AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve

Elks Lake

2.9 mi · ▲ 81 ft · 1 hr

Elks Lake is a 2.9-mile out-and-back in Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve near Mahomet, IL. The route reaches Elks Lake at the turnaround, 1.2 miles in. It is mostly level, with 81 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi705 – 758 ft3.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 40.18715, -88.38254
Nearest town Mahomet, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Elks Lake

2.9 mi · ▲ 81 ft · 1 hr

Elevation 706–758 ft

Out & Back · Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve

Trailhead: 40.18715, -88.38254

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:41 AM · sunset 6:54 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 0.4 miTurn left, heading W.
  3. 0.3 miTurn right, heading NE.
  4. 0.5 miPass Elks Lake.
  5. 0.1 miTurn left onto Elks Lake Trail, heading E.
  6. 0.2 miReach Elks Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  7. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SE.
  8. 0.6 miTurn left, heading SW.
  9. 0.3 miTurn right, heading E.
  10. 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/elks-lake-elks-lake-out-back-5-km

Trail surface

82% paved16% grass2% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:41 AMSunset 6:54 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.1 mi in (~27 min). Leave by 6:07 PM for the 6:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:37 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Hikes near Mahomet, Illinois