Matthiessen Lake & Giant's Bathtub via Bluff Trail
5 mi · ▲ 457 ft · 1 hr 54 min
Matthiessen Lake & Giant's Bathtub via Bluff Trail is a 5-mile out-and-back in Matthiessen State Park near Deer Park, IL. The route passes Matthiessen Lake and Giant's Bathtub. It climbs 457 ft, with sections as steep as 21% grade. It scores 12/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Matthiessen Lake & Giant's Bathtub via Bluff Trail
5 mi · ▲ 457 ft · 1 hr 54 min
Elevation 466–652 ft
Out & Back · Matthiessen State Park
Trailhead: 41.29826, -89.02606
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:42 AM · sunset 6:59 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading S.
- 50 ftPass Matthiessen Lake.
- 50 ftPass Giant's Bathtub.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Bluff Trail, heading SW.
- 0.6 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 1.3 miSharp left onto Matthiessen State Park Central Road, heading NW.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading NW.
- 0.2 miReach Matthiessen Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading NE.
- 0.3 miSharp right, heading NE.
- 1.3 miTurn left onto Bluff Trail, heading SE.
- 0.6 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.7 mi in (~49 min). Leave by 5:50 PM for the 6:59 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:01 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Cascade Falls–Lake Falls Loop, 6 lakes 1.6 mi · ▲ 292 ft
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