Pere Marquette State Park

McAdams Peak–Cedar Hill, 8 sights

15.3 mi · ▲ 1,342 ft · 5 hr 46 min

McAdams Peak–Cedar Hill, 8 sights is a 15.3-mile out-and-back in Pere Marquette State Park near Camden, IL. The route passes Camdem Hollow Sunset Point, Cedar Hill, Stump Lake and Rock outcrop before reaching McAdams Peak at the turnaround, 7.6 miles in. It climbs 1,342 ft, with sections as steep as 20% grade. It scores 15/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi433 – 879 ft · steepest grade: 20%15.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Powerline East Trail 38.99928, -90.46906
Nearest town Camden, IL

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

McAdams Peak–Cedar Hill, 8 sights

15.3 mi · ▲ 1,342 ft · 5 hr 46 min

Elevation 432–880 ft

Out & Back · Pere Marquette State Park

Trailhead: Powerline East Trail · 38.99928, -90.46906

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:48 AM · sunset 7:04 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Powerline East Trail, heading S.
  2. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Camdem Hollow Trail, heading SW.
  3. 0.7 miPass Camdem Hollow Sunset Point.
  4. 200 ftTurn left onto Confluence Overlook Trail, heading SE.
  5. 0.3 miBear right onto Pulltight, heading SE.
  6. 1.4 miSharp left onto Persimmon Trail, heading SE.
  7. 1.1 miContinue straight onto Sam Vadalabene Bike Trail, heading SW.
  8. 3.1 miPass Cedar Hill.
  9. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  10. 150 ftTurn left onto Dogwood, heading NW.
  11. 50 ftPass Stump Lake.
  12. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Ridge Trail, heading NW.
  13. 150 ftPass Rock outcrop.
  14. 200 ftBear right, heading N.
  15. 0.1 miSharp left, heading N.
  16. 50 ftReach McAdams Peak, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  17. 0.1 miBear right, heading N.
  18. 450 ftContinue straight onto Dogwood, heading N.
  19. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  20. 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
  21. 1.9 miContinue straight onto Sam Vadalabene Bike Trail, heading E.
  22. 1.3 miContinue straight onto Persimmon Trail, heading NE.
  23. 1.1 miSharp right onto Pulltight, heading E.
  24. 1.4 miBear left onto Confluence Overlook Trail, heading N.
  25. 0.3 miTurn right onto Camdem Hollow Trail, heading W.
  26. 0.8 miContinue straight onto Powerline East Trail, heading NE.
  27. 0.4 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

59% dirt40% paved1% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:48 AMSunset 7:04 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.7 mi in (~19 min). Leave by 6:25 PM for the 7:04 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:37 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Powerline East Trail Trailhead