AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Half Day Forest Preserve

Indian Creek–Miceli Pond, 3 lakes

10 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 3 hr 21 min

Indian Creek–Miceli Pond, 3 lakes is a 10-mile out-and-back in Half Day Forest Preserve near Half Day, IL. The route passes Indian Creek and Half Day Pond before reaching Miceli Pond at the turnaround, 4.9 miles in. It is mostly level, with 27 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi640 – 709 ft12.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Olde Half Day Road Bike Path 42.20029, -87.93315
Nearest town Half Day, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Indian Creek–Miceli Pond, 3 lakes

10 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 3 hr 21 min

Elevation 639–708 ft

Out & Back · Half Day Forest Preserve

Trailhead: Olde Half Day Road Bike Path · 42.20029, -87.93315

Weather Sep 22: sunrise 6:40 AM · sunset 6:51 PM

Transit-accessible: Milwaukee & Olde Half Day stop 208 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Olde Half Day Road Bike Path, heading SW.
  2. 50 ftPass Indian Creek.
  3. 0.1 miBear left, heading W.
  4. 50 ftBear right, heading W.
  5. 200 ftTurn left, heading W.
  6. 100 ftTurn left onto Buffalo Grove-Lincolnshire Bike Path, heading SW.
  7. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Des Plaines River Trail, heading NE.
  8. 0.8 miTurn left, heading N.
  9. 0.4 miPass Half Day Pond.
  10. 150 ftTurn left onto Green Trail, heading N.
  11. 300 ftBear left onto Red Trail, heading N.
  12. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NW.
  13. 50 ftSharp left onto Des Plaines River Trail, heading W.
  14. 1.1 miTurn left, heading N.
  15. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NW.
  16. 150 ftBear left, heading NW.
  17. 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
  18. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Vernon Hills High School Drop-off Loop, heading N.
  19. 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
  20. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  21. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  22. 0.5 miSharp left, heading NW.
  23. 450 ftPass Miceli Pond.
  24. 0.2 miBear right, heading S.
  25. 250 ftTurn left, heading S.
  26. 50 ftReach Indian Creek, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  27. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  28. 250 ftBear left, heading S.
  29. 0.2 miSharp right, heading S.
  30. 0.5 miTurn right, heading E.
  31. 0.1 miTurn right, heading SW.
  32. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  33. 0.7 miBear left, heading N.
  34. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  35. 150 ftTurn left, heading N.
  36. 0.1 miTurn right onto Des Plaines River Trail, heading N.
  37. 1.1 miSharp right, heading E.
  38. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  39. 50 ftContinue straight onto Red Trail, heading SE.
  40. 0.1 miBear left, heading E.
  41. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  42. 50 ftContinue straight onto Green Trail, heading E.
  43. 250 ftTurn right onto Des Plaines River Trail, heading S.
  44. 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
  45. 1.1 miContinue straight onto Buffalo Grove-Lincolnshire Bike Path, heading S.
  46. 0.6 miTurn right, heading SE.
  47. 100 ftTurn right onto Olde Half Day Road Bike Path, heading SE.
  48. 200 ftBear left, heading SE.
  49. 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/indian-creek-miceli-pond-out-back-5-lakes-16-km

Trail surface

41% gravel36% paved5% grass1% boardwalk17% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:40 AMSunset 6:51 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.4 mi in (~109 min). Leave by 4:42 PM for the 6:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:54 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Milwaukee & Olde Half Day stop 208 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Olde Half Day Road Bike Path Trailhead

Hikes near Half Day, Illinois