Everett McKinley Dirksen Park

Cliff Trail & Spine

3.2 mi · ▲ 346 ft · 1 hr 14 min

Cliff Trail & Spine is a 3.2-mile out-and-back in Everett McKinley Dirksen Park near Marquette Heights, IL. It climbs 346 ft, with sections as steep as 19% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 15/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi515 – 640 ft · steepest grade: 19%3.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Archery Range Trailhead 40.60600, -89.60416
Nearest town Marquette Heights, IL

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Cliff Trail & Spine

3.2 mi · ▲ 346 ft · 1 hr 14 min

Elevation 515–640 ft

Out & Back · Everett McKinley Dirksen Park

Trailhead: Archery Range Trailhead · 40.60600, -89.60416

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:45 AM · sunset 7:01 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Archery Range Trailhead, heading N.
  2. 500 ftTurn right onto Archery Range, heading SE.
  3. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Kevlar, heading NE.
  4. 0.1 miTurn right onto Alt Kevlar, heading NE.
  5. 250 ftBear left onto Yellow, heading N.
  6. 0.3 miTurn right onto Scott's Extension, heading N.
  7. 0.6 miTurn right onto Tarpaper, heading W.
  8. 0.3 miBear right onto Cliff Trail, heading E.
  9. 1.3 miTurn right onto Yellow, heading W.
  10. 50 ftSharp left onto Spine, heading W.
  11. 300 ftSharp left onto Alt Kevlar, heading W.
  12. 100 ftTurn right onto Kevlar, heading SW.
  13. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Archery Range, heading S.
  14. 0.2 miTurn left onto Archery Range Trailhead, heading NW.
  15. 250 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

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

Trail surface

98% dirt2% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:45 AMSunset 7:01 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.4 mi in (~13 min). Leave by 6:27 PM for the 7:01 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:27 PM — 1 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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