AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Rock Cut State Park

Pierce Lake & Willow Creek Trail via Perryville Path

15.1 mi · ▲ 217 ft · 5 hr 9 min

Pierce Lake & Willow Creek Trail via Perryville Path is a 15.1-mile out-and-back in Rock Cut State Park near Panorama Valley, IL. The route reaches Pierce Lake. It is mostly level, with 217 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 3/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi761 – 909 ft15.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.27104, -88.97935
Nearest town Panorama Valley, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Pierce Lake & Willow Creek Trail via Perryville Path

15.1 mi · ▲ 217 ft · 5 hr 9 min

Elevation 760–909 ft

Out & Back · Rock Cut State Park

Trailhead: 42.27104, -88.97935

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:43 AM · sunset 6:57 PM

Transit-accessible: Argus @ Rockford Casino stop 643 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
  2. 150 ftBear left, heading N.
  3. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  4. 250 ftTurn right onto Perryville Path, heading NW.
  5. 3.1 miTurn left, heading N.
  6. 3.4 miTurn left, heading SE.
  7. 200 ftBear right, heading E.
  8. 200 ftContinue straight onto Willow Creek Trail, heading SE.
  9. 0.5 miPass Pierce Lake.
  10. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NE.
  11. 0.1 miBear left, heading NE.
  12. 0.3 miBear left, heading S.
  13. 50 ftSharp right, heading S.
  14. 50 ftReach Pierce Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  15. 50 ftSharp left, heading S.
  16. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  17. 0.3 miBear right, heading E.
  18. 0.8 miBear left, heading W.
  19. 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
  20. 3 miContinue straight onto Perryville Path, heading SE.
  21. 0.4 miTurn left, heading S.
  22. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  23. 3.1 miTurn left, heading S.
  24. 250 ftTurn right, heading S.
  25. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  26. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/pierce-lake-willow-creek-trail-out-back-24-km

Trail surface

92% paved4% dirt4% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:43 AMSunset 6:57 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.1 mi in (~103 min). Leave by 4:54 PM for the 6:57 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:54 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Argus @ Rockford Casino stop 643 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Hikes near Panorama Valley, Illinois