Skip to content

Dayton Bluffs Preserve

Dayton Bluffs Preserve from directly overhead

Dayton Bluffs Preserve is a nature reserve in Illinois, at a modelled elevation of 184 m. Smiths Mound stands 228 m to the south-southeast, 22 miles off. The nearest named place is Volvo Island, a attraction 1.1 miles away. Illinois River Road passes 2.9 miles off. 9 named summits stand within 25 miles.

What to expect

Operated by
City of Ottawa

Official site

How to reach it

Coordinates41.37043, -88.79284

Overlooks nearby

Named places within 25 miles

Parks
  • Walsh Park: 2.1 mi
  • Lincoln-Douglas Park: 2.2 mi
  • Fox River Park: 2.4 mi
  • East Side Park: 2.6 mi
  • Washington Square Park: 2.9 mi
Historic sites: 21
Peaks: 9
  • Water Strider Effigy: 7.1 mi
  • Frog Effigy: 7.2 mi
  • Buffalo Rock: 7.3 mi
  • Catfish Effigy: 7.4 mi
  • Starved Rock: 10.8 mi
Museums: 7
  • La Salle County Historical Museum: 11.4 mi
  • Fern Dell Museum: 15.9 mi
  • Earlville History Museum: 16.6 mi
  • Streatorland Historical Museum: 17.2 mi
  • Grundy County Historical Society: 18.9 mi
Attractions: 5
Waterfalls: 5
  • Ottawa Canyon Waterfall: 9.2 mi
  • Wildcat Canyon Waterfall: 10.6 mi
  • Saint Louis Canyon Waterfall: 11.6 mi
  • Lake Falls: 13.0 mi
  • Cascade Falls: 13.2 mi
Cliffs: 3
Artworks: 3
Picnic sites: 2

Summits around it

The highest named summits within 25 miles of Dayton Bluffs Preserve. Elevation from each summit’s own record; bearing measured between the two coordinates.

SummitBearingElevationDistance
Smiths MoundSSE 166°228 m22.1 mi
Maramech HillNE 35°196 m22.6 mi
Piety HillWSW 254°189 m15.5 mi
Buffalo RockWSW 244°170 m7.3 mi
Starved RockWSW 252°167 m10.8 mi

When to go

Light through the year

DateSunriseGolden hourSunset
March equinox06:5918:3119:07
June solstice05:2319:5120:33
September equinox06:4318:1818:54
December solstice07:1915:4516:29

Local time (America/Chicago).

Climate normals

Months averaging 50–80 °F: May–Oct.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Avg °F232637496170737265534029
Precip in2.01.92.53.64.74.93.94.13.53.22.72.1

1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, NOAA NCEI — Marseilles Lock/dam, 4 mi away.

Where this comes from

Location and category confirmed against OpenStreetMap.

OpenStreetMapOfficial site

OpenStreetMap element way/1017963577

More nature reserves in Illinois

Day trips start here

Drive to it

Byway plans a real route around stops like this one.

Private beta · Free to join

Take the scenic way to Dayton Bluffs Preserve.

Byway plans around your taste, verified places, real weather and opening hours — then opens every leg in Google Maps with one tap.

Private beta · Free to join · No card · Invite when a spot opens