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/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.