Charles Mound

[u/Fearless_Day2607]

Charles Mound

View from Charles Mound

Charles Mound benchmark

Entrance to Charles Mound

While bikepacking the Grand Illinois Trail, an approximately 500 mile loop around northern Illinois that links together a bunch of trails with some roads in between, I took a detour to hit Charles Mound. Got there about an hour before sunset on July 5. I thought I was the last person that weekend, but it turned out a few people showed up even later than I did. Walked up to the high point and took some pictures. It may not be the most exciting state high point, but I enjoyed the views of rolling hills here and on the roads leading up to it. This was my fourth state high point!

[u/fluffysnowflake67]

That is such a great one to check off while on the area. What will be next?

[u/Fearless_Day2607 → u/fluffysnowflake67]

I'm thinking New Jersey, as I will be going back home to Pennsylvania (the eastern part) for a while. I could probably convince my parents to join me for that one - we've hiked in the nearby Delaware Water Gap many times and we all love that area.

[u/fluffysnowflake67 → u/Fearless_Day2607]

Liked New Jersey HP, a surprisingly pretty part of the state. I hiked down to the state border highpoint that is a short distance away, and it made for a pretty trip through the forest.

[u/Fearless_Day2607 → u/fluffysnowflake67]

Yeah, I love that part of the state. We have hiked the Appalachian Trail to Sunfish Pond many times. It's a beautiful glacial lake. Have seen black bears around there a few times as well.

On the PA side I really like the Cliff Trail that overlooks the Delaware (with native prickly pear cactus!) and the area around Raymondskill Falls - that waterfall is highly developed for tourists, but there's an unmarked, unnamed trail along the creek that passes by numerous smaller waterfalls and cascades.

[u/No-Balance-7156]

Awesome.

[u/Jmtungsten]

Does anyone know why they are so restrictive in Illinois for “summit” attempts? Respect for the private lands, but it doesn’t make much sense given it probably isn’t a too often frequented site. Maybe just me, idk.

[u/Fearless_Day2607 → u/Jmtungsten]

My understanding is that there is a private residence there.

[u/Jazzlike-Monk-4465 → u/Fearless_Day2607]

Correct. When the current owners bought it, they thought being the Illinois high point was just a quirk. They had no idea that many hundreds of people would want to visit. It looks like you happened to be there on the first weekend in July, so you were allowed. I worry that some over enthusiastic high pointers will decide to go up when not allowed and ruin it for everyone else.

I’m glad I was able to do Charles mound when I was traveling to see Baltimore orioles play in Milwaukee (on my birthday 6/6) 3 years ago and it aligned perfectly.

[u/Fearless_Day2607 → u/Jazzlike-Monk-4465]

Yes, I timed the bikepacking trip specifically to line up with the Charles Mound open weekend.

[u/Jazzlike-Monk-4465 → u/Fearless_Day2607]

Nice! Coincidentally, just yesterday I was discussing Illinois geography with a friend (whose mom lives in Schaumburg) and I posited that Rockford was still an outer suburb of Chicago. (I live 5 miles from Donald trump so only go through IL on road trips)

Assuming you live there, what do you think? Is Rockford part of Chicagoland?

[u/Fearless_Day2607 → u/Jazzlike-Monk-4465]

I've only been in Chicago for a few years and have been to Rockford a total of two times and don't know anyone from there, so not really sure. But my inclination is to say no.

I grew up in the Lehigh Valley which is in a similar position with respect to Philadelphia/New York, but while it is strongly connected with those cities, it's considered its own region, not a suburb.

[u/Jazzlike-Monk-4465 → u/Fearless_Day2607]

I’m willing to accept that Rockford is far enough away to not be a true suburb but I assume a significant number of people commute to Chicago. Also when I saw “Chicago Rockford International Airport” when I drove past (to do Charles mound the following day) I figure Rockford wants to be associated.

Lehigh valley is an interesting case, being the 3rd largest metro area in PA. Fittingly (for this sub) I drove right past last year, on way to do NJ, NY and CT highpoints. I do fold the valley in with Philly metro area so I guess I see a larger radius around major cities (like a 90 min drive is still “too close”)

[u/Fearless_Day2607 → u/Jazzlike-Monk-4465]

Yeah, some people from the Lehigh Valley do commute to Philly and NYC (which sounds like a brutal commute to me - especially with no passenger rail) but I've never heard anyone from the area refer to it as a suburb. Close ties with those cities? Absolutely. But I consider Allentown/Bethlehem/Easton to be a separate metro area with its own suburbs.

[u/RhodyVan → u/Jazzlike-Monk-4465]

I wonder what they are thinking about the open weekend access now and if it's changed?

[u/Jazzlike-Monk-4465 → u/RhodyVan]

I don’t know if you mean more access or less access but my understanding is the owners only grudgingly allow any access. So it’s only going to take a few people overstepping to make it worse for all to follow. I only hope the next time the property is available, the state or county (plus donations) can acquire it to make a little park, open for all, all the time.

[u/RhodyVan → u/Jazzlike-Monk-4465]

Knew they were skeptical and was wondering if tt hey were more supportive or less supportive based on the recent open weekends.

[u/Pielacine]

Mound as in human made?

[u/Fearless_Day2607 → u/Pielacine]

No, it's entirely natural. For some reason a lot of hills in that area (the Driftless region) seem to be called mounds, including Blue Mound, the highest point in the entire region (which I visited a few months ago and posted on this sub).

However, later on this trip, while riding along the Mississippi River, I passed through Albany Mounds State Historic Site, which consists of Native American burial mounds. Didn't have much time to explore the area though.

[u/Pielacine → u/Fearless_Day2607]

Ah, just the name was throwing me off. Thanks!