Matthiessen State Park

Lake Falls–Matthiessen Lake, 5 sights

3.9 mi · ▲ 347 ft · 1 hr 28 min

Lake Falls–Matthiessen Lake, 5 sights is a 3.9-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, 1.9 miles in. It climbs 347 ft, with sections as steep as 16% grade. It scores 20/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi466 – 646 ft · steepest grade: 16%4.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.28369, -89.01972
Nearest town Deer Park, IL

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Lake Falls–Matthiessen Lake, 5 sights

3.9 mi · ▲ 347 ft · 1 hr 28 min

Elevation 466–646 ft

Out & Back · Matthiessen State Park

Trailhead: 41.28369, -89.01972

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

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
  2. 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
  3. 0.9 miTurn left onto Bluff Trail, heading NW.
  4. 0.6 miPass Giant's Bathtub.
  5. 50 ftTurn right onto Canyon Trail, heading NE.
  6. 0.2 miSharp left, heading E.
  7. 50 ftContinue straight onto Bluff Trail, heading E.
  8. 350 ftPass Matthiessen Lake.
  9. 450 ftTurn right, heading N.
  10. 50 ftPass Lake Falls.
  11. 2 miBear right, heading E.
  12. 50 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

57% dirt42% gravel1% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:42 AMSunset 6:59 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.0 mi in (~1 min). Leave by 6:38 PM for the 6:59 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:14 PM — 12 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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