Rock Cut State Park

Willow Creek Trail

3.9 mi · ▲ 115 ft · 1 hr 21 min

Willow Creek Trail is a 3.9-mile out-and-back in Rock Cut State Park near Machesney Park, IL. It is mostly level, with 115 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi738 – 837 ft4.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Willow Creek Trail 42.35500, -89.02761
Nearest town Machesney Park, IL

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Willow Creek Trail

3.9 mi · ▲ 115 ft · 1 hr 21 min

Elevation 739–838 ft

Out & Back · Rock Cut State Park

Trailhead: Willow Creek Trail · 42.35500, -89.02761

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

Bikes allowed on the whole route · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Willow Creek Trail, heading E.
  2. 1.4 miContinue straight onto Perryville Path, heading N.
  3. 0.6 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  4. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Willow Creek Trail, heading S.
  5. 1.3 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

97% paved3% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:42 AMSunset 6:59 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.6 mi in (~40 min). Leave by 5:58 PM for the 6:59 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:52 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Bikes allowed on the whole route
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Willow Creek Trail Trailhead