AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Matthiessen State Park

Bluff Trail

4.4 mi · ▲ 317 ft · 1 hr 38 min

Bluff Trail is a 4.4-mile out-and-back in Matthiessen State Park near Deer Park, IL. It climbs 317 ft, with sections as steep as 19% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 11/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi456 – 653 ft · steepest grade: 19%4.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.29417, -89.02844
Nearest town Deer Park, IL
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Bluff Trail

4.4 mi · ▲ 317 ft · 1 hr 38 min

Elevation 456–652 ft

Out & Back · Matthiessen State Park

Trailhead: 41.29417, -89.02844

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:42 AM · sunset 6:59 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
  2. 50 ftSharp left onto Bluff Trail, heading E.
  3. 0.3 miTurn right, heading SW.
  4. 1.3 miSharp left onto Matthiessen State Park Central Road, heading NW.
  5. 350 ftTurn left, heading W.
  6. 0.3 miBear left, heading W.
  7. 0.2 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  8. 0.2 miBear right, heading N.
  9. 0.3 miSharp right, heading NE.
  10. 1.3 miTurn left onto Bluff Trail, heading SE.
  11. 0.3 miSharp right, heading NW.
  12. 50 ftArrive 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/bluff-trail-out-back-7-km

Trail surface

61% dirt14% gravel25% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:42 AMSunset 6:59 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.3 mi in (~40 min). Leave by 5:58 PM for the 6:59 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:48 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Deer Park, Illinois