Burden Falls (Illinois)
by Casey Galvin

"Waterfalls in Illinois" does not sound logical. The state is considered the third flattest overall of all 50 states, with very small elevation reliefs throughout the entire state.

Only in the extreme northwest and southern portions of the state do the sense of hills or low mountains come into the landscape.

burden falls, located in t he Shawnee National Forest, is the highest waterfall in the state. It consists of three cascades.

The first is lowest, 2 - 3 foot relieft, and can be seen from the forest road.

To see the 2nd and 3rd reliefs, one must park their car at the small lot and walk a short distance.

The second is very photogenic. It has a drop of 10 - 15 feet and is a twin waterfall, formed by two separate drainings coming togher to form the cascade.

The third cascade is the tallest, but most difficult to get to.

One can see the fall from a ledge along the train, but to get to the base takes some moderate hiking.

It is best to vist after there has been at least a ½ inch of precipitation in the area.