AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Rollins Savanna Forest Preserve

Jones Island Beach–Molly's Pond, 5 beaches

11.7 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 3 hr 54 min

Jones Island Beach–Molly's Pond, 5 beaches is an 11.7-mile out-and-back in Rollins Savanna Forest Preserve near Rollins, IL. The route passes Molly's Pond and Jones Island Beach before reaching Central Park Beach at the turnaround, 5.9 miles in. It is mostly level, with 0 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi771 – 804 ft12.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.37926, -88.06777
Nearest town Rollins, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Jones Island Beach–Molly's Pond, 5 beaches

11.7 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 3 hr 54 min

Elevation 770–804 ft

Out & Back · Rollins Savanna Forest Preserve

Trailhead: 42.37926, -88.06777

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

Transit-accessible: Round Lake Beach stop 720 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 100 ftTurn left, heading E.
  3. 0.3 miTurn left, heading NE.
  4. 50 ftTurn right onto Millenium Trail, heading NE.
  5. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Millennium Trail, heading E.
  6. 0.9 miTurn right, heading E.
  7. 0.5 miSharp left, heading SW.
  8. 0.1 miTurn right, heading E.
  9. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  10. 1.5 miTurn right, heading SE.
  11. 50 ftBear left, heading SE.
  12. 200 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  13. 0.4 miBear right, heading W.
  14. 0.6 miTurn left, heading SW.
  15. 0.3 miPass Molly's Pond.
  16. 0.1 miTurn left, heading W.
  17. 0.4 miPass Jones Island Beach.
  18. 0.3 miPass Central Park Beach.
  19. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  20. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  21. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  22. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  23. 200 ftSharp right, heading S.
  24. 0.1 miReach Jones Island Beach, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  25. 0.1 miSharp left, heading E.
  26. 200 ftBear right, heading E.
  27. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  28. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  29. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  30. 0.7 miTurn right, heading N.
  31. 0.5 miTurn right, heading NW.
  32. 0.6 miBear left, heading E.
  33. 0.4 miTurn left, heading NE.
  34. 200 ftBear right, heading NE.
  35. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  36. 1.5 miBear left, heading N.
  37. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  38. 0.1 miSharp right, heading NE.
  39. 1.4 miContinue straight onto Millenium Trail, heading W.
  40. 0.2 miBear left, heading W.
  41. 0.1 miTurn left, heading W.
  42. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  43. 0.3 miTurn right, heading W.
  44. 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/jones-island-beach-mollys-pond-out-back-5-beaches-19-km

Trail surface

25% gravel22% paved53% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:40 AMSunset 6:51 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 5.7 mi in (~139 min). Leave by 4:13 PM for the 6:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:25 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Round Lake Beach stop 720 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Hikes near Rollins, Illinois