Jackson Falls in Southern Illinois (Hiking, Climbing & Camping)

Jackson Falls is one of the best waterfalls and recreation areas in Southern Illinois. Nestled in Shawnee National Forest, Jackson Falls is a popular area to visit for hikers, rock climbers, and equestrians.

Living close to Shawnee National Forest, we have explored the area a ton and Jackson Falls is one of our favorites.

In this article, we’re going to cover everything you need to know to visit Jackson Falls, Illinois. 

We’re going to give you all the details on not only the waterfall and how to get to it. You’ll also learn about camping in the area, rock-climbing at Jackson Falls, and what to expect at the trailhead.

Keep reading for all of the need-to-know information about one of the best waterfalls in Shawnee National Forest.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click one of them, we may receive a small commission (for which we are very grateful for) at no extra cost to you. Thank you for the support!

Jackson Falls Illinois Basic Info

• Popular Uses – This area is great for hiking, dispersed camping, rock climbing, equestrian use and bouldering.

• Trailhead – The Jackson Falls trailhead is located on Glen St Falls Rd in Simpson, IL right where the creek crosses the road. We’ve marked the exact location of the parking area here on Google Maps for you.

• Parking – The parking area of Jackson Falls is relatively small. But there is space for about 10-12 cars.

• Amenities – Vault Toilet at the trailhead, and informational signage.

The US Forest Service has designated Jackson Falls as “Non-Maintained Forest Land” This means that while camping and hiking in the area is allowed, there are no electric hookups, designated campsites, or drinking water available.

There is also no trash service so make sure to bring any trash home with you and always practice Leave No Trace Principles.

Where is Jackson Falls, Illinois?

Directions to Jackson Falls, IL are relatively easy; there are just a few key things to know. Jackson Falls is located in Simpson, IL, and is about halfway between Harrisburg, IL, and Vienna, IL.

If you come from either the Harrisburg direction or the Vienna direction you will take Route 45 to Ozark Rd in Ozark, IL. Turn East on Ozark Rd and follow that past Zion Cemetery and take a right on Glen St Falls Rd.

Glen St Falls Rd is gravel and can be easy to miss because it looks like it’s someone’s private driveway. Despite what it looks like this is a public road and the best way to get to Jackson Falls.

Glen St Falls Rd is normally in pretty good condition, but after periods of heavy rain big sections can be washed out. Having a vehicle with high clearance is helpful, but almost any vehicle should be able to make it to the trailhead as long as you go slow and be careful.

If at any point you feel unsure about the road, stop and scout ahead to avoid getting stuck.

If you type Jackson Falls into Google Maps it will bring up the location of the actual waterfall. But here is the exact location of the parking area.

Jackson Falls Hiking Trails

The Jackson Falls trail can be either very easy and take you less than 15 minutes, or very difficult and take you closer to 2 or 3 hours depending on which way you go and what you would like to see.

The Easy Option (Hiking to the Top of Jackson Falls)

If you’ll be visiting the Jackson Falls waterfall with younger kids or don’t have very much time and you just want to see the falls then we recommend hiking from the parking area to the top of Jackson Falls.

From the parking area, you will see a trail that leads off to the waterfall that is to the left of the informational sign (this is trail 048). 

This is the main trail and it will bring you to the top of Jackson Falls. Along the way, you’ll follow the creek and if it’s been raining recently you’ll get to see some little waterfalls.

Once you reach the top of Jackson Falls you’ll have a great view down about 50 feet to the bottom of the ravine. When you’re ready to go you can simply hike back the way that you came in.

While this option is certainly the easier of the two and is less than a mile out and back, you also won’t get a very good view of the waterfall. Since you arrive at the top of Jackson Falls you can’t really see the waterfall.

The Harder Option (Hiking to the Bottom of Jackson Falls)

If you want the best view possible of this stunning waterfall then you’ll need to hike down to the bottom of the ravine, and this is quite a bit harder than simply walking to the top.

Please note that hiking to the bottom of Jackson Falls is not recommended if you have small children or are unfamiliar with the area.

The easiest way to get to the bottom of the ravine is to cross over the creek to the left when you reach the falls.

Depending on how much it’s been raining recently you may need to search a little for a safe place to cross the creek. Be careful here as the rocks can be very slippery and people have fallen and died here.

After you have crossed the creek you’ll need to follow the trail along the ridge. The trail does split off here and there but just remember to always keep following the trail along the top of the ridge.

You should come to a wooden bridge that is less than ¼ mile down the trail that goes over another waterfall and about 50 feet past that you will see where you can climb on the rocks to get down.

If you choose to go down please be extremely careful climbing down the rocks. When you arrive at the bottom make a note of where you climbed down. You will need to climb back up the same way and the trail is easy to lose. 

Hikers have gotten stranded at the bottom of the ravine because they lost track of where they came down and weren’t able to find their way back up.

Once you reach the bottom, keep the bluffs on your right and hike back towards Jackson falls. If you hike to the falls and turn around and go back the way you came down, the hike is about 2 miles.

For more information here is the Jackson Falls trail map from the USDA.

If you look at this trail on AllTrails, you will find that the trail is marked as a 4.2-mile loop. Many people have gotten lost trying to complete this loop and have reported that the AllTrails map is wrong.

There is a trail that goes off to the right at the top of Jackson Falls and people have reported being able to get into the ravine this way. We would not recommend doing this and not hiking this trail as a loop unless you have a very detailed map and know where you’re going.

Although, if you’d just like to hike but not go into the ravine, the trail off to the right at the top of Jackson Falls is gorgeous and will give you some great views of the rock formations and down into the ravine.

Jackson Falls Climbing and Bouldering

Jackson Falls Illinois is by far the best location for rock climbing and bouldering in Shawnee National Forest. There are over 400 designated climbing routes in the area and so if you’re looking for a great place to climb, Jackson Falls is where you want to go.

In this brochure, you’ll find a map with details about many of the most popular climbing routes in Jackson Falls.

The Illinois Climbers Association officially partnered with the USDA and helped to replace climbing anchors all around the Jackson Falls area to keep climbers safe.

You will also notice on the information signage at the main parking area that there are several first aid kits all around the area that were installed by Beta Fund which is another rock climbing and bouldering organization.

Since Jackson Falls is such a popular area for climbing it’s important to remember to be mindful of the plants and vegetation that grows on the walls. 

The entire Shawnee Area is a fragile ecosystem and so remember to disturb as little as possible while climbing and enjoying the area.

Climbing and bouldering are great ways to get out and enjoy nature, but safety is key. Do not ever attempt to climb in the Jackson Falls area unless you have experience and the proper safety equipment. Never climb alone and always have a safety plan.

Jackson Falls Camping

Camping near Jackson Falls, Illinois is a great option for your visit. You can camp either right at Jackson Falls or nearby depending on what sort of camping you’re looking for.

Camping at Jackson Falls

Since the Jackson Falls area is designated as Non-Maintained Forest Land, dispersed camping is allowed in the area. But like I mentioned above since it’s Non-Maintained Forest Land that means that there aren’t really any designated campsites, electric hookups, or drinking water available.

The two main camping areas that we saw were along the creek on the way to the top of the falls as well as down at the bottom of the ravine. You will see stone firepit areas that previous campers have made just about everywhere.

It is reported that there are drive-up dispersed camping sites for off-road vehicles and small campers on the other side of Glen Street Falls Road from the Jackson Falls trailhead.

We did not see this when we visited, but we weren’t exactly looking. The road is rough getting to the trailhead, so it is recommended to have a high clearance off-road vehicle/camper to get here.

Camping Near Jackson Falls

Jackson Falls is only about 20 minutes from Bell Smith Springs which is where you’ll find the Redbud Campground. If you’re looking for Jackson Falls camping with a few additional amenities then we would highly recommend camping at Redbud Campground.

There is a small fee ($10 Per Site Per Night) but since it is an actual designated campground there are some amenities available there.

There are vault toilets all around the campground, designated campsites that have picnic tables, and fire rings. There is also potable water available near the entrance from a hand pump.

The Redbud Campground is also large enough to fit some small campers if you would prefer not to sleep in a tent.

Bell Smith Springs: Check out our in-depth article all about the Bell Smith Springs area with information on everything from how to get there, what you’ll see, and where to hike!

When to Visit Jackson Falls Illinois

The best time to visit Jackson Falls depends on what you would like to see. Generally, the best time for enjoying this area is up to you depending on what kind of weather you like to hike in. Keep in mind there will be lots of ticks if you visit in the summer months.

Best time to see the waterfall:

Southern Illinois gets the highest levels of rainfall in April through June and so if you want to see the most water going over the falls we would recommend visiting some time around then.

There can also be some significant rainfall around the end of the year but it’s often far colder and not nearly as much fun for hiking.

Best time to see the colors:

One of the best things about Shawnee National Forest is how densely forested it is. With so many beautiful species of trees, the fall colors are truly amazing!

We absolutely love hiking in the fall because the colors give the surrounding area a completely different feel. Hiking in the fall can feel like hiking on a trail for the very first time, even if you’ve hiked it dozens of times before.

The best time to see fall colors in southern Illinois is late October.

Jackson Falls Safety Tips

Jackson Falls Illinois has so many wonderful things to offer but like any trip into the wilderness, it’s important to plan ahead and follow some simple safety tips to keep your trip from turning into a disaster.

Here are just a few things to keep in mind for your trip to Jackson Falls:

• Poison Ivy is extremely common in the entire Shawnee National Forest area so keep an eye out.

• Ticks are also extremely common in the area so make sure to wear long clothes and use repellent.

• Rocks are very slippery when wet, not only for climbing but also for hiking in the area. Use caution when visiting especially if it’s been raining recently.

• There is no drinking water available in the Jackson Falls area.

• Depending on your carrier cell phone service is also not available in the area.

• Do not hike near the edge of the ravine, people have died from falls and so keep a safe distance and keep an eye on young children.

• Always read the informational signs at the main parking area for any announcements as well as the locations of the first aid kits.

Where To Stay

If camping isn’t really what you’re looking for then Shawnee has tons of other really great options for places to stay. We love to camp but every once in a while we also like to rent a cabin.

The entire Shawnee National Forest area has some of the best rental cabins around and so finding a really great one is often not a problem. In our experience, there are so many great options that narrowing them down is usually the bigger challenge.

If you’re looking for a hotel you will need to drive a bit further. There is an Economy Inn & Suites but other than that you will need to drive to the Marion/Carbondale area to find more hotel options which are both about 45 minutes to an hour from Jackson Falls.

However, if you’re willing to make the drive you’ll find lots of really great hotels there. Carbondale has a Hilton as well as a Holiday Inn Express and Marion has a Baymont.

Things to Do Near Jackson Falls

Jackson Falls is located somewhat in the middle of Shawnee National Forest and so there are a ton of other really great things to do close by.

Burden Falls

If you’re looking for another great waterfall then Burden Falls is only about 15 minutes away. Just head back towards Ozark Rd and take a right. About 4 miles down is Burden Falls Rd/Mc Cormick Rd and Burden Fall is only another ½ mile down that road.

Bell Smith Springs

Bell Smith Springs is also in the same direction and only about 25 minutes from Jackson Falls. There is camping available at the Redbud Campground, but also several different hiking trails and some stunning rock formations.

Garden Of The Gods

Garden of the Gods will take you closer to 50 minutes to get to from Jackson Falls, but is well worth the trip! If you’re traveling with kids, the Observation Trail at Garden of the Gods is a great hike. You’ll get to see lots of really great viewpoints, but there are also great sections of the trail with boulders that are great for climbing around on.

Rim Rock National Recreational Trail

Rim Rock is just past Garden of the Gods and is a good stop if you would like to see a bit more of the history of the area. The upper trail will take you past the ruins of a wall that was built by indigenous people and the lower trail will take you past Ox-lot cave. Rim Rock is often a little bit less crowded than Garden of the Gods and so if you’re looking for a great hike with fewer people then we would recommend checking out Rim Rock.

Now Get Out and Enjoy Jackson Falls

Jackson Falls is a truly unique place that is great for so many different uses. If you’re a climber then it’s a must, but even if you’re just looking for a short stroll by the creek it’s a great option.

Just remember as you visit that this is Non-Maintained Forest land. So always remember to leave the forest better than you found it and make sure that you pack out everything that you packed in.

While the best view of the waterfall is from the bottom of the ravine, use extreme caution if you decide to hike down. It is very difficult getting down and very easy to lose track of how to get back up. Hikers have gotten stranded at the bottom and so do not attempt this unless you’re experienced hiking in the area and always have a safety plan.

Jackson Falls is truly one of the best waterfalls Shawnee National Forest has to offer. It’s one of our favorites and after just one visit we’re sure it will be one of yours as well!

We hope this article about Jackson Falls helps you plan your trip. We would love to connect with you! You can learn more about us here or read more of our recent blog posts here. Also, follow us on Instagram (@UnearthTheVoyage) and Facebook to see what we are up to next!