Johnson County: Swamps, Sandstone, and History

Johnson County offers a range of natural and historical attractions: sandstone formations, cypress-tupelo swamps, and designated trails sit alongside sites connected to the Trail of Tears. In Vienna, visitors can also explore a community museum with local art collections and a city park. If you’re planning a hotel stay, you can organize your outings around nature, outdoor activities, or history.

Sandstone, Rock, and Water

At Ferne Clyffe State Park, Hawks’ Cave is a 150-foot rock overhang. Big Rocky Hollow Trail features a 100-foot waterfall that flows intermittently. If this particular waterfall is important to your visit, keep its intermittent flow in mind when planning.

Round Bluff is an isolated spur of the massive Pennsylvanian sandstone formations that form the gorges of Ferne Clyffe. On the south side of Round Bluff, sandstone barrens provide habitat for prickly pear cactus, rock pink, and blue curls. This natural attraction brings together striking rock formations and a distinctive plant habitat.

From Goreville, you can reach Round Bluff Nature Preserve via Highway 37. The access point is one mile south of the entrance to Ferne Clyffe State Park.

Wetlands and Trails at the Cache River

Heron Pond is a shallow wetland characterized by cypress and tupelo trees. The easy Todd Fink-Heron Pond Trail is 1.5 miles long. Features include a truss bridge over the Cache River and a floating boardwalk that extends into the middle of the cypress pond at Heron Pond. The trail description therefore includes both a river crossing and a boardwalk section extending into the pond.

The Lower Cache River Trail offers a different way to explore: it is a 3-to-6-mile canoe route through a cypress-tupelo swamp. The Cache River State Natural Area also has more than 18 miles of designated hiking trails; difficulty can vary from trail to trail. Accordingly, the easy Todd Fink-Heron Pond Trail and these trails cannot be planned with the same difficulty rating, while the canoe route is a separate option.

The Cache River State Natural Area spans Johnson, Massac, and Pulaski Counties. It includes the three management units of Little Black Slough, Lower Cache River Swamps, and Glass Hill. You can also visit the swamp at Heron Pond-Little Black Slough Nature Preserve in Johnson County.

Places and History

In 1838, McCorkle Creek on the east side of Vienna was a resting place for people traveling along the Trail of Tears. Joseph McCorkle allowed the Cherokee to camp there. He also operated a gristmill at the creek, where the Cherokee traded for food. These specific places and people give this part of the Trail of Tears story a local connection.

The National Park Service’s list, last updated April 24, 2025, identifies the Wayside Store and Bridges Tavern Site in Johnson County as a certified partner site of the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail.

The Forman Depot in Vienna is a community museum with local art collections. Check visitor details before your trip. Vienna City Park has picnic and restroom facilities, volleyball nets, and a playground for children. If these facilities are important to your plans, check the latest information before visiting.

Discover more destinations: Elvira, Kane, Woodford County, Bond County, Sangamon County, Lee County, Dupage, Kankakee County.

For the broader travel overview: Illinois.