Big Rock–Eagle Lake Loop, 8 sights is a 3.3-mile loop in Morton Arboretum near Valley View, IL. The route passes Meadow Lake, Eagle Lake, Big Rock and Crabapple Lake. It is mostly level, with 107 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi679 – 748 ft3.5 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 41.81682, -88.06687
Nearest town Valley View, IL
Directions
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Big Rock–Eagle Lake Loop, 8 sights
3.3 mi · ▲ 107 ft · 1 hr 9 min
Elevation 679–747 ft
Loop · Morton Arboretum
Trailhead: 41.81682, -88.06687
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:39 AM · sunset 6:53 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading S.
- 50 ftPass Meadow Lake.
- 200 ftTurn left onto Main Trail Loop 1, heading NE.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Main Trail Loop 2, heading NE.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading N.
- 0.2 miPass Eagle Lake.
- 350 ftReach Big Rock, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 350 ftSharp left onto Heritage Trail, heading SE.
- 0.2 miPass Big Rock.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading E.
- 200 ftTurn right onto Main Trail Loop 3, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Main Trail Loop 2+3, heading NW.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Main Trail Loop 2, heading S.
- 0.5 miTurn left onto Main Trail Loop 1, heading W.
- 0.1 miPass Crabapple Lake.
- 0.3 miThe loop closes back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
83% dirt1% gravel16% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:39 AMSunset 6:53 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.1 mi in (~29 min). Leave by 6:04 PM for the 6:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:36 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Round Meadow Lake–Eagle Lake, 5 lakes 3 mi · ▲ 108 ft
- Meadow Lake–Crabapple Lake Loop, 6 sights 3.4 mi · ▲ 108 ft
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