Yes three miles is a hike however was rewarded in seeing the actual waterfalls and enjoying watching families relaxing and playing in the water.įurther down I also saw the Sawmill Creek Bluff Overlook, which is an interesting site to see.Sawmill Creek Waterfall, Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve, Lemont, Illinois It was a good opportunity to hike and walk along the Main Trail, which is comprised of crushed gravel and enjoy the lush green trees along the way.
Fortunately there are maps available at the Information sites and I ran into a lady walking her dogs who pointed me in the right direction, also there were signs pointing in the direction of the waterfalls. The Rocky Glen Waterfall was three miles from where I parked and it took me awhile to find it. There are a few ares within the forest preserve where you can park, I decided to park in the parking right off of Northgate, which is Mile 0.0. It is a very well-maintained forest preserve.įirst time visiting Waterfall Glen so decided to check it out. But, all in all, Waterfall Glen has a fantastic trail system providing great enjoyment of the outdoors. One negative about the trail is the one major road crossing at busy Cass Avenue at Mile marker 9 (almost the end of the loop). Another nice feature in the preserve is a model-airplane field at Mile 3. There is a Des Plaines River overlook at Mile 5, but the view is mostly shrouded by trees. Miles 5-7 are quite hilly and have more bugs. About the loop trail, I would say the best stretch is the first five miles starting from the main parking lot at Cass Avenue and I-55. The beautiful Sawmill Creek Bluff Overlook is not too far from here also.
The waterfall is a prime attraction in the forest preserve so the small lot gets pretty full. This parking lot provides the closest access to Rocky Glen Waterfall (half mile walk). There are several access points for the loop trail with ample parking space, except the parking lot on Bluff Road. The scenery is beautiful all through with varied vegetation. The main trail is the loop trail which is about 9.4 miles long, and traverses through level meadows and challenging hilly sections. Occasionally, informative placards are posted along the trails about local history and biodiversity. The well maintained and well marked trails are wide enough so that two way traffic is not an issue. The trails are paved with fine crushed stone. I have biked and hiked the beautiful trails here quite often. Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve in Darien is an awesome place for recreation in nature. To reach Rocky Glen waterfall, take Cass Avenue 1.5 miles south of Northgate Road to Bluff Road, then drive three-quarters of a mile east to the parking lot. Turn right and go 400 feet to the parking lot. From I-55, take Cass Avenue to Northgate Road.
How do you reach Waterfall Glen? The main entrance is on Northgate Road. Waterfall Glen's prairies, savannas and oak-maple woodlands contain 740 native plant species and 300 species of mammals, birds, fish, amphibians and reptiles.
By the late 1800s, a mill on Sawmill Creek was turning out lumber and three quarries were yielding tons of limestone for constructing such landmarks as the Chicago Water Tower. Historically, long before Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet paddled through the Des Plaines River Valley in the mid-1600s, Native Americans were living along the surrounding limestone bluffs, including today's Signal Hill. It also features two sites for youth group camping and several old quarries that provide fishing opportunities to anglers 16 and older. The preserve also is known for its Sawmill Creek bluff overlook and 11 miles of trails popular with hikers, bicyclists, horseback riders and cross-country skiers. Known for its Rocky Glen waterfall, which actually is a dam, it is one of the District's most popular forest preserves and completely surrounds Argonne National Laboratory and also is home to a popular model airplane field. The 2,503-acre Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve in west suburban Darien is one of the most ecologically impressive parcels of open space in the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, if not all of northern Illinois.
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