Ferne clyffe state park- round bluff trail

The Illinois Department of Transportation will receive $300,000 from the Federal Highway Administration under the Recreational Trails Program (CFDA 20.219) to rehabilitate the Round Bluff Trail within Ferne Clyffe State Park. Work will include replacing three long wooden staircases with new constructions, installing a new railing and decking on one short bridge, building additional steps in an extremely steep area, and installing new timber water bars or rolling grade dips along the one-mile trail route. The funding will address safety and accessibility issues on the trail by replacing or repairing deteriorated wooden structures that have become trip hazards over time. The Recreational Trails Program aims to develop and maintain recreational trails and trail facilities for both motorized and nonmotorized recreational uses.

Project description

Ferne clyffe -round bluff is a one-mile-long trail within the 53 acre round bluff nature preserve at ferne clyffe state park. The trail traverses some steep slopes and sandstone outcrops at the base of round bluff. At three locations, long wooden stairways were built in the 1980S to negotiate some steep inclines. The stairways have numerous rotted support posts and structural pieces that are split and decayed. There is one short bridge about 20' in length that needs a new railing system and decking installed. There are numerous wood timbers used as a either steps or water bars that because of erosion, are more of trip hazards. Hikers are circumventing the timbers and causing trail braiding and resource damage. This project will replace all three (3) of the long wooden step assemblies with new construction in the same location as the existing. The one bridge will get new railing and decking. At one location, a new set of steps should be built where the terrain is extremely steep and to keep hikers confined to the desired alignment. New timber water bars or rolling grade dips will be installed where needed throughout the trail.