AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Half Day Forest Preserve

Half Day Pond–Ranney Pond, 3 lakes

6.4 mi · ▲ 26 ft · 2 hr 9 min

Half Day Pond–Ranney Pond, 3 lakes is a 6.4-mile out-and-back in Half Day Forest Preserve near Half Day, IL. The route passes Half Day Pond and Willow Lawn Memorial Park Pond before reaching Ranney Pond at the turnaround, 3.2 miles in. It is mostly level, with 26 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi640 – 709 ft7.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.21273, -87.93469
Nearest town Half Day, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Half Day Pond–Ranney Pond, 3 lakes

6.4 mi · ▲ 26 ft · 2 hr 9 min

Elevation 639–707 ft

Out & Back · Half Day Forest Preserve

Trailhead: 42.21273, -87.93469

Weather Sep 22: sunrise 6:40 AM · sunset 6:51 PM

Transit-accessible: Milwaukee & Woodlands stop 34 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 50 ftPass Half Day Pond.
  3. 50 ftContinue straight onto Red Trail, heading E.
  4. 100 ftBear left, heading NE.
  5. 250 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  6. 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
  7. 50 ftSharp left onto Des Plaines River Trail, heading N.
  8. 1.1 miTurn left, heading N.
  9. 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
  10. 150 ftBear left, heading NW.
  11. 50 ftBear right, heading W.
  12. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Vernon Hills High School Drop-off Loop, heading W.
  13. 0.1 miTurn right, heading SW.
  14. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  15. 0.1 miBear right, heading SW.
  16. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  17. 0.5 miTurn right, heading S.
  18. 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
  19. 0.3 miPass Willow Lawn Memorial Park Pond.
  20. 50 ftPass Ranney Pond.
  21. 0.1 miReach Half Day Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  22. 0.5 miTurn left, heading S.
  23. 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
  24. 0.5 miTurn right, heading N.
  25. 50 ftBear left, heading N.
  26. 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
  27. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  28. 0.7 miBear left, heading E.
  29. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  30. 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
  31. 0.1 miTurn right onto Des Plaines River Trail, heading E.
  32. 1.1 miSharp right, heading SE.
  33. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  34. 50 ftContinue straight onto Red Trail, heading E.
  35. 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
  36. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  37. 250 ftBear right, heading SE.
  38. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/half-day-pond-ranney-pond-out-back-5-lakes-10-km

Trail surface

46% paved33% gravel2% boardwalk19% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:40 AMSunset 6:51 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.5 mi in (~62 min). Leave by 5:29 PM for the 6:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:07 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Milwaukee & Woodlands stop 34 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Half Day, Illinois