Walter E. Heller Nature Preserve
Birch?–Prairie Wolf Slough, 3 groves
3.6 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 12 min
Birch?–Prairie Wolf Slough, 3 groves is a 3.6-mile out-and-back in Walter E. Heller Nature Preserve near Del Mar Woods, IL. The route passes Prairie Wolf Slough before reaching Birch? at the turnaround, 1.8 miles in. It is mostly level, with 0 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Birch?–Prairie Wolf Slough, 3 groves
3.6 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 12 min
Elevation 653–683 ft
Out & Back · Walter E. Heller Nature Preserve
Trailhead: 42.19406, -87.85610
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:38 AM · sunset 6:52 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 400 ftPass Prairie Wolf Slough.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 200 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 0.8 miTurn left onto Blue trails, heading E.
- 0.5 miContinue straight onto Green trails, heading NW.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 100 ftReach Birch?, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Blue trails, heading NW.
- 0.5 miTurn right onto Buffalo Grove-Lincolnshire Bike Path, heading SW.
- 0.8 miTurn left, heading W.
- 50 ftSharp left, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading SE.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
- 350 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 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 surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.8 mi in (~44 min). Leave by 5:49 PM for the 6:52 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:51 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
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