Upper Burden Falls

Pope County, Illinois

Your visit at a glance

Waterfall height: Not recorded
Location: Pope County, Illinois
Access status: Roadside view from Forest Service parking lot
The walk: A few feet from the parking area
Ground & access: Rock ledge by the lot. Loose rock, roots and slippery rock. The Forest Service does not recommend crossing Burden Creek to descend the boulders.

USDA Forest Service: Burden Falls Wilderness activity sheet

Upper Burden Falls, IL
Photo credit
Photo: Joseph Gage, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Burden Falls Wilderness in Pope County, Shawnee National Forest, has a seasonal waterfall that falls 20 feet over a sandstone ledge and then cascades another 80 feet. The upper section is beside the parking area. The Forest Service activity sheet says the route down to the base is a user trail with no designated trail.

Plan your visit

Burden Falls parking lot on Forest Road 402: view of the upper section of Burden Falls beside the lot

Waterfall Hero says the upper section is just a few feet from the parking area. The Forest Service sheet's 1-mile figure is for the user trail to the base of the main falls, not this upper drop.

Rock ledge by the lot. Loose rock, roots and slippery rock. The Forest Service does not recommend crossing Burden Creek to descend the boulders.

Where to start

Burden Falls parking lot on the north side of Forest Road 402 (Burden Falls Road). From Rt. 45 in Ozark, take Ozark Road east, following signs; the lot is before the water crossing. From Rt. 145 in Delwood, take Forest Road 402 west; the lot is after the water crossing.

Timing & water

Seasonal waterfall. The Forest Service sheet lists winter, spring, early summer, fall, and after rain as best.

Before you go

Current fees and reservation requirements unknown.

Visitor information

Visit sources

More waterfalls nearby

Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.

Explore Illinois

Waterfall location

Pope County, Illinois.

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