Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area

Heidecke Lake–Overview Sunset Point, 4 sights

6.5 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 2 hr 10 min

Heidecke Lake–Overview Sunset Point, 4 sights is a 6.5-mile out-and-back in Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area near Divine, IL. The route passes Heidecke Lake before reaching Overview Sunset Point at the turnaround, 3.3 miles in. It is mostly level, with 0 ft of elevation gain. It scores 22/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi512 – 532 ft6.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.37794, -88.31190
Nearest town Divine, IL

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Heidecke Lake–Overview Sunset Point, 4 sights

6.5 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 2 hr 10 min

Elevation 512–531 ft

Out & Back · Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area

Trailhead: 41.37794, -88.31190

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:40 AM · sunset 6:54 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 50 ftPass Heidecke Lake.
  3. 0.9 miTurn left, heading E.
  4. 0.3 miTurn right onto Sagashka Trail, heading S.
  5. 0.3 miTurn right, heading W.
  6. 0.3 miBear right, heading S.
  7. 500 ftBear right, heading SW.
  8. 450 ftContinue straight onto Prairie View Trail, heading SW.
  9. 1.3 miBear left onto Overview Trail, heading NE.
  10. 150 ftPass Overview Sunset Point.
  11. 150 ftReach Heidecke Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  12. 250 ftBear right onto Prairie View Trail, heading NE.
  13. 1.4 miBear left, heading NE.
  14. 500 ftBear left, heading E.
  15. 0.3 miTurn left onto Sagashka Trail, heading E.
  16. 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  17. 0.3 miTurn right, heading W.
  18. 0.9 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

42% grass16% dirt12% gravel30% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:40 AMSunset 6:54 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.9 mi in (~71 min). Leave by 5:23 PM for the 6:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:20 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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