Matthiessen State Park

Lake Falls–Matthiessen Lake, 3 lakes

4.2 mi · ▲ 461 ft · 1 hr 38 min

Lake Falls–Matthiessen Lake, 3 lakes is a 4.2-mile out-and-back in Matthiessen State Park near Deer Park, IL. The route passes Giant's Bathtub and Matthiessen Lake before reaching Lake Falls at the turnaround, 2.1 miles in. It climbs 461 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 15/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi466 – 653 ft4.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Matthiessen State Park Central Road 41.27936, -89.01885
Nearest town Deer Park, IL

Directions

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Lake Falls–Matthiessen Lake, 3 lakes

4.2 mi · ▲ 461 ft · 1 hr 38 min

Elevation 466–652 ft

Out & Back · Matthiessen State Park

Trailhead: Matthiessen State Park Central Road · 41.27936, -89.01885

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:42 AM · sunset 6:59 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
  2. 1.3 miTurn left onto Bluff Trail, heading NW.
  3. 0.6 miPass Giant's Bathtub.
  4. 100 ftPass Matthiessen Lake.
  5. 0.1 miReach Lake Falls, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  6. 0.8 miTurn right, heading E.
  7. 1.3 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

64% dirt36% gravel

Weather

Sunrise 6:42 AMSunset 6:59 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.3 mi in (~7 min). Leave by 6:32 PM for the 6:59 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:20 PM — 6 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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