Backbone Ridge

Backbone Ridge: crowds and conditions

Typical pattern: moderate; weekends busier. Been there recently? Post today’s status and it shows here for the next traveller.

Status options for this viewpoint: Open, good conditions · Very crowded · Approach road bad · Closed / not accessible.

Best time to visit Backbone Ridge

Season: October to February for cool, clear air; July to September for mist and greenery.

Busiest days: Weekends and long holidays.

Crowd: Moderate; weekends busier.

Typical week: Mon light · Tue light · Wed light · Thu light · Fri light · Sat busy · Sun busy.

How to reach Backbone Ridge — distance from nearby cities

Coordinates: 37.63793, -89.51029. Road distances are estimates; the road-trip planner uses real routes and adds stops worth the detour.

Places to visit near Backbone Ridge

• Clear Springs Wilderness · sanctuary · Union · ~13 km · Must-see
• Little Grand Canyon · sanctuary · Jackson · ~14 km · Must-see
• Pomona Natural Bridge · sanctuary · Jackson · ~18 km · Must-see
• Bald Knob Wilderness · sanctuary · Union · ~20 km · Must-see
• Bald Knob Cross of Peace · fort · Union · ~22 km · Must-see
• Lake Murphysboro State Park · lake · Jackson · ~25 km · Must-see
• Cedar Lake Dam · lake · Jackson · ~25 km · Must-see
• Kinkaid Lake · lake · Jackson · ~25 km · Must-see
• Trail of Tears State Forest · sanctuary · Union · ~25 km · Must-see
• Chautauqua Lake · lake · Jackson · ~26 km · Must-see
• WSIU-FM (Carbondale) · lake · Jackson · ~32 km · Must-see
• Union County State Fish and Wildlife Area · sanctuary · Union · ~35 km · Must-see
• Giant City State Park · sanctuary · Jackson · ~35 km · Must-see
• McKendree Chapel · church · Alexander · ~38 km · Must-see
• Piney Creek Ravine Nature Preserve · sanctuary · Randolph · ~39 km · Must-see
• Little Grassy Marina · lake · Williamson · ~41 km · Must-see
• Devil's Island Wildlife Management Area · sanctuary · Cape Girardeau · ~41 km · Must-see
• Devil's Kitchen Lake · lake · Williamson · ~47 km · Must-see

See everything within a day’s drive of Backbone Ridge

Other hill stations & viewpoints near Backbone Ridge

• Jackson Hill · viewpoint · Scott · ~67 km · Must-see
• Haney Hill · viewpoint · Randolph · ~73 km · Must-see
• Bidwell Hollow · viewpoint · Randolph · ~74 km · Must-see
• Mertell Hill · viewpoint · Randolph · ~75 km · Must-see
• Bird Hill · viewpoint · Scott · ~81 km · Must-see
• Big Hill · viewpoint · Randolph · ~84 km · Must-see
• Henry Hollow · viewpoint · Randolph · ~85 km · Must-see
• Gobble Hollow · viewpoint · Randolph · ~85 km · Must-see
• Lick Hollow · viewpoint · Randolph · ~86 km · Must-see
• Bain Hill · viewpoint · Randolph · ~86 km · Must-see

All hill stations & viewpoints in Illinois

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