Highland Lake–Cherry Lake, 5 lakes
4.8 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 36 min
Highland Lake–Cherry Lake, 5 lakes is a 4.8-mile out-and-back near Hainesville, IL. The route passes Cherry Lake, Highland Lake, Molly's Pond and Jones Island Beach before reaching Central Park Beach at the turnaround, 2.4 miles in. It is mostly level, with 0 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Highland Lake–Cherry Lake, 5 lakes
4.8 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 36 min
Elevation 781–803 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: 42.34507, -88.06765
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:39 AM · sunset 6:53 PM
Transit-accessible: Belvidere & Hainesville stop 39 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
- 0.5 miPass Cherry Lake.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading E.
- 0.3 miPass Highland Lake.
- 0.5 miPass Molly's Pond.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 0.5 miPass Jones Island Beach.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 50 ftBear left, heading E.
- 50 ftBear left, heading E.
- 200 ftSharp right, heading E.
- 300 ftPass Central Park Beach.
- 250 ftReach Highland Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.1 miSharp left, heading E.
- 200 ftBear right, heading N.
- 50 ftBear right, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 0.7 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.8 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.7 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.2 mi in (~55 min). Leave by 5:39 PM for the 6:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:03 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: Belvidere & Hainesville stop 39 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
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