Dixon Springs State Park shows Pope at its most striking: the main canyon has walls nearly 60 feet high. Rock cliffs, large boulders, a creek and waterfalls complete the scene; the waterfalls form from trickles during rainy weather. This variety of landscapes sits alongside the historical discoveries awaiting you in the region.
A Changing Mix of Forest, Water and Rock
Big Grand Pierre Land and Water Reserve encompasses dry upland forest, dry-mesic and mesic upland forest, as well as bottomland forest. At Round Pond Nature Preserve, the landscape includes both swampy, wooded lowlands and low clay and gravel hills. Bay Creek Wilderness and Burden Falls Wilderness are located in Pope County.
The bodies of water also have their own character: Bay Creek Lake, also known as Millstone Lake, covers about 96 acres and is fed by Bay Creek. Smithland Pool is a 23,000-acre recreational area with tributaries of the Ohio River. Golconda Marina offers another notable figure: it is a fully equipped marina with 206 slips.
Discover Traces of History
At Millstone Bluff, you can find stone fortifications built by people of the Late Woodland culture between 600 and 900 AD. This dating gives the site a long historical perspective. In Golconda, the focus shifts to more recent local history: a large part of the city is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Historic Golconda Tour offers an audio tour of nearly 50 points of interest, on foot or by car. You can choose the type of historic tour that best suits your visit.
The Pope County Historical Society Museum is housed in a former Watson hardware store dating from 1906. It is open seasonally from April through November: Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Sundays from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Seasonal opening hours may change, so check current hours before your visit. Buel House also tells a story of a long family history: generations of one family lived there continuously for 146 years.
Hiking, Cycling or Local History
If you’re looking for a hike with a named destination, Trail #049 follows a 3.25-mile round-trip route to the base of Jackson Falls. The Historic Golconda Tour has a different focus: it links nearly 50 points of interest with an audio tour you can take on foot or by car. Golconda is also on the National Cross Country Bike Trail. These options offer different themes: a hike with a specific stated distance, a historic tour and a named bike trail.
Hogg Hollow Winery is the first winery in Pope County. At its winery in Golconda, it offers a complimentary wine tasting. Visitor offerings may change, so check before your visit to see whether tastings are available. Together with the forest landscapes, Golconda’s history and the waterways, this makes for a visit that can appeal to a wide range of interests without requiring you to focus on just one thing.
Discover more destinations: Golconda, Effingham, Johnson County, Bond County, Jo Daviess County, Warren County, Gallatin, Dekalb.
For the main travel overview: Illinois.
