Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Route
Route allows visitors to discover the natural and historical heritage of southern Illinois, offering a view of the floodplain where the Mississippi, Missouri, and Illinois rivers join together. Areas of interest include: the Camp River Dubois State Historic Site, which commemorates the beginning of Lewis and Clark's expedition to the Pacific; the historic city of Alton, where Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas held their final debate in the race for U.S. Senate; the 25-mile Sam Vadalabene Bike Trail, which parallels the Mississippi River and is one of the most scenic bike routes in the region; and the town of Elsah, one of the only towns to be put on the National Historic Register in its entirety.Start and Endpoint: The 33-mile byway runs from Pere Marquette State Park along IL 100, IL 143, and IL 3 to south of the city of Hartford.
For further information, contact: Alton Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau
Ohio River Scenic Byway
The 943-mile byway winds across Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, telling the story of the Ohio River, which has shaped the landscape, people, and economics of the region since its beginning 10,000 years ago. The 188-mile Illinois section of the byway includes: Fort Massac State Park, featuring a reconstruction of the timber fortification (built in 1794), a museum, interpretive programs, and opportunities for camping, hiking, boating, and hunting; Fort Defiance State Park, which commemorates the Civil War Fort Defiance, commanded by General U.S. Grant; the Trail of Tears, where the Cherokee passed through southern Illinois on their tragic journey; and Shawnee National Forest, which includes Garden of the Gods, named for its impressive rock formations.Start and Endpoint: Byway winds from Saline and Gallatin counties on SR 146, following the Ohio River south through Hardin and Pope counties. It then runs west through Massac and Pulaski counties, ending at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers at Cairo.
For further information, contact: Southernmost Illinois Tourism Bureau
