You’ll Want To Spend All Day At Bork’s Falls, A Waterfall-Fed Pool In Illinois
What will you be doing to cool off this summer? Will you head to a lakeside beach or maybe one of the many waterparks around the state? If the thought of a swimming hole hasn’t crossed your mind, maybe it should. There are several popular swimming holes around the state, like the one at Bell Smith Springs, but there’s a lesser-known waterfall feeding into a stunning turquoise pool that everyone should add to their summertime bucket list.
During these uncertain times, please keep safety in mind and consider adding destinations to your bucket list to visit at a later date.
Located deep within Ferne Clyffe State Park of the Illinois Ozarks is Bork's Falls which plunges into a lovely pool below. It's an ideal place to spend time on a hot summer day.
To get to Bork's Falls, there is a series of trails to take. Bork's Waterfall Trail, Bobcat Loop Trail, and Big Buck Creek Trail add up to a total of 3.7 miles guiding hikers right to the waterfall.
The Bork's Waterfall Trail itself is just 0.5 miles long, leading directly to the falls. Another way to reach the trailhead is from Happy Hollow Road. If you choose this route, your trek will be much shorter.
Wet weather may cause unsafe conditions along the road accessing the waterfall, however, so plan your trip accordingly.
Make sure you are wearing proper footwear as the rocks surrounding the waterfall may get slippery and the trail may be muddy, especially if it rained recently.
This waterfall is one of the most beautiful, serene spots in the forest, and yet, it doesn't have much visitor traffic. It's very likely you'll have Bork's Falls all to yourself.
Will you add Bork’s Falls to your summertime bucket list? What other swimming holes do you like to visit around the state? Let us know in the comments.
She's an east coast girl living in a west coast world. Melissa has worked in the entertainment industry for much of her adult life and loves photography, writing, and traveling around the U.S. and to far-flung locations around the world.
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