Finding Jackson Falls in Shawnee National Forest

See high waterfalls, deep canyons, and house-size boulders along Jackson Falls Trail in Shawnee National Forest.

I went with a group so I could learn the area before bringing my son here in the future. There is only one way down into the canyon and you can get lost if you don’t know your way.

Our group hiked about eight miles, but you can easily see all the highlights doing a 4.5-mile out and back hike.

I made a copy of the trail map before I came here. This is important since the AllTrails App doesn’t include all the trails here.

Getting There

The drive to the trailhead is down gravel and bumpy Glen Street Falls Road. I drive slowly across the many potholes. Do this with a high clearance vehicle, SUV versus a car, and you should be OK.

The parking area is right before a creek ford.

At the Trailhead

A small parking lot with pit toilets and a trail sign shows the area and hiking trails.

I took a few photos of the nearby creek flowing over rock escarpments and creating pools.

Starting the Hike

We head down the main trail that leads to all the other trails here. A sign at the start with arrows shows that the top of Jackson Falls is 1/4 mile away along with the Junction for Trail 048C, the one that we will start our hike on.

We follow the creek as it flows through rocky terrain. We cross it, be careful here the rocks can be slippery. A small waterfall is nearby.

Near the falls 048 curves to the right and goes along the top of the bluff and dead ends. We head to the left on 048C.

Way down below you can see people walking around at the bottom of the canyon among huge rocks and canyon walls.

I see a large rock wall jutting out by itself.

We pass by a trickling stream and more slick rock.

049 Canyon Trail Walk

Then we look down. An “extreme caution difficult descent” sign greets us we come to the point where we need to scramble down from the 048C trail to join the 049 trail.

At the bottom are a backboard and emergency supply bucket. Rock climbers traverse the canyon walls.

We turn left heading away from Jackson Falls leaving it last as we explore the canyon.

I stop for a moment taking a selfie of myself with water coming off a cliff and splattering on a rock.

A rock stands high on a pedestal and juts out from the canyon.

A vine hangs down from it as if Tarzan could be swinging through here.

I like how some of the rocks have huge holes in them and wonder what wildlife finds them home.

Hikers look small next to the high canyon walls

From a distance from the people ahead of me, they look small compared to the canyon walls.

One of the hikers points out a flower, “It is a Shooting Star,” she said.

The white petals hang back with the yellow center coming to a point.

Another nearby white petal flower is a mayapple. The forest is full of so many kinds of flowers.

We come to Helispot where you can go back up to the endpoint, scrambling up once more through rocks up to 048C and make a small loop or go on further down 049, now called 049A which we do.

At one point we walk below huge rocks overhead through a narrow walkway between the cliffs.

Another house-side boulder lays sideways.

Old Road

We head down an old dirt road towards the bottom of the canyon.

The smell of pine fills my lungs as we walk through a forest of evergreens. Then we come to deep ruts in the road.

Tadpoles swarm in the yellow water along with egg sacks.

The road leads to the dam over the lake. It is being drained for some reason.

At the end of the dam is a spillway filled with tall rocks some scattered towards the bottom like some giant had swished them around.

A Flintstones style picnic — A Flintstones-style picnic

Along the Creek

Then we turn back around and follow 049 now near the stream bed. This part of the hike is easier since we are near the base of the canyon. A rock shelter here houses a makeshift rock picnic table with chairs.

I see an evergreen alone on its own boulder island.

Video of Jackson Falls

Then we come to Jackson Falls with its green pool. This is break time. Here we can hear the water pitter patter as it goes down the rocky ledge.

Canyon with the bridge above it is a marker in how to find your way out of the canyon floor.

Away from the Falls

Now we head back from the falls to near where we had gone down earlier. Above us is a bridge. If you are leaving the falls the trail goes to the left and as you follow it look for the wooden bridge and that is where you go back up again. It is easy to miss this rock and boulder step up to the top.

Heading Back

I have to get home to pick up the kid so I rush back to the trailhead to go home. Now I know the road and where the potholes are so a quicker drive back through the woods for me.

Final Thoughts

If I hadn’t been with the group I would have not done the full loop. It is an amazing place with canyon rocks and waterfalls. If I came back with my son we would only go down to the waterfall and back. I would also watch him closely as we scramble down. I would not take a very young child here unless you are only there to see the falls from above. Going down into the canyon is not easy. I am glad I went here because it is a beautiful place!

DETAILS:

Drive: Take Interstate 64 out of St. Louis and then turn south onto Interstate 57 in Mount Vernon. Then take Interstate 24 and look for Exit 7. Make a left onto Tunnel Hill Road, which becomes Gilead Church Road, and then make a left onto Highway 45. From Rt. 45 in Ozark, take Ozark Road east. Look for Glen St. Falls Road just after you pass by Zion Hill Church on the right. Take this road for a little under two miles to the parking area for the trailhead.

Hours: Sunrise to Sunset

Address: Glen St Falls Rd, Simpson, IL 62985