Photo: Joseph Gage from USA · CC BY-SA 2.0Giants Bathtub Falls
If you're passing
Is it plungeworthy?
A 2-tier tiered on Deer Park Creek.
The details
- Tiers
- 2 drops
- Type
- Tiered
- Watercourse
- Deer Park Creek
- Coordinates
- 41.29816, -89.02437
About Giants Bathtub Falls
Giants Bathtub Falls is a tiered in Illinois, on Deer Park Creek. The water falls in 2 distinct tiers.
It's fullest after rain, and flow can drop off during dry spells — plan around recent weather.
Plungeworthy rates Giants Bathtub Falls 4.2/10 — if you're passing. The score weighs its scale, how confidently it's mapped, and its character.
What you'll find
Know what this listing is: Giant's Bathtub is a small falls-and-pool feature — maybe eight feet — on Matthiessen State Park's Upper Dells loop, and as of this writing it's unreachable: the July 5, 2026 Vermilion River flood closed the connecting bridge and trail until further notice.
This isn't a one-off. The Dells flooded and closed in 2021 too — Matthiessen's canyon bottom lives at the mercy of the river, and closures here are a recurring pattern, not bad luck.
When open, it's a charming stop on one of the best short canyon loops in Illinois. Check the IDNR closures page before planning around it.
Getting there
- Trailhead
- Upper Dells loop, Matthiessen State Park, Oglesby — currently closed
- Parking
- Matthiessen Dells lot
- Road
- Route 178 — paved
- Hike
- 1.2 mi round trip (Moderate when open — stairs and canyon floor)
- Heads up
- The Dells restroom is also closed; portable toilets in the lot.
When to go
When the flood closure lifts — spring and post-rain for actual flow.
Rules & fees
- Fee / pass
- Free
- Dogs
- Leashed
- Warnings
- Closed until further notice after the July 2026 flood — check IDNR closures before visiting.
Researched from IDNR — current site closures · Shaw Local — Matthiessen Dells flood closure precedent. Conditions change — verify before you drive. Been to Giants Bathtub Falls recently? Post a conditions report below.
Where it is
Before you go
The pin marks the feature, not a trailhead or a legal route in. Some sit on private land or need a real hike, and conditions change with season and rain. Check local access, don't trespass, and never enter water — hot or cold — where it isn't safe.
Common questions
Where is Giants Bathtub Falls?
Giants Bathtub Falls is a waterfall in Illinois, at 41.29816, -89.02437.
Is Giants Bathtub Falls worth visiting?
If you're passing — Plungeworthy rates it 4.2/10.
Gear for the trip
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