A seasonal 100-foot waterfall in Ferne Clyffe State Park, flowing best after rain or snowmelt at the head of Big Rocky Hollow. The roughly three-quarter-mile gravel trail to the base is gentle and family-friendly.
At 100 ft, it stands above roughly 74% of the 775 documented falls in this guide.
Ferne Clyffe Falls sits on Big Rocky Hollow creek. You'll find it in Johnson, Illinois. It is protected within Ferne Clyffe State Park (Illinois DNR).
This is a short hike waterfall: reached by a short trail, generally under about a mile each way. A short walk gets you to the viewpoint, so it works for most casual visitors and families. The walk to the main viewpoint runs about 1 miles round trip. Base a visit out of Goreville, the closest town.
When to go: Spring (after rain or snowmelt). Like most waterfalls, Ferne Clyffe Falls runs highest after snowmelt or heavy rain and can thin out in late summer, so it's worth checking recent streamflow and the land manager's conditions page before a long drive.
