Historic Maple Grove–Homer Lake, 5 sights
8.3 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 2 hr 48 min
Historic Maple Grove–Homer Lake, 5 sights is an 8.3-mile out-and-back near State Road, IL. The route passes Homer Lake and Homer Lake before reaching Historic Maple Grove at the turnaround, 4 miles in. It is mostly level, with 53 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 18/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Historic Maple Grove–Homer Lake, 5 sights
8.3 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 2 hr 48 min
Elevation 628–667 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: West Lake Trail · 40.06224, -87.98807
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:38 AM · sunset 6:54 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on West Lake Trail, heading N.
- 50 ftPass Homer Lake.
- 2.6 miTurn left onto Oak Ridge Trail, heading E.
- 0.9 miBear left onto Flicker Woods Trail, heading NE.
- 500 ftBear right onto Sand Beach Cove Trail, heading NW.
- 0.2 miSharp left onto Timberdoodle Trail, heading N.
- 150 ftPass Homer Lake.
- 350 ftPass Historic Maple Grove.
- 0.3 miReach Historic Maple Grove, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.4 miSharp right, heading SE.
- 350 ftTurn left onto Sand Beach Cove Trail, heading SE.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Flicker Woods Trail, heading SW.
- 1 miTurn right onto Oak Ridge Trail, heading SE.
- 0.5 miTurn right onto West Lake Trail, heading NW.
- 1.8 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.1 mi in (~28 min). Leave by 6:06 PM for the 6:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:37 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from West Lake Trail Trailhead
- Homer Lake & West Lake Trail 3 mi · ▲ 0 ft
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Hikes near State Road, Illinois