Waterfall Glen Scenic Overlook to Heritage Quarries - Lemont, IL
Posted by: adgorn
N 41° 41.580 W 087° 59.011
16T E 418156 N 4616158
Not many natural scenic overlooks in the Chicago IL area, but this is a nice high point on the bike trail in Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve in Dupage County.
Waymark Code: WM53MD
Location: Illinois, United States
Date Posted: 11/05/2008
Views: 25
Text on sign:
"From this overlook, you can see a story in the landscape. It begins 400 million years ago when shallow seas covered this area. The remains of sea creatures form the dolomitic limestone bedrock, which can be seen in nearby outcroppings and quarry sites.
The ground you are standing on and the hills across the valley were formed 13,000 years ago when rocks and clay were deposited by the Wisconsin Glacier. Meltwater from the glacier carved out this valley and exposed the limestone bedrock.
During the 1800s, limestone from quarries in the area was used to buildthe Chicago Water Tower and many buildings in Lemont. Visitors to the abandoned quarry site in Waterfall Glen can find fossils that are three times older than dinosaurs."
The main entrance to Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve is on Northgate Road, west of Cass Avenue. From I-55, exit Cass south to Northgate Road. An entrance closer to this waymark is just to the northwest on Lemont Road.
Learn more about Waterfall Glen at (
visit link)