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Hike Jackson Falls and Cliffs Loop in Shawnee National Forest, Illinois - Stav is Lost

Hike Jackson Falls and Cliffs Loop Shawnee National Forest, IL

Class 1 4.5 miles 300 gain 2-4 hrs Loop
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude
DirectionsRoute MapGPX

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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photo protector Starting from the Jackson Falls Trailhead.
Starting from the Jackson Falls Trailhead.
photo protector No caption.
photo protector At the top of Jackson Falls.
At the top of Jackson Falls.
photo protector Heading south along the 048C trail.
Heading south along the 048C trail.
photo protector Along the top of the bluffs.
Along the top of the bluffs.
photo protector Looking back along the bluffs.
Looking back along the bluffs.
photo protector A mossy crack I thought was pretty.
A mossy crack I thought was pretty.
photo protector 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.
photo protector On the 049 trail, headed south.
On the 049 trail, headed south.
photo protector Gorgeous sandstone bluffs.
Gorgeous sandstone bluffs.
photo protector No caption.
photo protector No caption.
photo protector No caption.
photo protector No caption.
photo protector 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.
photo protector 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.
photo protector Little Bay Creek.
Little Bay Creek.
photo protector 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.
photo protector Approaching Jackson Falls.
Approaching Jackson Falls.
photo protector No caption.
photo protector Jackson Falls.
Jackson Falls.
photo protector Jackson Falls is located in a really wonderful grotto of sandstone.
Jackson Falls is located in a really wonderful grotto of sandstone.
photo protector 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.
photo protector Some more monoliths along the 049 trail.
Some more monoliths along the 049 trail.
photo protector 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.
photo protector No caption.
photo protector Along the way, paralleling a railroad track.
Along the way, paralleling a railroad track.
photo protector 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.
photo protector My chosen social trail up to the rim.
My chosen social trail up to the rim.
photo protector On top of the rim, looking down into the bluffs.
On top of the rim, looking down into the bluffs.
photo protector 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.
photo protector 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.

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