Trifter

Illinois has some beautiful waterfalls with one major catch. Most of the waterfalls are concentrated along the canyon bluffs above the Illinois River and these waterfalls tend to be very seasonal meaning they will run dry during periods of little or no rainfall. So if you are going to see the waterfalls located in both Matthiessen and Starved Rock State Parks and want to see the falls running make sure you go after rainfall. And be careful around these falls as people have fallen to their deaths climbing around the tops of these canyon waterfalls.

St. Louis Canyon Falls

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This beautiful waterfall is located at the head of St. Louis Canyon which is one of the many sandstone canyons in Starved Rock State Park in north-central Illinois. St. Louis Canyon Falls drops some 80 spectacular feet along the St. Louis Canyon Creek. To reach Starved Creek State Park from I-80 take Route 178 south where you will see multiple entrances.

Lake Falls

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Lake Falls is a beautiful 35 foot high waterfall along a tributary of the Vermillion River located in the upper most part of the Upper Dells section of Matthiessen State Park in north-central Illinois just east of Ogelsby. To reach Lake Falls from I-80 take Route 178 south for roughly 4 miles and look for the Dells Area of Matthiessen State Park on the right where the trail head to the falls is located.

Ferne Clyffe Falls

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Ferne Clyffe Falls is located in Ferne Clyffe State Park in southern Illinois near Goreville where Happy Hollow Creek falls and slides some 50 total feet over the cliff and down the rocks. You can see some water down the rocks here but after a heavy rain you will also see the water going over the cliff just above. Ferne Clyffe Falls can be reached along Route 37 just south of Goreville and from I-24 by taking Tunnel Hill Road west.

French Canyon Falls

French Canyon Falls is roughly 50 feet high and is located in beautiful Starved Rock State Park in north-central Illinois. To reach the park from I-80 take Route 178 south where there are multiple entrances.

Cave Falls or Cascade Falls

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Cave Falls or Cascade Falls is a lovely waterfall located in Matthiessen State Park.

Image via Wikipedia

Ottawa Canyon Falls

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Frozen falls said to be in Ottawa Canyon located in Starved Rock State Park though this looks like Tonti Canyon to me.

Giant’s Bathtub Falls

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Giant’s Bathtub Falls is located in the Dells Area of Matthiessen State Park which can be reached along Route 178 south off I-80 in north-central Illinois.

Wildcat Falls

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Wildcat Falls is an 80 foot high waterfall located at the head of Wildcat Canyon in Starved Rock State Park which easily accessible from I-80 by taking Route 178 south for roughly 3 miles.

LaSalle Canyon Falls

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LaSalle Canyon in Starved Rock State Park contains one main waterfall roughly 20 feet high seen here in the upper photo and a number of other smaller waterfalls both above and below the main falls (see photo below).

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Tonti Canyon Falls

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Tonti Canyon in Starved Rock State Park contains one main waterfall of 60 feet and a smaller set of waterfalls further along the canyon. Tonti Canyon Creek provides the water when it’s flowing. Tonti Canyon is located right next to LaSalle Canyon.

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Chicago Botanic Garden Waterfall

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The Chicago Botanic Gardens which is located about 20 miles north of Chicago contains a number of pretty man-made waterfalls like this one. The gardens are located at 1000 Lake Cook Road in Glencoe.

Kaskaskia Canyon Falls

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Kaskaskia Canyon Falls is one of the smaller canyon waterfalls in Starved Rock State Park at roughly 15 feet in height.

Lockport Canal Falls

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Waterfall along the old Illinois and Michigan Canal in Lockport, Illinois which was the headquarters for the canal company.

Clinton Lake Dam Waterfalls

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The Clinton Lake Dam was built to provide a cooling source for the Clinton Nuclear Generating Station, a nuclear power plant. The dam is located in Clinton, illinois almost right in the center of the state and the lake is popular with fisherman today.

Fox River Dam Falls

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Fox River Dam Falls located in Geneva, Illinois.

Shelbyville Dam Falls

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The Shelbyville Dam was built by the Army Corps of Engineers and completed in 1970 and is located in Shelbyville, Illinois in the central part of the state along the Kaskaskia River.

Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve

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This pretty waterfall is located in DuPage County about 25 miles southwest of Chicago in the Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve which completely surrounds the Argonne National Laboratory off I-55, Lamont Road exit.

Anderson Gardens Falls

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This lovely waterfall is located in the Anderson Japanese Gardens located in Rockford, Illinois. Considered one of the finest examples of Japanese Gardens in North America, Anderson Gardens is northwest of Chicago located just off Route 251 at 318 Spring Creek Road in Rockford.

South Elgin Waterfall

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Believe this pretty waterfall is located along a trail by Route 31 just north of Silver Glen Road in South Elgin, Illinois.