Spring is the ideal time to go hiking in the Midwest. It’s one of my absolute favorite times of the year to be out on the trails! Temperatures are comfortable, crowds are minimal, the air smells sweeter, wildlife come out of hibernation, and wildflowers are beginning to pepper the forests.
Midwest hiking trails in the spring are made sweeter by the roaring waterfalls that flow off of giant cliffs and cascade into pools, the forests that are beginning to transform from dull brown to vibrant green, and the crisp air that still has a slight bite to it but feels oh-so refreshing.
Are you ready to explore one of the best hikes in the Midwest? In this blog post, I am going to share the nine best spring hikes in the Midwest! On these spring Midwest hikes, you’ll be scrambling boulders, chasing waterfalls, exploring caves, and much more.
9 Best Spring Hikes in the Midwest USA
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1. Elephant Rocks Loop
- Location: Elephant Rocks State Park – Missouri
- Distance: 1 mile
- Elevation: 91 feet
- Type of Trail: Loop
- Difficulty: Easy
- Pet-Friendly: Yes
Elephant Rocks State Park is a small recreational area tucked into the town of Belleview in southeastern Missouri. Massive, “elephant-sized” boulders scatter the area, creating a fun jungle gym for all ages to explore.
The Elephant Rocks Loop, sometimes referred to as the Braille Loop, is a one-mile trail that circles the park. You will pass by granite boulders, a lake with spectacular reflections, and a plethora of geologic wonders.
The highlight of this park is beyond the path. While the official trail is 1 mile, most explorers chose to navigate their own path by climbing granite boulders and scrambling through a train of red rocks to view the sunset at the “peak.” A valley of trees stretches as far as the eye can see, a sea of green amidst the red rocks. Stand on top of the many boulders and take in the sweeping view.
Don’t worry about crowds as there are plenty of boulders to go around, and plenty of solitude to be had among the granite.
2. East Bluff Trail
- Location: Devil’s Lake State Park – Wisconsin
- Distance: 2.6 miles
- Elevation: 518 feet
- Type of Trail: Loop
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Pet-Friendly: Yes
Away from the hubbub and popular trail intersections, such as Balanced Rock, the East Bluff trail runs along the east side of the lake.
This 2.6-mile loop begins at a trailhead off of the east parking lot, in a quieter section of the park. A steep ridge will guide you as you admire the rocky bluffs and sparkling jewel-colored lake below.
Though it’s less popular than Balanced Rock, I consider the greatest views of the park and the lake to be on this trail. This winding path will offer unbeatable, scenic views of Devil’s Lake with daunting drop-offs.
The terrain is not as steep as Balanced Rock (nor as crowded) and offers a thick forest oasis to saunter through.
3. Trail 7
- Location: Clifty Falls State Park – Indiana
- Distance: 1.9 miles
- Elevation: 246 feet
- Type of Trail: Loop
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Pet-Friendly: Yes
Clifty Falls State Park in Indiana offers perfect spring hiking conditions. The temperatures in southern Indiana are ideal, the crowds are minimal, and the waterfalls are flowing from the recent snowmelt.
I chose Trail 7 from this park because it is filled with waterfalls and unique rock formations and can be completed in a short amount of time. Basically, if you only have time for one trail in the park, I’d suggest making it this one.
Two named waterfalls—Big Clifty and Little Clifty— are viewed along this loop, along with a couple of other unnamed falls.
Cake Rock, a massive boulder in the middle of the trail, makes for an interesting stopping point before continuing your 1.9-mile journey through the woods.
4. Garden of the Gods Observation Trail
- Location: Garden of the Gods Recreation Area – Illinois
- Distance: 0.5 miles
- Elevation: 39 feet
- Type of Trail: Loop
- Difficulty: Easy
- Pet-Friendly: Yes
This short 0.5-mile loop highlights the beauty of the Garden of the Gods Wilderness. In this easy Observation Trail, you will walk through massive boulders and view all of the most prominent points that the Garden boasts.
The dramatic cliffs and stunning rock formations will leave you breathless as you wander through both the marked path and the surrounding granite boulders that jut into the valley.
With the insane panoramic views the park offers, it’s no wonder this is one of the most photographed locations in the entire state. Go see for yourself what all the hype on these geological wonders is all about!
5. Dells Canyon and Bluff Trail
- Location: Matthiessen State Park – Illinois
- Distance: 2 miles
- Elevation: 206 feet
- Type of Trail: Loop
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Pet-Friendly: Yes
This loop will take you through the entirety of Matthiessen State Park in Illinois. Its larger neighbor, Starved Rock, often overshadows this park, but I’d recommend visiting both!
This loop will give you different vantage points of the water, from the top of the bridge down to the fantasy-stone path to the falls, from the river to the bluff.
You will wind over, around, and between the canyons, passing unique features such as Devil’s Paint Box, Wishing Well, Giant’s Bathtub, and Strawberry Rock. All of these formations along with two waterfalls tucked into the canyons make this one of the smallest parks with the biggest payoff.
You won’t want to miss this adventure-filled paradise!
6. Starved Rock Loop
- Location: Starved Rock State Park – Illinois
- Distance: 5.3 miles
- Elevation: 531 feet
- Type of Trail: Loop
- Difficulty: Easy
- Pet-Friendly: Yes
A 5-mile loop in Starved Rock State Park (Illinois) will take you on a magical journey through the beautiful canyons that scatter this park. You will pass French Canyon, Wildcat Canyon, LaSalle Canyon, and Tonty Canyon.
A plethora of waterfalls is tucked away into these cozy canyons. If you go in early spring, most waterfalls should be flowing, but a few might have some icicles clinging to the rocks due to the lack of sunlight these canyons receive.
A few rock scrambles give hikers a bit of a challenge, but most of the canyons are easy to enter. From the overlooks to the canyon interiors, you won’t want to miss this incredible trail.
7. Ash Cave, Cedar Falls, and Old Man’s Cave
- Location: Hocking Hills State Park – Ohio
- Distance: 12.3 miles
- Elevation: 1,243 feet
- Type of Trail: Out & back
- Difficulty: Hard
- Pet-Friendly: Yes
This list thus far has included mainly easy-to-moderate hikes. For the more experienced hikers and those looking for a bit more of a challenge, I am going to add this 12.3-mile loop in Hocking Hills State Park.
Please note that these trails can also be done in three separate trails, each with its own parking lot and short trail access.
If you choose to do all three hikes in one go—Ash Cave, Cedar Falls, and Old Mans Cave—you will be looking at a full day’s worth of hiking. Please only embark on this full trail if you can handle 12 miles in one day.
Ash Cave is a dramatic canyon with a towering, 100-foot waterfall spilling from its edge.
Old Mans Cave features multiple waterfalls, gorges, caves, natural arches, and an overall unique walking experience.
Cedar Falls features a waterfall, sandstone rock walls, and gorges.
→ READ NEXT: 7 Scenic Hiking Trails in Hocking Hills
8. Blue Hen Falls
- Location: Cuyahoga Valley National Park – Ohio
- Distance: 2.5 miles
- Elevation: 498 feet
- Type of Trail: Out & back
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Pet-Friendly: Yes
Blue Hen Falls is tucked away in Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio. This moderate trail follows a creek and ultimately leads to a 15-foot waterfall hidden away in a small canyon.
Blue Hen Falls is often overlooked due to the massive Brandywine Falls that lies nearby in the national park. Though Brandywine is one of my favorite waterfalls in the park – and I do believe it should be viewed – it is often the most crowded due to its easy boardwalk access.
9. Nelson Kennedy Ledges Trail
- Location: Nelson Kennedy Ledges State Park – Ohio
- Distance: 1.4 miles
- Elevation: 111 feet
- Type of Trail: Loop
- Difficulty: Easy
- Pet-Friendly: Yes
This trail in Nelson Kennedy Ledges State Park is one of Ohio’s most well-kept hidden gems. I’ve visited this park in the spring twice, and not once were there more than a dozen people in the entire park.
The park is small, so this trail can be done in a short time. If you choose to explore every inch of this park and scramble all of the rocks and view all of the falls, you might spend three hours here.
Two waterfalls—one towering off a cliff and into a gorge, and one cascading down a rock wall—speckle this trail, along with boulders peppered in the entire park. Dramatic, mossy-covered ledges and rocky cliffs lead you up, under, over, and through unique formations. Cool, cave-like ledges will give way to wide, towering cliffs, causing a different formation to appear with each turn of the corner.
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