AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Fairview Park

Birky Pond–Cardinal Court, 4 sights

5.8 mi · ▲ 26 ft · 1 hr 57 min

Birky Pond–Cardinal Court, 4 sights is a 5.8-mile out-and-back in Fairview Park near Normal, IL. The route reaches Birky Pond at the turnaround, 2.9 miles in. It is mostly level, with 26 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi771 – 830 ft7.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Uptown Circle 40.50967, -88.98417
Nearest town Normal, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Birky Pond–Cardinal Court, 4 sights

5.8 mi · ▲ 26 ft · 1 hr 57 min

Elevation 771–831 ft

Out & Back · Fairview Park

Trailhead: Uptown Circle · 40.50967, -88.98417

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:42 AM · sunset 6:58 PM

Transit-accessible: Bloomington-Normal stop 106 m from the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Uptown Circle, heading S.
  2. 150 ftBear left onto Constitution Trail Illinois Central Branch, heading SE.
  3. 0.1 miTurn right, heading SW.
  4. 250 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  5. 500 ftSharp right, heading S.
  6. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Constitution Trail Collegiate Branch, heading N.
  7. 0.3 miTurn left, heading SW.
  8. 150 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  9. 0.6 miTurn left, heading W.
  10. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  11. 0.2 miTurn right onto Cardinal Court, heading W.
  12. 50 ftTurn left onto Gregory Street, heading W.
  13. 0.1 miTurn right onto Constitution Trail Collegiate Branch, heading N.
  14. 1 miTurn left, heading N.
  15. 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
  16. 150 ftSharp right onto Country Financial Trail, heading N.
  17. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  18. 50 ftReach Birky Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  19. 50 ftSharp left, heading N.
  20. 150 ftTurn left onto Constitution Trail Collegiate Branch, heading N.
  21. 0.1 miTurn left, heading N.
  22. 1 miTurn left onto Gregory Street, heading S.
  23. 0.1 miTurn right onto Cardinal Court, heading S.
  24. 50 ftTurn left onto Constitution Trail Collegiate Branch, heading S.
  25. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  26. 250 ftTurn left, heading S.
  27. 0.6 miSharp left, heading SW.
  28. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  29. 150 ftTurn right, heading S.
  30. 0.6 miSharp left onto Constitution Trail Illinois Central Branch, heading S.
  31. 450 ftBear left, heading S.
  32. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  33. 250 ftTurn left, heading S.
  34. 0.1 miBear right onto Uptown Circle, heading S.
  35. 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/birky-pond-birky-pond-out-back-5-sights

Trail surface

91% paved9% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:42 AMSunset 6:58 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.0 mi in (~51 min). Leave by 5:47 PM for the 6:58 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:03 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Bloomington-Normal stop 106 m from the trailhead
  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Uptown Circle Trailhead

Hikes near Normal, Illinois