AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Walter E. Heller Nature Preserve

Birch?–Prairie Wolf Slough, 5 sights

8.7 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 2 hr 55 min

Birch?–Prairie Wolf Slough, 5 sights is an 8.7-mile out-and-back in Walter E. Heller Nature Preserve near Del Mar Woods, IL. The route passes Birch? and Prairie Wolf Slough. It is mostly level, with 27 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi653 – 702 ft9.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.21596, -87.84845
Nearest town Del Mar Woods, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Birch?–Prairie Wolf Slough, 5 sights

8.7 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 2 hr 55 min

Elevation 654–701 ft

Out & Back · Walter E. Heller Nature Preserve

Trailhead: 42.21596, -87.84845

Weather Sep 22: Overcast, high 61°F / low 57° · precip 6% · wind 9 mph · sunrise 6:39 AM · sunset 6:50 PM

Transit-accessible: Milwaukee & Half Day stop 203 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 0.2 miBear right, heading SE.
  3. 0.3 miBear right onto Red trails, heading SE.
  4. 0.2 miPass Birch?.
  5. 200 ftContinue straight onto Green trails, heading S.
  6. 400 ftTurn right onto Red trails, heading SE.
  7. 50 ftTurn left onto Blue trails, heading S.
  8. 0.5 miTurn right onto Buffalo Grove-Lincolnshire Bike Path, heading S.
  9. 0.7 miPass Prairie Wolf Slough.
  10. 0.4 miTurn left, heading W.
  11. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  12. 50 ftBear right, heading W.
  13. 2.1 miReach Birch?, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  14. 2.1 miBear left, heading E.
  15. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  16. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  17. 1.1 miTurn left onto Blue trails, heading E.
  18. 0.5 miTurn right onto Red trails, heading E.
  19. 50 ftTurn left onto Green trails, heading E.
  20. 400 ftContinue straight onto Red trails, heading N.
  21. 0.5 miBear left, heading NW.
  22. 50 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/birch-indian-creek-out-back-7-sights

Trail surface

71% paved5% dirt24% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 61°F57°
Precip6%Wind9 mphUV5Humidity70%
Rained 1.8″ 2 days ago (2.4″ over the last week) · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperature
65°50°
Sunrise 6:39 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 6:50 PM
Wed 64°57°
Thu 66°58°
Fri 67°59°
Sat 64°58°
Sun 66°58°
Mon 72°59°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.7 mi in (~90 min). Leave by 5:01 PM for the 6:50 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:36 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Milwaukee & Half Day stop 203 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Del Mar Woods, Illinois