Horse Campground Pond–Deer Pond, 5 lakes
8.9 mi · ▲ 823 ft · 3 hr 23 min
Horse Campground Pond–Deer Pond, 5 lakes is an 8.9-mile out-and-back in Giant City State Park near Stone Fort, IL. The route passes Campground Pond, Allen Pond and Deer Pond before reaching Horse Campground Pond at the turnaround, 4.4 miles in. It climbs 823 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 71/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Horse Campground Pond–Deer Pond, 5 lakes
8.9 mi · ▲ 823 ft · 3 hr 23 min
Elevation 516–799 ft
Out & Back · Giant City State Park
Trailhead: Horse Trail · 37.60818, -89.18432
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:44 AM · sunset 6:59 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Horse Trail, heading NE.
- 0.6 miContinue straight onto Red Cedar Trail, heading E.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Horse Trail, heading E.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Red Cedar Trail, heading E.
- 0.7 miPass Campground Pond.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftPass Allen Pond.
- 0.4 miPass Deer Pond.
- 2.1 miTurn right, heading W.
- 0.1 miReach Horse Campground Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.3 miBear left, heading SE.
- 0.9 miTurn right onto River to River Trail, heading N.
- 0.5 miTurn left onto Red Cedar Trail, heading E.
- 1.1 miContinue straight onto Horse Trail, heading N.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Red Cedar Trail, heading N.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Horse Trail, heading N.
- 0.5 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 3.3 mi in (~87 min). Leave by 5:11 PM for the 6:59 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:38 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Horse Trail Trailhead
- Little Grassy Lake–Campground Pond, 3 lakes 5.2 mi · ▲ 401 ft
- Horse Trail 3.3 mi · ▲ 228 ft
- Makanda Pond & Horse Trail 4.7 mi · ▲ 405 ft
- Quail Pond–Deer Pond, 4 lakes 6.4 mi · ▲ 540 ft
- Horse Trail 3.3 mi · ▲ 228 ft
- Deer Pond–Allen Pond, 3 lakes 4.5 mi · ▲ 277 ft
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