AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Giant City State Park

Horse Campground Pond–Deer Pond, 4 lakes

5.5 mi · ▲ 539 ft · 2 hr 6 min

Horse Campground Pond–Deer Pond, 4 lakes is a 5.5-mile out-and-back in Giant City State Park near Stone Fort, IL. The route passes Allen Pond and Deer Pond before reaching Horse Campground Pond at the turnaround, 2.7 miles in. It climbs 539 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 74/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi515 – 797 ft5.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 37.59538, -89.17360
Nearest town Stone Fort, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Horse Campground Pond–Deer Pond, 4 lakes

5.5 mi · ▲ 539 ft · 2 hr 6 min

Elevation 516–799 ft

Out & Back · Giant City State Park

Trailhead: 37.59538, -89.17360

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:44 AM · sunset 6:57 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
  2. 50 ftPass Allen Pond.
  3. 400 ftTurn left, heading W.
  4. 0.4 miPass Deer Pond.
  5. 150 ftTurn left onto Red Cedar Trail, heading S.
  6. 2.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  7. 0.1 miReach Horse Campground Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  8. 1.3 miBear left, heading SE.
  9. 0.9 miTurn right onto River to River Trail, heading N.
  10. 0.5 miTurn right, heading NE.
  11. 150 ftArrive 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/horse-campground-pond-horse-campground-pond-out-back-6-lakes

Trail surface

96% dirt4% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:44 AMSunset 6:57 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.6 mi in (~43 min). Leave by 5:54 PM for the 6:57 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:53 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Hikes near Stone Fort, Illinois