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Rocky Bluff Trail
4.7 ★★★★★ 162 Google reviews · Running trail in Makanda, Illinois · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Loop distance
- 2 mi
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Rocky Bluff Trail's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Loop trail with a waterfall, wildflowers, and river views, varying in difficulty from easy to challenging.
What runners say about Rocky Bluff Trail
“There are beautiful rock formations, wild life, fungi, just a great place to explore and enjoy nature.”
First off, trail is open, there is a short walk from where you have to park to the trail head. Less than a quarter mile. Trail is serene and mostly shaded by the trees. There is an abundance of very ambitious orb spiders webbing the trail in hopes of capturing their Thanksgiving Feast early.
11/10/2023 First and foremost, you must obtain a day pass (permit)for your vehicle in this area to hike here. They can be picked up at the Crab Orchard visitor center off of 148, or if you have a QR code reader you can scan and pay using your phone on site, or the $2.
It's beautiful but the trail is dirt so if it's been raining it'll be muddy. The waterfall is rain dependant and will be dry if we haven't had rain in a while. There is a long trail about 2 miles long and a short loop under a mile.
Ample parking area opens up to trail signage and a convenient way to obtain a day/week/year pass to the refuge (a year is less than $15 USD as of Spring 2024). Recommend you take the trail to the right so you get elevation climb early on and end your trail along the creek with only a short staircase up the bluff to…
Trail conditions & character
“Mostly a walk in the woods, with a nice waterfall (when the water is more than a trickle, and some views along the creek.”
“There is a long trail about 2 miles long and a short loop under a mile.”
“Recommend you take the trail to the right so you get elevation climb early on and end your trail along the creek with only a short staircase up the bluff to end your hike.”
“Ample parking area opens up to trail signage and a convenient way to obtain a day/week/year pass to the refuge (a year is less than $15 USD as of Spring 2024).”
“It's beautiful but the trail is dirt so if it's been raining it'll be muddy.”
“No restrooms on site and no water so plan accordingly.”
Plan your run at Rocky Bluff Trail
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
- Loop distance2 mi back to where you parked
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
Hours
| Monday | Open 24 hours |
| Tuesday | Open 24 hours |
| Wednesday | Open 24 hours |
| Thursday | Open 24 hours |
| Friday | 9 AM–5 PM |
| Saturday | 9 AM–5 PM |
| Sunday | Open 24 hours |
Running trails near Makanda
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Harmony Trail
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