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Morton Arboretum

Arbor Lake–Sterling Pond, 5 lakes

3.9 mi · ▲ 110 ft · 1 hr 21 min

Arbor Lake–Sterling Pond, 5 lakes is a 3.9-mile out-and-back in Morton Arboretum near Lisle, IL. The route passes Sterling Pond and Lake Jopamaca before reaching Arbor Lake at the turnaround, 1.9 miles in. It is mostly level, with 110 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi663 – 745 ft4.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Birch Trail 41.81239, -88.08419
Nearest town Lisle, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Arbor Lake–Sterling Pond, 5 lakes

3.9 mi · ▲ 110 ft · 1 hr 21 min

Elevation 662–743 ft

Out & Back · Morton Arboretum

Trailhead: Birch Trail · 41.81239, -88.08419

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:39 AM · sunset 6:53 PM

Transit-accessible: Warrenville & White Birch stop 445 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 0.3 miSharp right onto Prairie Trail, heading E.
  3. 0.2 miTurn right, heading N.
  4. 350 ftPass Sterling Pond.
  5. 100 ftBear right onto Main Trail Loop 4, heading NE.
  6. 450 ftSharp left onto Main Trail Loop 3 and 4, heading SE.
  7. 0.1 miTurn right onto Main Trail Loop 3, heading N.
  8. 0.3 miTurn left, heading E.
  9. 0.4 miTurn right onto Main Trail Loop 1 and 2, heading SE.
  10. 0.2 miPass Lake Jopamaca.
  11. 150 ftTurn right onto Main Trail Loop 2, heading S.
  12. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  13. 0.3 miReach Arbor Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  14. 0.3 miTurn left onto Main Trail Loop 1 and 2, heading NE.
  15. 0.3 miTurn left onto Main Trail Loop 2, heading N.
  16. 0.4 miTurn right onto Main Trail Loop 3, heading S.
  17. 0.3 miTurn left onto Main Trail Loop 3 and 4, heading SW.
  18. 0.1 miSharp right onto Main Trail Loop 4, heading S.
  19. 500 ftBear left, heading S.
  20. 450 ftTurn left onto Prairie Trail, heading W.
  21. 0.2 miSharp left onto Acre Trail, heading SE.
  22. 0.2 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/arbor-lake-sterling-pond-out-back-8-lakes

Trail surface

42% dirt12% grass46% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:39 AMSunset 6:53 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.3 mi in (~6 min). Leave by 6:27 PM for the 6:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:15 PM — 6 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Warrenville & White Birch stop 445 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Birch Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Lisle, Illinois