
431
|
431
|
431
|
387
|
387
|
387
|
387
|
Highest
Elevation (ft) |
818
|
818
|
812
|
812
|
818
|
818
|
812
|
812
|
Lowest
Elevation (ft) |
303
|
303
|
303
|
303
|
303
|
303
|
303
|
303
|
Gross
Climb (ft) |
4412
|
6175
|
4602
|
6365
|
4479
|
6242
|
4669
|
6432
|
Gross
Climb
Profile |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Climb
(ft) |
103
|
103
|
103
|
103
|
59
|
59
|
59
|
59
|
Longest
Ride
Segment
Distance (mi) |
19.3
|
19.3
|
19.3
|
19.3
|
19.3
|
19.3
|
19.3
|
19.3
|
Shortest
Ride
Segment
Distance (mi) |
10.3
|
10.3
|
10.3
|
10.3
|
10.3
|
10.3
|
10.3
|
10.3
|
Average
Distance
Between Rest
Stops (mi) |
18.7
|
17.4
|
19.1
|
17.6
|
18.7
|
17.4
|
19.1
|
17.6
|
Longest
Ride
Segment
Gross
Climb (ft) |
1323
|
1323
|
1469
|
1469
|
1323
|
1323
|
1469
|
1469
|
Shortest
Ride
Segment
Gross
Climb (ft) |
435
|
435
|
435
|
435
|
435
|
435
|
435
|
435
|
Average
Gross Climb
Between Rest
Stops (ft) |
1103
|
1029
|
1151
|
1061
|
1103
|
1029
|
1151
|
1061
|
Gross
Grade |
1.1
|
1.1
|
1.1
|
1.1
|
1.1
|
1.1
|
1.1
|
1.1
|
Net Grade |
0.0
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
|