AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Fourth Lake Forest Preserve

McDonald Woods Lake–McDonald Woods Lake Trail, 3 sights

14.2 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 4 hr 45 min

McDonald Woods Lake–McDonald Woods Lake Trail, 3 sights is a 14.2-mile out-and-back in Fourth Lake Forest Preserve near Druce Lake, IL. The route reaches McDonald Woods Lake. It is mostly level, with 27 ft of elevation gain, and mostly gravel. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi738 – 801 ft15.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.36042, -88.00927
Nearest town Druce Lake, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

McDonald Woods Lake–McDonald Woods Lake Trail, 3 sights

14.2 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 4 hr 45 min

Elevation 737–799 ft

Out & Back · Fourth Lake Forest Preserve

Trailhead: 42.36042, -88.00927

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:39 AM · sunset 6:53 PM

Transit-accessible: Washington & Sextant stop 164 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 0.7 miTurn right, heading NW.
  3. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  4. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  5. 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
  6. 200 ftBear right, heading N.
  7. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  8. 1.1 miBear right onto Millennium Trail, heading N.
  9. 3.8 miTurn left, heading NE.
  10. 0.8 miPass McDonald Woods Lake.
  11. 0.9 miTurn right onto McDonald Lake Trail, heading W.
  12. 50 ftSharp left onto McDonald Woods Lake Trail, heading W.
  13. 50 ftReach McDonald Woods Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  14. 50 ftSharp right onto McDonald Lake Trail, heading W.
  15. 50 ftTurn left onto McDonald Woods Lake Trail, heading W.
  16. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Millennium Trail, heading S.
  17. 1 miBear right, heading SE.
  18. 2.9 miBear right, heading S.
  19. 0.5 miTurn right, heading W.
  20. 0.3 miBear left, heading S.
  21. 1.1 miTurn left, heading S.
  22. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  23. 200 ftBear left, heading SW.
  24. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  25. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  26. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  27. 0.3 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/central-marsh-mcdonald-woods-lake-out-back-6-sights-20-km

Trail surface

72% gravel2% paved2% boardwalk24% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:39 AMSunset 6:53 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.8 mi in (~118 min). Leave by 4:35 PM for the 6:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:06 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Washington & Sextant stop 164 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Druce Lake, Illinois