Waterfall Glen: Everything to Know Before You Go
Image credit: Openlands
Officially named Rocky Glen, Waterfall Glen is an outdoor escape that’s a short drive or bike ride away from Lemont Downtown. Winding trails, bluff overlooks, and a tiered waterfall make it one of the best forest preserves to visit near Chicago. Whether you're an avid hiker, a biking enthusiast, a trail runner, or someone who just wants a quiet walk in the woods, here's how to find Waterfall Glen, which entrance to use, and where to eat once you've earned it.
Where Is Waterfall Glen?
Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve sits just west of Lemont, wrapping almost entirely around Argonne National Laboratory. It spans more than 2,500 acres of woodlands, prairies, and wetlands, and it's part of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County. From Lemont Downtown, you can be at a trailhead in about ten minutes by car.
Getting to Waterfall Glen: Three Entrances
Many first-time visitors assume there's only one way in. There are actually three parking areas, and the one you pick depends on what you came to do.
Northgate Road (main entrance): This is the main lot and the best starting point for the full loop. From I-55, take Cass Avenue about half a mile south to Northgate Road, turn, and the lot is a few hundred feet in. Horseback riders: this is the only lot with trailer parking.
Bluff Road (waterfall entrance): This is the one most people mean when they say they're "going to see the waterfall." It's the closest lot to Rocky Glen Falls, sitting on the south side of Bluff Road just east of Cass Avenue. The falls are roughly a mile from here on foot. Heads up: it's a small lot and fills up early, especially on weekends and after a good rain.
Lemont Road: The quietest of the three, on the east side of Lemont Road at 101st Street. Handy if you're coming straight from the Lemont side and want to skip the busier Cass Avenue lots.
Exploring The Trails
Image Credit: Forest Preserve of DuPage County
The main loop is nearly 11 miles of crushed-limestone trail circling the preserve, wide and well-graded enough for walkers, bikers, and runners of every level.
A few ways to think about your route:
Main Loop Trail (about 9.5 miles): The full circuit. A solid half-day hike or a satisfying bike ride, with rolling terrain and a couple of genuinely steep stretches.
Rocky Glen Waterfall Trail: A short spur off the main loop that drops you at the falls, the preserve's crown jewel and the reason most people come.
Tear-Thumb Trail (about 1.1 miles): An easier turf trail, good if you want a shorter, gentler outing.
To protect the preserve's prairies and sensitive habitat, stick to the four mapped trails. You may notice narrow footpaths crisscrossing the interior, but these aren't on the official map, don't always connect back to marked routes, and cut through fragile plant communities. Cyclists should stay on the designated bike routes, and in several spots the preserve links up with the Southern DuPage County Regional Trail if you want to keep going.
Lemontsters call Waterfall Glen their favorite place to unplug. The trails work equally well for marathon training, a family hike, or a slow nature walk with a coffee in hand.
The Waterfall Itself
Image Credit: Forest Preserve of DuPage County
Rocky Glen Falls is the heart of the preserve, a peaceful, tiered cascade tucked into layered limestone and greenery. It began as a natural dam in the glen, but decades of erosion from runoff at a nearby 1800s lumber mill wore it down. In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps reconstructed it into the tiered falls you see today, right near the old mill site. So it's part nature, part 90-year-old handiwork, blended together into what you see today.
It's most dramatic in spring and after heavy rain. Bring a camera. One important note: no swimming or wading in the waterfall. It's a look-and-listen spot, not a swimming hole.
Did you know? The preserve isn't named for the waterfall at all. It's named for Seymour "Bud" Waterfall, an early president of the DuPage forest preserve district's board of commissioners. The name is a happy coincidence.
What Makes It Special
Waterfall Glen is consistently ranked among the best hiking experiences near Chicago, and its ecology backs that up. Its prairies, savannas, and oak-maple woodlands are home to 740 native plant species, about 75 percent of the plants that grow naturally in DuPage County. That variety supports more than 300 species of mammals, birds, fish, amphibians, and reptiles that live here or pass through on migration. The main trail passes a scenic overlook of the Des Plaines River, and the preserve also has a Sawmill Creek bluff overlook. Odd fun fact: there's even a model airplane field tucked inside, a longtime local hobbyist spot.
Before You Go
Here’s what you’ll need for a good day at Waterfall Glen:
Good shoes: Trails hold up well but get muddy after rain.
Water and snacks: There are no concessions inside the preserve. A few benches, restrooms (some portable), and water sources are marked on the trail map, so plan around them.
Bug spray and sunscreen: Especially in summer, even with the tree cover.
Leashed dogs welcome: Leashes must be no longer than 10 feet. Alcohol is prohibited.
Arrive early on weekends: The Bluff Road waterfall lot in particular fills up fast.
Hours: One hour after sunrise to one hour after sunset.
Parking: Free at all three trailheads.
More info: Visit the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County for the trail map and seasonal updates.
Where to Dine After Your Adventure
As you make your way back to Lemont Downtown, check out the Village’s dining options! There’s a little bit of everything for anyone’s flavor palette - whether it’s American, Italian, Mexican, or Chinese.
WOODEN PADDLE | 212 Stephen St
Wooden Paddle offers a little bit of everything - salads, pasta, pizza, cocktails - and is the perfect place to share plates. Try their fried meatballs, maple brussel sprouts, and porchetta pizza.
MORENO’S RESTAURANT & SALSA BAR | 113 Stephen St
Serving quesabirria, chicken fajitas, soft-serve citrus-forward margaritas, and more - Moreno’s Restaurant & Salsa Bar is a staple Mexican restaurant in Lemont Downtown.
WOK’D | 116 Stephen St
Head on over to Wok’d for Asian comfort food with bold flavors! Beijing noodles, pad thai, kung pao noodles are on the menu and waiting for you.
Image Credit: Forest Preserve of DuPage County
Plan Your Next Adventure
Experience Waterfall Glen in every season, from spring wildflowers to icy winter trails groomed for skiing. Grab your gear, pack a camera, lace up your shoes, and head out for a day of adventure just minutes from Lemont Downtown.