Hastings Lake Forest Preserve

Hastings Lake & Mallard Ridge Pond

3.2 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 1 hr 6 min

Hastings Lake & Mallard Ridge Pond is a 3.2-mile out-and-back in Hastings Lake Forest Preserve near Lake Villa, IL. The route passes Mallard Ridge Pond before reaching Hastings Lake at the turnaround, 1.6 miles in. It is mostly level, with 53 ft of elevation gain. It scores 9/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi764 – 833 ft3.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.43373, -88.05242
Nearest town Lake Villa, IL

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Hastings Lake & Mallard Ridge Pond

3.2 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 1 hr 6 min

Elevation 766–835 ft

Out & Back · Hastings Lake Forest Preserve

Trailhead: 42.43373, -88.05242

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:38 AM · sunset 6:55 PM

Bikes allowed on the whole route

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 0.4 miTurn right, heading S.
  3. 0.5 miTurn right, heading S.
  4. 0.4 miPass Mallard Ridge Pond.
  5. 150 ftBear left, heading S.
  6. 0.3 miReach Hastings Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  7. 0.3 miBear right, heading N.
  8. 0.4 miTurn left, heading N.
  9. 0.5 miTurn left, heading N.
  10. 0.3 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail surface

24% paved76% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:38 AMSunset 6:55 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 6:35 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 6:55 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 7:23 PM.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Bikes allowed on the whole route