AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Hammel Woods Forest Preserve–Joliet Junior College Lake, 3 groves

15.9 mi · ▲ 109 ft · 5 hr 21 min

Hammel Woods Forest Preserve–Joliet Junior College Lake, 3 groves is a 15.9-mile out-and-back near Rockdale, IL. The route passes Joliet Junior College Lake before reaching Hammel Woods Forest Preserve at the turnaround, 7.9 miles in. It is mostly level, with 109 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi522 – 604 ft17.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.50210, -88.11668
Nearest town Rockdale, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Hammel Woods Forest Preserve–Joliet Junior College Lake, 3 groves

15.9 mi · ▲ 109 ft · 5 hr 21 min

Elevation 522–603 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 41.50210, -88.11668

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:40 AM · sunset 6:53 PM

Transit-accessible: Moen & Midland stop 369 m from the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 400 ftTurn right onto Illinois & Michigan Trail, heading W.
  3. 2.6 miTurn right onto Rock Run Greenway Trail, heading NW.
  4. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Rock Run Greenway, heading N.
  5. 1 miPass Joliet Junior College Lake.
  6. 1.3 miTurn right, heading NE.
  7. 2.1 miTurn left onto Black Road Trail Connector, heading NE.
  8. 0.1 miPass Hammel Woods Forest Preserve.
  9. 0.3 miTurn left onto DuPage River Trail, heading W.
  10. 400 ftBear left, heading W.
  11. 150 ftReach Hammel Woods Forest Preserve, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  12. 100 ftBear right, heading W.
  13. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  14. 350 ftTurn right onto Black Road Trail Connector, heading S.
  15. 0.4 miTurn right onto Rock Run Greenway, heading NE.
  16. 2.1 miTurn right, heading S.
  17. 3 miTurn left onto Illinois & Michigan Trail, heading S.
  18. 2.6 miTurn left, heading NE.
  19. 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/hammel-woods-forest-preserve-joliet-junior-college-lake-out-back-5-sights

Trail surface

31% dirt7% paved1% other61% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:40 AMSunset 6:53 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.4 mi in (~85 min). Leave by 5:08 PM for the 6:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:32 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Moen & Midland stop 369 m from the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Rockdale, Illinois