AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve

Hutchinson Viewpoint–Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve Beach, 6 beaches

15.8 mi · ▲ 109 ft · 5 hr 19 min

Hutchinson Viewpoint–Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve Beach, 6 beaches is a 15.8-mile out-and-back in Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve near Deerpath, IL. The route passes Lake Bluff Pond, Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve Beach, Patton Pond and Jean and John Greene Nature Preserve Beach before reaching Hutchinson Viewpoint at the turnaround, 7.9 miles in. It is mostly level, with 109 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi600 – 709 ft17.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.24991, -87.85853
Nearest town Deerpath, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Hutchinson Viewpoint–Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve Beach, 6 beaches

15.8 mi · ▲ 109 ft · 5 hr 19 min

Elevation 599–708 ft

Out & Back · Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve

Trailhead: 42.24991, -87.85853

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:38 AM · sunset 6:52 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 0.3 miBear right, heading NE.
  3. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  4. 150 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  5. 0.1 miTurn left, heading N.
  6. 0.5 miTurn left, heading NW.
  7. 0.1 miBear right, heading W.
  8. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  9. 50 ftBear right, heading W.
  10. 250 ftBear left, heading N.
  11. 300 ftTurn left, heading N.
  12. 0.3 miTurn left, heading NW.
  13. 50 ftPass Lake Bluff Pond.
  14. 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
  15. 250 ftTurn left, heading N.
  16. 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
  17. 0.1 miTurn left, heading NE.
  18. 0.4 miTurn right, heading N.
  19. 0.1 miTurn right onto North Shore Bike Path, heading NW.
  20. 0.7 miBear right, heading E.
  21. 100 ftBear right onto Robert McClory Bike Path, heading E.
  22. 4.3 miContinue straight onto Hutchinson Trail, heading SE.
  23. 0.3 miPass Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve Beach.
  24. 150 ftPass Patton Pond.
  25. 150 ftPass Jean and John Greene Nature Preserve Beach.
  26. 0.1 miSharp left, heading SE.
  27. 150 ftBear right onto Gilgare Lane, heading SE.
  28. 100 ftTurn left onto Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve Trail, heading NE.
  29. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  30. 50 ftContinue straight onto Gilgare Lane, heading NE.
  31. 250 ftTurn left onto Lake Overlook Trail, heading E.
  32. 100 ftBear right onto Hutchinson Trail, heading E.
  33. 500 ftReach Hutchinson Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  34. 0.1 miBear left onto Lake Overlook Trail, heading N.
  35. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  36. 200 ftContinue straight onto Gilgare Lane, heading NW.
  37. 100 ftTurn left onto Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve Trail, heading N.
  38. 50 ftTurn right onto Gilgare Lane, heading N.
  39. 100 ftBear left, heading NE.
  40. 150 ftSharp right onto Hutchinson Trail, heading NE.
  41. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Robert McClory Bike Path, heading E.
  42. 4.3 miBear left onto North Shore Bike Path, heading N.
  43. 50 ftBear left, heading N.
  44. 0.7 miTurn left, heading N.
  45. 0.1 miTurn left, heading N.
  46. 0.4 miTurn right, heading N.
  47. 0.1 miTurn left, heading W.
  48. 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
  49. 250 ftTurn left, heading W.
  50. 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  51. 0.3 miTurn right, heading W.
  52. 300 ftBear right, heading W.
  53. 250 ftBear left, heading W.
  54. 50 ftBear right, heading W.
  55. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  56. 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
  57. 0.5 miTurn right, heading S.
  58. 0.1 miTurn left, heading SW.
  59. 150 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  60. 50 ftBear left, heading SE.
  61. 50 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/hutchinson-viewpoint-fort-sheridan-forest-preserve-beach-out-back-9-beaches

Trail surface

35% paved18% dirt1% boardwalk46% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:38 AMSunset 6:52 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.7 mi in (~65 min). Leave by 5:27 PM for the 6:52 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:12 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Deerpath, Illinois