Pere Marquette State Park

Lover’s Leap–Fern Hollow Trail, 3 sights

3.4 mi · ▲ 493 ft · 1 hr 23 min

Lover’s Leap–Fern Hollow Trail, 3 sights is a 3.4-mile out-and-back in Pere Marquette State Park near Marshall Landing, IL. The route reaches Lover’s Leap at the turnaround, 1.7 miles in. It climbs 493 ft, with sections as steep as 17% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 53/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi574 – 801 ft · steepest grade: 17%3.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Hickory South Trail 38.97851, -90.53074
Nearest town Marshall Landing, IL

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Lover’s Leap–Fern Hollow Trail, 3 sights

3.4 mi · ▲ 493 ft · 1 hr 23 min

Elevation 575–801 ft

Out & Back · Pere Marquette State Park

Trailhead: Hickory South Trail · 38.97851, -90.53074

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

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Hickory South Trail, heading NE.
  2. 0.2 miSharp right onto Fern Hollow Trail, heading E.
  3. 1 miTurn left onto Rattle Snake Trail, heading E.
  4. 0.5 miReach Lover’s Leap, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  5. 0.5 miTurn right onto Fern Hollow Trail, heading NE.
  6. 1 miSharp left onto Hickory South Trail, heading W.
  7. 0.2 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 0.2 mi in (~6 min). Leave by 6:38 PM for the 7:04 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:24 PM — 7 min before dark.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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