Wild Meadows Trace

Hillside Berkeley–Frank M. Gatz, Sr. Memorial Pond, 3 lakes

10.5 mi · ▲ 132 ft · 3 hr 34 min

Hillside Berkeley–Frank M. Gatz, Sr. Memorial Pond, 3 lakes is a 10.5-mile out-and-back in Wild Meadows Trace near Bellwood, IL. The route passes Hillside Berkeley before reaching Frank M. Gatz, Sr. Memorial Pond at the turnaround, 5.2 miles in. It is mostly level, with 132 ft of elevation gain, and mostly gravel. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi643 – 715 ft11.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Illinois Prairie Path 41.88017, -87.89299
Nearest town Bellwood, IL

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Hillside Berkeley–Frank M. Gatz, Sr. Memorial Pond, 3 lakes

10.5 mi · ▲ 132 ft · 3 hr 34 min

Elevation 642–716 ft

Out & Back · Wild Meadows Trace

Trailhead: Illinois Prairie Path · 41.88017, -87.89299

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

Transit-accessible: Butterfield & Forest stop 22 m from the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Illinois Prairie Path, heading N.
  2. 50 ftPass Hillside Berkeley.
  3. 1.1 miTurn left, heading W.
  4. 2.3 miBear right, heading W.
  5. 0.7 miBear left onto Great Western Trail, heading N.
  6. 1.1 miPass Frank M. Gatz, Sr. Memorial Pond.
  7. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  8. 100 ftTurn left, heading W.
  9. 150 ftReach Hillside Berkeley, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  10. 150 ftTurn right, heading S.
  11. 1.3 miBear right onto Illinois Prairie Path, heading SE.
  12. 0.7 miBear right, heading E.
  13. 2.3 miBear right, heading E.
  14. 0.8 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

70% gravel28% paved2% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:39 AMSunset 6:52 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.4 mi in (~35 min). Leave by 5:58 PM for the 6:52 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:41 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Butterfield & Forest stop 22 m from the trailhead
  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead