Sedge Meadow Forest Preserve

Des Plaines Lake–Gowe Memorial Pond, 3 lakes

12.6 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 4 hr 12 min

Des Plaines Lake–Gowe Memorial Pond, 3 lakes is a 12.6-mile out-and-back in Sedge Meadow Forest Preserve near Wadsworth, IL. The route passes Des Plaines Lake and Gowe Memorial Pond. It is mostly level, with 0 ft of elevation gain, and mostly gravel. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi653 – 686 ft13.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.42793, -87.93583
Nearest town Wadsworth, IL

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Des Plaines Lake–Gowe Memorial Pond, 3 lakes

12.6 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 4 hr 12 min

Elevation 653–685 ft

Out & Back · Sedge Meadow Forest Preserve

Trailhead: 42.42793, -87.93583

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

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 0.1 miBear right onto Des Plaines River Trail, heading SE.
  3. 0.6 miTurn left, heading E.
  4. 1.1 miPass Des Plaines Lake.
  5. 3.1 miPass Gowe Memorial Pond.
  6. 0.8 miBear left, heading W.
  7. 100 ftTurn left onto Washington Street Bike Path, heading NW.
  8. 0.3 miTurn left, heading E.
  9. 0.3 miReach Des Plaines Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  10. 0.3 miTurn left, heading W.
  11. 0.3 miTurn right, heading W.
  12. 100 ftBear right, heading W.
  13. 50 ftContinue straight onto Des Plaines River Trail, heading W.
  14. 5.6 miBear left, heading NE.
  15. 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

82% gravel11% paved7% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:39 AMSunset 6:53 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 6.1 mi in (~149 min). Leave by 4:03 PM for the 6:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:37 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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