Waterfall Glen Falls

About Waterfall Glen Falls

Waterfall Glen Falls (Rocky Glen Waterfall) is a small stepped falls on Sawmill Creek in Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve near Darien, Illinois. The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County says the Civilian Conservation Corps built its tiers in the 1930s. The preserve itself isn't named for the falls: the district says it honors Seymour "Bud" Waterfall, an early board president, and was named in 1973.

According to Wikipedia, runoff from a nearby mill had eroded the falls, and the CCC restored them to their naturally tiered state. The water is Sawmill Creek, which continues on to the Des Plaines River.

The site has a working past. The district says the Ward Brothers ran a mill on Sawmill Creek in the late 1800s, and Edwin Walker operated three quarries in the area. We could not find a published height for the falls.

Getting there and parking

Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve covers 2,503 acres, according to the district, and completely surrounds Argonne National Laboratory, Wikipedia notes. The district lists no entry or parking fee. It describes three parking areas, so pick the one that matches your plan.

Which parking lot to use

For the falls: use the waterfall parking lot on the south side of Bluff Road, 0.3 mile east of Cass Avenue. It is the lot the district names for the waterfall, and the flush restrooms are here.

Main entrance: on the north side of Northgate Road, 0.25 mile west of Cass Avenue, with parking for horse trailers. It's a good start for the Main Trail loop.

Lemont Road lot: on the east side of Lemont Road at the intersection with 101st Street. The district does not number its lots, so use these names and cross streets in your map app.

Map and nearby falls

The walk

The walk to Waterfall Glen Falls is short. The Rocky Glen Trail, a limestone spur off the 9.5-mile Main Trail, starts near the waterfall lot on Bluff Road.

Rocky Glen spur to the falls

The district's trail map key lists it as a 0.2-mile limestone trail; check the trailhead map for the full distance from the lot.

We could not confirm wheelchair access for the spur, so contact the district if you need a step-free route.

The 9.5-mile Main Trail loop

The district says the preserve has four mapped trails containing almost 11 miles of limestone- and turf-covered routes. The longest is the Main Trail, a 9.5-mile crushed-limestone loop around Argonne National Laboratory, according to Wikipedia. The district trail map (PDF) shows all four.

Bicyclists may ride only on designated bike trails, the district says. Dogs are allowed on a leash shorter than 10 feet. You can make a short visit to the falls or add a section of the loop.

When to visit

Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve is open year-round, from 1 hour after sunrise to 1 hour after sunset. USGS records for Sawmill Creek near Lemont (gauge 05533400, 1996 to 2025) show the highest average flows in April and May and the lowest in September and November.

Spring is the best bet for a fuller flow over the tiers. In winter, the district says rangers groom trails for cross-country skiing when conditions permit.

Plan restroom stops by season. The accessible flush restrooms at the waterfall lot close in fall and winter, and the district lists accessible portable toilets.

Groups can also use the preserve's youth campground, which the district says has two sites that each hold up to 24 campers.

For a taller Midwest falls with a short boardwalk, see Brandywine Falls in Ohio's Cuyahoga Valley National Park. In Illinois, Matthiessen State Park Falls and Burden Falls are farther from Chicago.

Safety and swimming

Photos

Waterfall Glen Falls FAQ

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