AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
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Herrick Lake Forest Preserve

Herrick Lake–Front Pond, 6 lakes

10 mi · ▲ 83 ft · 3 hr 22 min

Herrick Lake–Front Pond, 6 lakes is a 10-mile out-and-back in Herrick Lake Forest Preserve near Winfield, IL. The route passes Wood Duck Pond, East Pond, Front Pond and Herrick Lake. It is mostly level, with 83 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi712 – 787 ft10.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.84072, -88.15938
Nearest town Winfield, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Herrick Lake–Front Pond, 6 lakes

10 mi · ▲ 83 ft · 3 hr 22 min

Elevation 712–787 ft

Out & Back · Herrick Lake Forest Preserve

Trailhead: 41.84072, -88.15938

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

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 0.1 miTurn left, heading SE.
  3. 450 ftTurn right onto St. James Farm Bike Trail, heading W.
  4. 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  5. 0.2 miPass Wood Duck Pond.
  6. 0.1 miBear left, heading SE.
  7. 0.1 miPass East Pond.
  8. 50 ftPass Front Pond.
  9. 200 ftBear left, heading S.
  10. 350 ftBear right, heading S.
  11. 400 ftContinue straight onto Illinois Prairie Path Aurora Branch, heading S.
  12. 100 ftTurn left onto Danada-Herrick Lake Regional Trail, heading S.
  13. 0.8 miPass Herrick Lake.
  14. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  15. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  16. 1.3 miTurn left onto Bluebird Trail, heading E.
  17. 0.4 miBear left onto Danada-Herrick Lake Regional Trail, heading NE.
  18. 1.2 miReach Herrick Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  19. 0.7 miBear left, heading NW.
  20. 0.5 miBear right onto Bluebird Trail, heading SW.
  21. 0.4 miTurn right onto Danada-Herrick Lake Regional Trail, heading SW.
  22. 1.3 miTurn right, heading N.
  23. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  24. 1 miTurn right onto Illinois Prairie Path Aurora Branch, heading W.
  25. 450 ftBear left, heading W.
  26. 350 ftBear right, heading W.
  27. 0.2 miBear right, heading N.
  28. 0.4 miTurn right onto St. James Farm Bike Trail, heading NW.
  29. 0.3 miTurn left, heading NW.
  30. 400 ftTurn right, heading N.
  31. 150 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/herrick-lake-front-pond-out-back-10-lakes-13-km

Trail surface

58% gravel14% paved14% dirt2% grass12% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:40 AMSunset 6:53 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.3 mi in (~57 min). Leave by 5:37 PM for the 6:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:04 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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