Bork's Waterfall (Ferne Clyffe)

Bork's Waterfall is a tall seasonal waterfall on a tributary of Buck Branch in Johnson County. The waterfall is located in Ferne Clyffe State Park.

Hike Length: 1 mile
Estimated Time: < 1 hour
Difficulty: Easy
Location: Ferne Clyffe State Park

Trail Users: Hiking only
Dogs: Yes
Features: Waterfalls (1)
Crowds: Low
Warnings: The rocks around the waterfall are very slippery.  
Trailhead GPS: 37.54160,-89.02229
Waterfall GPS: 37.54178,-89.02113

Directions:

From Vienna, head west on I-24 for about 6 miles to exit 7 towards Goreville.  At the end of the off-ramp, turn left on Tunnel Hill Road and go 2.7 miles.  Turn right on IL-37 north and drive 1 mile, then turn left on Main Street.  Go 2.7 miles then turn left on Regent Lane.  In 1 mile, the road fords the creek just above the waterfall.  Drive a short ways further to a small pull-off on the left.

Map:

Hike Description:

You can walk back on the road for a view of the top of the waterfall.

To reach the base, follow Bork's Waterfall Trail that starts at the parking area.  It leads downstream then enters the gorge and leads back upstream to the base of the waterfall.

The waterfall is on a very small stream, so best to visit in high water.

Blog Entries:

01-Sep-2020: Shawnee Hills

External Links:

Illinois State Parks website: https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/Parks/Pages/FerneClyffe.aspx