AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Mississippi Sanctuary/Olin Nature Preserve

Dead chestnut–Blue Pool, 4 sights

2 mi · ▲ 211 ft · 46 min

Dead chestnut–Blue Pool, 4 sights is a 2-mile out-and-back in Mississippi Sanctuary/Olin Nature Preserve near Fairmont, IL. The route passes Blue Pool and Dead chestnut. It is mostly level, with 211 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 31/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi423 – 627 ft · steepest grade: 17%2.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Old Blue Pool Trail 38.91092, -90.21962
Nearest town Fairmont, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Dead chestnut–Blue Pool, 4 sights

2 mi · ▲ 211 ft · 46 min

Elevation 424–627 ft

Out & Back · Mississippi Sanctuary/Olin Nature Preserve

Trailhead: Old Blue Pool Trail · 38.91092, -90.21962

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:47 AM · sunset 7:03 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Old Blue Pool Trail, heading E.
  2. 50 ftPass Blue Pool.
  3. 0.2 miTurn left onto Beaver-Deer-Rock Trail, heading W.
  4. 0.3 miTurn right onto Fox Trail, heading N.
  5. 150 ftTurn right onto Eagle Trail, heading E.
  6. 500 ftReach Dead chestnut, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  7. 500 ftSharp right onto Fox Trail, heading NE.
  8. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Frog-Fox Trails, heading NW.
  9. 250 ftSharp right onto Beaver-Deer-Rock Trail, heading W.
  10. 0.3 miBear right onto Beaver Trail, heading E.
  11. 50 ftTurn right onto Rock Trail, heading E.
  12. 0.2 miTurn right onto Beaver-Deer-Rock Trail, heading SE.
  13. 0.2 miBear left onto Old Blue Pool Trail, heading SW.
  14. 0.2 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/dead-chestnut-blue-pool-out-back-6-sights

Trail surface

98% dirt2% paved

Weather

Sunrise 6:47 AMSunset 7:03 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.0 mi in (~1 min). Leave by 6:42 PM for the 7:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:19 PM — 11 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Old Blue Pool Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Fairmont, Illinois