AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Mississippi Palisades State Park

Aspen Trail & Bittersweet Trail

2.7 mi · ▲ 422 ft · 1 hr 7 min

Aspen Trail & Bittersweet Trail is a 2.7-mile out-and-back in Mississippi Palisades State Park near Marcus, IL. It climbs 422 ft, with sections as steep as 31% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 47/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi637 – 863 ft · steepest grade: 31%2.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Bittersweet Trail 42.14535, -90.16024
Nearest town Marcus, IL
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Aspen Trail & Bittersweet Trail

2.7 mi · ▲ 422 ft · 1 hr 7 min

Elevation 636–862 ft

Out & Back · Mississippi Palisades State Park

Trailhead: Bittersweet Trail · 42.14535, -90.16024

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:47 AM · sunset 7:03 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Bittersweet Trail, heading N.
  2. 0.9 miContinue straight onto Aspen Trail, heading E.
  3. 0.5 miReach Bittersweet Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  4. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Bittersweet Trail, heading W.
  5. 0.9 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/aspen-trail-out-back

Trail surface

100% dirt

Weather

Sunrise 6:47 AMSunset 7:03 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.2 mi in (~9 min). Leave by 6:35 PM for the 7:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:22 PM — 9 min before dark.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Hikes near Marcus, Illinois