Hickory Viewpoint–Goat Cliff, 13 sights
6.8 mi · ▲ 1,152 ft · 2 hr 51 min
Hickory Viewpoint–Goat Cliff, 13 sights is a 6.8-mile out-and-back in Pere Marquette State Park near Marshall Landing, IL. The route passes Lover’s Leap, Hickory Viewpoint, Goat Cliff Viewpoint and 3 more before reaching Rock outcrop at the turnaround, 3.3 miles in. It climbs 1,152 ft, with sections as steep as 22% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 32/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Hickory Viewpoint–Goat Cliff, 13 sights
6.8 mi · ▲ 1,152 ft · 2 hr 51 min
Elevation 458–856 ft
Out & Back · Pere Marquette State Park
Trailhead: Rattle Snake Trail · 38.97889, -90.51193
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:49 AM · sunset 7:04 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Rattle Snake Trail, heading SW.
- 50 ftPass Lover’s Leap.
- 0.5 miTurn right onto Fern Hollow Trail, heading NE.
- 1 miBear right onto Hickory North Trail, heading NW.
- 0.8 miTurn right onto Hickory Trail, heading SW.
- 450 ftBear left onto Oak Trail, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear right onto Hickory Trail, heading SW.
- 250 ftBear right, heading W.
- 50 ftPass Hickory Viewpoint.
- 250 ftTurn right onto Goat Cliff Trail, heading W.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 50 ftPass Goat Cliff Viewpoint.
- 50 ftPass Blue Ash.
- 0.2 miPass Goat Cliff Viewpoint.
- 50 ftPass Goat Cliff.
- 50 ftBear left onto Pioneer Trail, heading NE.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading S.
- 50 ftPass Rock outcrop.
- 350 ftTurn right onto Hickory South Trail, heading S.
- 1.5 miSharp left onto Fern Hollow Trail, heading E.
- 1.4 miBear right onto Rattle Snake Trail, heading E.
- 0.5 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.2 mi in (~68 min). Leave by 5:36 PM for the 7:04 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:24 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Rattle Snake Trail Trailhead
- Hickory North Sunset Point–Lover’s Leap, 6 sights 4.7 mi · ▲ 887 ft
- McAdams Peak–Hickory Viewpoint, 7 sights 4.9 mi · ▲ 951 ft
- Twin Springs–Stump Lake, 10 sights 5.6 mi · ▲ 1,303 ft
- McAdams Peak–Hickory Viewpoint, 8 sights 6.1 mi · ▲ 1,108 ft
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