Jackson Falls and Cliffs Loop in Shawnee National Forest, IL

Hike Jackson Falls and Cliffs Loop Shawnee National Forest, IL

Class 1 4.5 miles 300 gain 2-4 hrs Loop Oct 26, 2016
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Jackson Falls and Cliffs Loop GPX Track

I need to offset my substantial website costs somehow! You can download a hike/drive GPX to assist you here. Before sharing my GPX tracks with others, please remember my site is otherwise a free resource.

Jackson Falls is a popular climbing area in Illinois, but I didn't realize this until I got here and saw the bolted routes on the beautiful sandstone bluffs along much of my hike. There is a trail system in the area as well, but only parts of it are particularly interesting, it seems. I cut out what looked like a long and boring section farther south by leaving the trail (refer to attached map for dotted line where I left the trail), ensuring I'd get the highlights plus the base of Jackson Falls.

From the parking lot, I followed a well-beaten trail to the top of Jackson Falls. With gear (or by doing a stout Class 3/4 move down), you can get down to the base of Jackson Falls via a mossy slab, but my route assumes this isn't part of your intended hike. Instead, I walked south along the top of the bluffs on the 048C trail until it ended by following a gully down to get to the bluffs below, along the 049 trail. I followed this further south through some really gorgeous sandstone bluffs until they tapered out. Rather than continue along a less-interesting trail, I decided to head through the forest off-trail to meet back up with 049 as it parallels Little Bay Creek.

From here, I folowed 049 northeast to the base of Jackson Falls, then backtracked and followed the bluffs north along Little Bay Creek until a series of social trails (not sure which was the official trail) led me back up to the rim above the bluffs.

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I'm not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!

Starting from the Jackson Falls Trailhead.
Starting from the Jackson Falls Trailhead.
Image 1 from gallery
At the top of Jackson Falls.
At the top of Jackson Falls.
Heading south along the 048C trail.
Heading south along the 048C trail.
Along the top of the bluffs.
Along the top of the bluffs.
Looking back along the bluffs.
Looking back along the bluffs.
A mossy crack I thought was pretty.
A mossy crack I thought was pretty.
The 048C trail ends by going down this gully, leading to the 049 trail.
The 048C trail ends by going down this gully, leading to the 049 trail.
On the 049 trail, headed south.
On the 049 trail, headed south.
Gorgeous sandstone bluffs.
Gorgeous sandstone bluffs.
Image 10 from gallery
Image 11 from gallery
Image 12 from gallery
Image 13 from gallery
The 049 trail heading south got less interesting, so I turned right, leaving the trail to rejoin the other side of the 049 loop.
The 049 trail heading south got less interesting, so I turned right, leaving the trail to rejoin the other side of the 049 loop.
Back on the 049 trail after rejoining, heading north along Little Bay Creek.
Back on the 049 trail after rejoining, heading north along Little Bay Creek.
Little Bay Creek.
Little Bay Creek.
Getting back into the thick of the sandstone bluffs, just south of Jackson Falls.
Getting back into the thick of the sandstone bluffs, just south of Jackson Falls.
Approaching Jackson Falls.
Approaching Jackson Falls.
Image 19 from gallery
Jackson Falls.
Jackson Falls.
Jackson Falls is located in a really wonderful grotto of sandstone.
Jackson Falls is located in a really wonderful grotto of sandstone.
Back along the trail, heading north on 049. 049 trail doesn't officially continue up to the rim (according to the Jackson Falls map), but a social trail led me back up.
Back along the trail, heading north on 049. 049 trail doesn't officially continue up to the rim (according to the Jackson Falls map), but a social trail led me back up.
Some more monoliths along the 049 trail.
Some more monoliths along the 049 trail.
049 ends, but the bluffs and a social trail continue north. I went on.
049 ends, but the bluffs and a social trail continue north. I went on.
Image 25 from gallery
Along the way, paralleling a railroad track.
Along the way, paralleling a railroad track.
A particularly interesting grotto before I found a social trail up to the rim. This was the northernmost point of the bluffs that I went. They may have continued, but a satellite map view made me think this was the best of it.
A particularly interesting grotto before I found a social trail up to the rim. This was the northernmost point of the bluffs that I went. They may have continued, but a satellite map view made me think this was the best of it.
My chosen social trail up to the rim.
My chosen social trail up to the rim.
On top of the rim, looking down into the bluffs.
On top of the rim, looking down into the bluffs.
Heading east off-trail, following the rim, until I could pick up the official 048 trail.
Heading east off-trail, following the rim, until I could pick up the official 048 trail.
One more shot down into the bluffs from above. This was a bluff located close to the Falls.
One more shot down into the bluffs from above. This was a bluff located close to the Falls.

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!