Illinois · Hiking

Tear-Thumb Trail

Tear-Thumb TrailPhoto: Joe K Gage, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
1.2 mi
one way
45 ft
climb
742 ft
high point
Point to point
route
Apr, Jun
best months

Tear-Thumb Trail is a short, easy hike in Waterfall Glen, a regional agency land unit in Illinois. The trail is about 1.2 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 45 feet and a total loss of 80 feet, so it's a low-key outing that works well as a quick stop or a link between other paths in the area. The route is a point-to-point trail, and the climb is gentle. The steepest stretch comes at about 0.29 miles in, with a grade of 7 percent. The trail starts at roughly 716 feet and reaches a high point of 742 feet before descending slightly. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show May highs around 73°F and October highs around 65°F, while July averages about 90°F. The trail is open to bikes and horses, and it is not wheelchair accessible. The Main Trail lies just 0.1 mile away, and the Oldfield Oaks Trail and South Field Trail are each about 1.3 miles off. Climbers can find Canyon Creek Falls Walls about 2.5 miles away.

  • Best time to go · Apr, Jun

    Best time to visit Tear-Thumb Trail

    Best months: April, June and September–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      33° / 15°

      10 wet

    2. Feb

      37° / 18°

      9 wet

    3. Mar

      49° / 28°

      10 wet

    4. Apr

      62° / 39°

      12 wet

    5. May

      73° / 50°

      13 wet

    6. Jun

      84° / 60°

      12 wet

    7. Jul

      90° / 64°

      11 wet

    8. Aug

      87° / 63°

      10 wet

    9. Sep

      80° / 55°

      9 wet

    10. Oct

      65° / 43°

      10 wet

    11. Nov

      50° / 31°

      9 wet

    12. Dec

      38° / 21°

      10 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Little Red School Hse, IL, 5.4 mi away at 715 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors