AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Pere Marquette State Park

Sierra Falls–Spring, 8 sights

7.7 mi · ▲ 1,198 ft · 3 hr 10 min

Sierra Falls–Spring, 8 sights is a 7.7-mile out-and-back in Pere Marquette State Park near Camden, IL. The route passes Confluence Overlook, Camdem Hollow Sunset Point and Sierra Falls before reaching Spring at the turnaround, 3.8 miles in. It climbs 1,198 ft, with sections as steep as 17% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 49/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi512 – 860 ft · steepest grade: 17%7.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Confluence Overlook Trail 38.97402, -90.46715
Nearest town Camden, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Sierra Falls–Spring, 8 sights

7.7 mi · ▲ 1,198 ft · 3 hr 10 min

Elevation 511–860 ft

Out & Back · Pere Marquette State Park

Trailhead: Confluence Overlook Trail · 38.97402, -90.46715

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:48 AM · sunset 7:04 PM

  1. Start on Confluence Overlook Trail, heading N.
  2. 50 ftPass Confluence Overlook.
  3. 1 miTurn right onto Camdem Hollow Trail, heading NE.
  4. 150 ftTurn right onto Fire Trail, heading E.
  5. 50 ftPass Camdem Hollow Sunset Point.
  6. 0.5 miSharp left onto Sierra Club v. Kenny Trail, heading NW.
  7. 450 ftPass Sierra Falls.
  8. 0.5 miTurn right onto Camdem Hollow Trail, heading E.
  9. 1.8 miPass Spring.
  10. 50 ftReach Sierra Falls, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  11. 1.8 miTurn left onto Sierra Club v. Kenny Trail, heading NW.
  12. 0.6 miSharp right onto Fire Trail, heading SE.
  13. 0.5 miTurn left onto Camdem Hollow Trail, heading W.
  14. 150 ftTurn left onto Confluence Overlook Trail, heading SW.
  15. 1 miArrive 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/sierra-falls-spring-out-back-8-sights-12-km

Trail surface

100% dirt

Weather

Sunrise 6:48 AMSunset 7:04 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.1 mi in (~64 min). Leave by 5:40 PM for the 7:04 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:19 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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