Oct 26, 2016 — 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.
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