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Morton Arboretum

Arbor Lake–Sunfish Pond, 7 sights

4.4 mi · ▲ 224 ft · 1 hr 35 min

Arbor Lake–Sunfish Pond, 7 sights is a 4.4-mile out-and-back in Morton Arboretum near Lisle, IL. The route passes Arbor Lake, Sterling Pond and Sunfish Pond. It is mostly level, with 224 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi666 – 745 ft4.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Birch Trail 41.81234, -88.08061
Nearest town Lisle, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Arbor Lake–Sunfish Pond, 7 sights

4.4 mi · ▲ 224 ft · 1 hr 35 min

Elevation 666–743 ft

Out & Back · Morton Arboretum

Trailhead: Birch Trail · 41.81234, -88.08061

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

Transit-accessible: Warrenville & White Birch stop 452 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Birch Trail, heading SW.
  2. 50 ftPass Arbor Lake.
  3. 0.4 miSharp right onto Prairie Trail, heading NW.
  4. 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
  5. 300 ftPass Sterling Pond.
  6. 150 ftBear right onto Main Trail Loop 4, heading NW.
  7. 450 ftSharp left onto Main Trail Loop 3 and 4, heading NE.
  8. 0.1 miTurn right onto Main Trail Loop 3, heading N.
  9. 0.3 miTurn left, heading E.
  10. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Main Trail Loop 1, heading SE.
  11. 0.1 miPass Sunfish Pond.
  12. 0.2 miTurn left onto Thornhill Trail, heading E.
  13. 0.3 miReach Arbor Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  14. 0.3 miTurn right onto Main Trail Loop 1, heading E.
  15. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Main Trail Loop 2, heading W.
  16. 0.4 miTurn right onto Main Trail Loop 3, heading N.
  17. 0.3 miTurn left onto Main Trail Loop 3 and 4, heading W.
  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 SW.
  21. 0.2 miSharp left onto Acre Trail, heading W.
  22. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Birch Trail, heading W.
  23. 350 ftArrive 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-sunfish-pond-out-back-10-lakes

Trail surface

27% dirt18% grass55% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:39 AMSunset 6:53 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.4 mi in (~10 min). Leave by 6:23 PM for the 6:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:20 PM — 1 min before dark.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Warrenville & White Birch stop 452 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Birch Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Lisle, Illinois