Clarke County High Point Trip Report
20 areas (1,220+ ft)
Date: March 7, 2004
Author: Bob Schwab
Andy Martin’s book reports 22 areas for Clarke County, but due to overlaps
across quadrant lines, there are only 20 unique contours that must be investigated.
two areas immediately south of the Murray railroad tracks
From Exit 33 on I-29, drive west on US 34 for 8.6 miles to the junction with
Route R-15, just south of Murray. Pull in and park at the blue water tower.
This is near spot elevation 1223 which is in the middle of the intersection.
This large area (area 1) runs north and south about one mile in each direction.
It sits mostly in bean fields just west of R-15. The water tower provides a
good spot to park and wander around in the middle portion of this contour.
If you hike northwest about 0.4 mile into the field, you will find another very
small spot (area 2), which is located due west of a remaining lonely trailer.
Going east across the road from the tower, area 1 spills into a cornfield.
About 0.5 mile north more high ground can be found along the tree line that runs
west behind a white house. Continue north and park in the propane lot to check
out the upper part of this contour. The area to the west is in corn, and north
of the parking lot the area crosses to the east in front of the school. Another
spot elevation 1223 is located north of here, near a house with a large boulder
out front. You can also drive to the south of US 34 and find an access road to
the west that will allow you to get to the bean fields which continue south for
almost another mile. This is a huge area.
three areas immediately north of the Murray railroad tracks
Continue north on R-15 about .25 mile after crossing the railroad tracks.
Notice how high the ground feels near Seventh Street. The ground just south of
the park, near the white house (on the west) with the brush and vacant lot
seemed as high as any spot in town. This is another massive contour (area 3)
which goes about 2 miles north and 1.5 miles west from the railroad tracks.
There’s a spot elevation 1222 right in the road about 1 mile north. In 1.5
miles, you can turn west on Lilac Street (H-R2) where the bean fields on both
sides can be assessed. The contour then runs west for 1 mile, mostly in
cornfields. 20th Avenue bisects this corn region. There are also two tiny
spots (areas 4 and 5) in the fields about 0.6 mile west of the park in town and
0.25 north of the railroad tracks. They have no noticeable rise and clearly
aren’t the high points in this county, but can be accessed from the south near
the tracks.
one area along the county line in sections 18/19-73N-27W
I felt that area 6 was the best spot to visit of the bunch. There is prominence
here and an obvious rise within the contour. Besides the view from the top is
much better than a flat bean field. From the railroad tracks, drive north 1.5
miles on R-15 to Lilac Street (H-R2). Go west on Lilac 1 mile, then north (on
120th Avenue) 1 mile, then west (on Miami) 0.5 mile, then north (on 115th
Avenue) 1.5 miles, then west (on Oakland) 0.5 mile, then north (on 110th Avenue)
1.5 mile, then west (on Page Street) 1 mile to the county line. There is a
muddy road going south up the hill (Clarke-Union Avenue), but I chose to park
and entered the field to the south. Hike south up the bermed slopes into a
hayfield. At 0.4 mile, encounter a fence that separates the hay from a
cornfield to the south. Continue south into the corn and find the spot you
think is highest. The hike was particularly satisfying (as was the view) after
my earlier explorations trudging around in the bean/corn fields near and south
of town. As I said, in better weather you could drive partly up the hill and
then hike east into the field, but the hike from the north is more satisfying.
four areas in section 28-72N-27W
Return to Murray and the intersection of US 34 and R-15 (near the blue tower).
Drive south on R-15 for 1 mile and park along the edge of the road near the crest.
Hike west into the field to explore the extreme southern tip of area 1.
From here, it’s just a short hike southwest to area 7. Return to your car and
proceed another mile south to Hoover Street. Turn right on Hoover and go west
0.4 mile. Park here and enter the corn/bean fields to the north. There is a
contour directly north (area 8) and a second one somewhat to the northwest (area 9)
in corn and hay. This second area can also be accessed from the west by
following the fence line east from 120th Avenue. Drive west another 0.5 mile on
Hoover to a third contour (area 10) that crosses the road here. Most of this
area is to the north is in a bean field.
three areas in section 32-72N-27W
From the corner of Hoover Street and 120th Avenue, go west 0.2 mile on Hoover
and park. Hike south into the hay (which soon switches over to corn) to find a
small crescent shaped contour (area 11). Another small contour is farther to
the southwest in the cornfield (area 12). Return to your car, go east then
south on 120th Avenue for 0.5 mile. Turn right on Green Street and drive about
0.65 mile to a pipeline marker on the north side of the road. Park here and
hike northeast into the flat hay/bean field. The spot (area 13) is west of the
trees that mark the 1/2 section line, and is very close to the pipeline.
five areas in section 4-71N-27W
Return to 120th Avenue and drive south 1 mile to Forest Street. Turn left and
go east about 0.25 mile. Find a field access near the fence line going north.
Park here and hike north into the bean/corn fields to visit a cluster of three
small areas (14-16) that straddle the fence. None of these has much rise.
A more significant diagonal contour (area 17) lies to the northeast straddling
some crop and pastureland. It’s only about 0.3 mile farther northeast from area
16 in the cornfield.
Return to your car and drive east to the farmhouse on the corner of Forest and
R-15. Ask here for permission to visit the final spot (area 18) which sits
northwest of the farm in a bean field. Drive north on R-15 about 0.25 mile to a
crest and park here. Hike 0.2 mile west into the bean field to visit area 18.
two areas in section 33-72N-27W
Drive north 0.5 mile to the farm on the left (#2161) to get permission to wander
in the bean/corn fields here. Another 0.25 mile farther north (or 1 mile north
from Forest Street), you’ll find a place to park on the west side of the road
near a gate. This is spot elevation 1222 (a part of area 19). The contour
crosses the road from the east and extends to the northwest for over 0.35 mile.
The roadbed appears to be slightly higher than the surrounding fields, but it
was so windy and cold when I visited, my hand leveling was inconclusive. Walk
northwest into the field about 0.3 mile to the center of area 19, then angle
southwest and hike about 0.5 mile to the last contour to be investigated (area 20).
This spot is in the field directly behind the farm (#2161) on R-15 (that’s
why you need permission). I suspect on a better day, a careful hand level check
might convince you to skip this one, given the higher elevations encountered in
some of the other areas.