Hickory Creek Preserve

Schmuhl School Loop via Old Plank Road Trail

9.1 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 3 hr 4 min

Schmuhl School Loop via Old Plank Road Trail is a 9.1-mile loop in Hickory Creek Preserve near Frankfort, IL. The route reaches Schmuhl School. It is mostly level, with 53 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi682 – 748 ft9.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.50372, -87.86893
Nearest town Frankfort, IL

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Schmuhl School Loop via Old Plank Road Trail

9.1 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 3 hr 4 min

Elevation 682–747 ft

Loop · Hickory Creek Preserve

Trailhead: 41.50372, -87.86893

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:39 AM · sunset 6:52 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  3. 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
  4. 250 ftContinue straight onto Hickory Creek Bikeway, heading SW.
  5. 1 miTurn right, heading W.
  6. 1.6 miBear right, heading W.
  7. 100 ftTurn left, heading W.
  8. 0.3 miReach Schmuhl School, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  9. 1 miTurn right, heading W.
  10. 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
  11. 0.1 miSharp right, heading W.
  12. 350 ftTurn left, heading W.
  13. 0.6 miTurn left onto Old Plank Road Trail, heading S.
  14. 2.2 miBear left onto Hickory Creek Bikeway, heading E.
  15. 200 ftTurn left onto Old Plank Road Trail, heading E.
  16. 1.7 miTurn left, heading E.
  17. 250 ftThe loop closes back at the trailhead.

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

Trail surface

56% paved1% gravel43% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:39 AMSunset 6:52 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.5 mi in (~84 min). Leave by 5:08 PM for the 6:52 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:33 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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