McDonald Woods Forest Preserve
Fourth Lake–McDonald Woods Lake, 3 lakes
7.6 mi · ▲ 108 ft · 2 hr 35 min
Fourth Lake–McDonald Woods Lake, 3 lakes is a 7.6-mile out-and-back in McDonald Woods Forest Preserve near Millburn, IL. The route passes McDonald Woods Lake before reaching Fourth Lake at the turnaround, 3.8 miles in. It is mostly level, with 108 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Fourth Lake–McDonald Woods Lake, 3 lakes
7.6 mi · ▲ 108 ft · 2 hr 35 min
Elevation 737–799 ft
Out & Back · McDonald Woods Forest Preserve
Trailhead: 42.42659, -88.01855
Weather Sep 20: Rain, high 65°F / low 61° · precip 84% · wind 12 mph · sunrise 6:38 AM · sunset 6:55 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.1 miSharp right, heading SE.
- 200 ftBear right, heading S.
- 50 ftBear left, heading S.
- 0.2 miBear left onto McDonald Woods Lake Trail, heading SW.
- 50 ftSharp right onto McDonald Lake Trail, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn left onto McDonald Woods Lake Trail, heading S.
- 0.4 miPass McDonald Woods Lake.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Millennium Trail, heading S.
- 1 miBear right, heading E.
- 1.7 miBear right, heading W.
- 0.1 miReach Fourth Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.8 miTurn left, heading E.
- 1.7 miTurn right onto McDonald Lake Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftSharp left onto McDonald Woods Lake Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftBear right, heading W.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 250 ftSharp left, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.7 mi in (~67 min). Leave by 5:28 PM for the 6:55 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:17 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Sand Lake–McDonald Woods Lake, 3 lakes 7.9 mi · ▲ 107 ft
- McDonald Woods Lake & McDonald Woods Lake Trail 2 mi · ▲ 53 ft
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