AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Hidden Lake–Heron Lake, 12 lakes

7.4 mi · ▲ 165 ft · 2 hr 33 min

Hidden Lake–Heron Lake, 12 lakes is a 7.4-mile out-and-back near Conant, IL. The route passes Heron Lake, Oak Lake, Ash Lake and 10 more before reaching Blackberry Lake at the turnaround, 3.7 miles in. It is mostly level, with 165 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 74/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi423 – 466 ft7.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 38.01460, -89.43651
Nearest town Conant, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Hidden Lake–Heron Lake, 12 lakes

7.4 mi · ▲ 165 ft · 2 hr 33 min

Elevation 425–467 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 38.01460, -89.43651

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:45 AM · sunset 7:00 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 0.6 miTurn left, heading E.
  3. 50 ftPass Heron Lake.
  4. 0.3 miPass Oak Lake.
  5. 50 ftPass Ash Lake.
  6. 50 ftPass Elm Lake.
  7. 50 ftSharp right, heading E.
  8. 0.5 miPass Marsh Lake.
  9. 50 ftTurn right onto Lost Forty Trail, heading SE.
  10. 0.3 miPass Reed Lake.
  11. 50 ftPass Hook Lake.
  12. 50 ftPass Marsh Lake.
  13. 0.1 miPass Chain Lakes.
  14. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  15. 0.3 miPass Chain Lakes.
  16. 0.2 miPass Serene Lake.
  17. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  18. 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
  19. 50 ftPass Chain Lakes.
  20. 0.1 miBear left, heading N.
  21. 0.3 miTurn right onto Pyramid Trail, heading NW.
  22. 0.6 miPass Blackberry Lake.
  23. 50 ftReach Hidden Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  24. 0.6 miTurn left, heading SW.
  25. 0.3 miBear right, heading SE.
  26. 0.1 miTurn right, heading SE.
  27. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  28. 0.5 miTurn right onto Lost Forty Trail, heading W.
  29. 0.5 miTurn left, heading N.
  30. 0.5 miSharp left, heading S.
  31. 0.3 miTurn right, heading W.
  32. 0.6 miArrive 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/hidden-lake-heron-lake-out-back-36-lakes

Trail surface

100% dirt

Weather

Sunrise 6:45 AMSunset 7:00 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.4 mi in (~11 min). Leave by 6:29 PM for the 7:00 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:25 PM — 1 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Conant, Illinois