Burden Falls
Pope County, Illinois
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- 102 ft (31 m)
- Location
- Pope County, Illinois
- The walk
- Short roadside visit; no measured walking distance
- Ground & access
- No protective rails are described. Keep away from the unguarded waterfall edge; this guide does not establish an accessible viewing surface.
The regional visitor guide describes upper falls visible from parking near their top. Lower canyon exploration is a separate, rougher outing and is not included here.
Plan your visit
Upper Burden Falls roadside viewing area
The guide’s 3.5-mile wilderness trail is not the distance to the roadside upper falls.
No protective rails are described. Keep away from the unguarded waterfall edge; this guide does not establish an accessible viewing surface.
Where to start
The guide directs visitors from Ozark Road onto Forest Road 402/Burden Falls Road, to a small gravel lot on the left just before the creek crossing.
Timing & water
The guide favors spring flow and notes that the falls respond to rainfall. Confirm current forest-road conditions.
Before you go
Fees, permits and reservation requirements for this visit have not been confirmed; check with the land manager.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
Upper Burden FallsRoadside view from Forest Service parking lotPope County, IL0.0 miS- Boulder FallsOriginal map pin differs from trail society locationPope County, IL2.9 miS
- Jackson FallsRoute and parking documented; confirm current conditions.Pope County, IL4.5 miSW
- Cedar/Pakentuck FallsJohnson County, IL6.1 miSW
- Spillway FallsJohnson County, IL7.0 miSW
- N37 24.465 W88 35.372Pope County, IL11 miS
- Avery Hollow South FallsPope County, IL11 miS
- Dixon Springs WaterfallPartial guide: which park waterfall this is has not been confirmedPope County, IL12 miS
Ghost Dance Canyon Boulder FallsCanyon route documented; exact cascade not confirmedPope County, IL13 miS