Elevation: | 673 ft |
GPS: |
37.5066, -88.6816 Google Map · Climbing Area Map |
Page Views: | 992,076 total · 5,066/month |
Shared By: | Ethan on Aug 30, 2007 · Updates |
Admins: | Aaron Mc, Dave Hug, Kevin Sierzega |
Description
Jackson falls has the largest number of climbing routes in Illinois. Located in a forest canyon the 30-70 foot walls offer slopers, various sized pockets, roofs, and slabs. Jackson Falls Recreation Area is in the Shawnee National Forest on USFS land in southern Illinois. It can get hot and humid in the summer but there's plenty of shade.
In 2016, the Illinois Climbers Association partnered with the USFS Shawnee National Forest to manage the climbing resources on site. The ICA tackles hardware replacement, re bolting of existing routes to stainless steel using the highest standards available, and trail work. As of 2023, the ICA re bolted over 70 climbs at Jackson Falls.
Here's a map based loosely off the map in the Ulner guide, but done from memory. Red ATCs represent accessible anchors for rap points, brown paths over the cliff represent places I know are safe to scramble in. Blue is the creek bed, and brown are the cut across paths. The paths2013-09-289508.53.34.jpg2013-09-289508.53.34.jpg on the bottom and top of the cliff are not marked
Resources
Founded in 2002. The Illinois Climbers Association is a charitable organization representing the climbers of Illinois. We are dedicated to preserving climbing and bouldering access in Illinois through education, conservation, and cooperation.
Mission
The Illinois Climbers Association is a 501(c)3 charitable organization created to:
- Promote and support conservation and preservation of both rock climbing and bouldering areas, and their respective natural resources in Illinois
- Encourage optimal recreational use of Illinois outdoor climbing resources through land stewardship education and by facilitating cooperation between climbers, private land owners, and public land managers
- Encourage and promote the development of policies and practices that will preserve climbing and bouldering areas in Illinois
HELP THE ICA REBOLT JACKSON FALLS! PLEASE DONATE
Click HERE to donate towards the Illinois Climber Association's re-bolting cause.
Getting There
Coming from the south, you can access Glen St Falls Road from Pope Co Road 2260. However, it will require an off-road vehicle.
Guidebooks
In Illinois there are 3 guide books for the southern portion of the state. The first is Eric Ulner's book Vertical Heartland.
Vertical Heartland 3rd Edition
His guide is a good representation of the legal climbing destinations in the state and primarily focus on sport and traditional climbing.
The second is Matt Bliss's book Sandstone Warrior.
His guide beautifully lays out the majority of the bouldering found in S.I. and includes quality color photos to aid in your boulder problem deciphering. These two guides provide you with all the necessary tools to navigate our local crags. Pick them up and go enjoy the climbing that Illinois has to offer.
The newest guidebook (2015, by Brayackmedia Publishing):
https://www.wolverinepublishing.com/store/jackson-falls/
Classic Climbing Routes at Jackson Falls
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Photos
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