AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Crystal Lake–Hook Lake, 7 lakes

2.1 mi · ▲ 26 ft · 43 min

Crystal Lake–Hook Lake, 7 lakes is a 2.1-mile out-and-back near Pyatts, IL. The route passes Chain Lakes, Serene Lake, Hook Lake and 3 more before reaching Crystal Lake at the turnaround, 1.1 miles in. It is mostly level, with 26 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 76/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi427 – 463 ft2.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 38.01108, -89.41481
Nearest town Pyatts, IL
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Crystal Lake–Hook Lake, 7 lakes

2.1 mi · ▲ 26 ft · 43 min

Elevation 425–461 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 38.01108, -89.41481

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:44 AM · sunset 7:00 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 50 ftPass Chain Lakes.
  3. 50 ftPass Serene Lake.
  4. 0.4 miPass Hook Lake.
  5. 50 ftPass Chain Lakes.
  6. 350 ftTurn right onto Lost Forty Trail, heading NW.
  7. 50 ftPass Reed Lake.
  8. 0.1 miBear left onto Split Lakes Tral, heading W.
  9. 50 ftPass Marsh Lake.
  10. 0.5 miReach Crystal Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  11. 0.5 miBear right onto Lost Forty Trail, heading SE.
  12. 0.1 miTurn left, heading NE.
  13. 0.4 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/crystal-lake-hook-lake-out-back-24-lakes

Trail surface

100% dirt

Weather

Sunrise 6:44 AMSunset 7:00 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.4 mi in (~11 min). Leave by 6:28 PM for the 7:00 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:26 PM — 0 min before dark.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Hikes near Pyatts, Illinois