AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Spears Woods

Belly Deep Slough–Cranberry Slough, 7 lakes

4.4 mi · ▲ 80 ft · 1 hr 30 min

Belly Deep Slough–Cranberry Slough, 7 lakes is a 4.4-mile out-and-back in Spears Woods near Willow Springs, IL. The route passes Boomerang Slough, Hidden Pond Slough, Redwing Slough and 2 more. It is mostly level, with 80 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi659 – 745 ft4.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Spears Woods Trail Access 41.72566, -87.85318
Nearest town Willow Springs, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Belly Deep Slough–Cranberry Slough, 7 lakes

4.4 mi · ▲ 80 ft · 1 hr 30 min

Elevation 659–743 ft

Out & Back · Spears Woods

Trailhead: Spears Woods Trail Access · 41.72566, -87.85318

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:38 AM · sunset 6:52 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Black Unpaved Spur Trail, heading W.
  2. 0.2 miBear left onto Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading SW.
  3. 0.2 miTurn left onto Orange Unpaved Trail, heading SE.
  4. 50 ftPass Boomerang Slough.
  5. 0.7 miPass Hidden Pond Slough.
  6. 50 ftBear right onto Brown Unpaved Trail, heading SE.
  7. 0.3 miPass Redwing Slough.
  8. 0.4 miPass Belly Deep Slough.
  9. 0.9 miPass Cranberry Slough.
  10. 150 ftTurn right onto Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading N.
  11. 1.4 miTurn right onto Orange Unpaved Trail, heading NE.
  12. 50 ftTurn left onto Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading NE.
  13. 0.2 miBear right, heading NE.
  14. 150 ftContinue straight onto Black Unpaved Spur Trail, heading E.
  15. 0.1 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/belly-deep-slough-loop

Trail surface

92% dirt7% gravel1% paved

Weather

Sunrise 6:38 AMSunset 6:52 PM

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Spears Woods Trail Access Trailhead

Hikes near Willow Springs, Illinois