Bluff Trail
5.9 mi · ▲ 545 ft · 2 hr 14 min
Bluff Trail is a 5.9-mile out-and-back in Matthiessen State Park near Deer Park, IL. It climbs 545 ft, with sections as steep as 25% grade. It scores 11/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi466 – 653 ft · steepest grade: 25%6.2 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 41.30306, -89.02967
Nearest town Deer Park, IL
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Bluff Trail
5.9 mi · ▲ 545 ft · 2 hr 14 min
Elevation 466–652 ft
Out & Back · Matthiessen State Park
Trailhead: 41.30306, -89.02967
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:42 AM · sunset 6:59 PM
- Start at the trailhead, heading S.
- 0.7 miTurn right onto Bluff Trail, heading S.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 1.3 miSharp left onto Matthiessen State Park Central Road, heading NW.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading NW.
- 0.2 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading NE.
- 0.3 miSharp right, heading N.
- 1.3 miTurn left onto Bluff Trail, heading SE.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading N.
- 0.6 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
45% dirt13% gravel42% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:42 AMSunset 6:59 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.1 mi in (~59 min). Leave by 5:39 PM for the 6:59 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:13 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
More from this trailhead
- Bluff Trail 4.9 mi · ▲ 492 ft
- Bluff Trail 2.1 mi · ▲ 390 ft
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