Pere Marquette State Park

Hickory North Sunset Point–Lover’s Leap, 6 sights

6.7 mi · ▲ 1,175 ft · 2 hr 49 min

Hickory North Sunset Point–Lover’s Leap, 6 sights is a 6.7-mile out-and-back in Pere Marquette State Park near Marshall Landing, IL. The route passes Lover’s Leap before reaching Hickory North Sunset Point at the turnaround, 3.3 miles in. It climbs 1,175 ft, with sections as steep as 20% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 51/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi440 – 856 ft · steepest grade: 20%7.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 38.97080, -90.50468
Nearest town Marshall Landing, IL

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Hickory North Sunset Point–Lover’s Leap, 6 sights

6.7 mi · ▲ 1,175 ft · 2 hr 49 min

Elevation 440–856 ft

Out & Back · Pere Marquette State Park

Trailhead: 38.97080, -90.50468

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:49 AM · sunset 7:04 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
  2. 0.2 miSharp left, heading W.
  3. 0.7 miTurn left, heading NW.
  4. 0.1 miBear left onto Rattle Snake Trail, heading W.
  5. 100 ftPass Lover’s Leap.
  6. 0.6 miTurn right onto Fern Hollow Trail, heading NE.
  7. 1 miBear right onto Hickory North Trail, heading W.
  8. 0.8 miTurn left onto Hickory Trail, heading S.
  9. 250 ftBear left, heading SE.
  10. 250 ftReach Hickory North Sunset Point, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  11. 0.1 miTurn right onto Hickory North Trail, heading E.
  12. 0.8 miBear left onto Fern Hollow Trail, heading SE.
  13. 1 miTurn left onto Rattle Snake Trail, heading E.
  14. 0.6 miBear right, heading E.
  15. 0.1 miTurn right, heading E.
  16. 0.7 miSharp right, heading SE.
  17. 0.1 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

100% dirt

Weather

Sunrise 6:49 AMSunset 7:04 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.1 mi in (~96 min). Leave by 5:08 PM for the 7:04 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:46 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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