Sterne's Fen Nature Preserve

Kettle View Trail & McHenry County Prairie Trail

13 mi · ▲ 254 ft · 4 hr 28 min

Kettle View Trail & McHenry County Prairie Trail is a 13-mile out-and-back in Sterne's Fen Nature Preserve near McHenry, IL. It climbs 254 ft and is mostly paved. It scores 5/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi761 – 935 ft13.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: McHenry County Prairie Trail 42.33604, -88.27886
Nearest town McHenry, IL

Directions

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Kettle View Trail & McHenry County Prairie Trail

13 mi · ▲ 254 ft · 4 hr 28 min

Elevation 761–935 ft

Out & Back · Sterne's Fen Nature Preserve

Trailhead: McHenry County Prairie Trail · 42.33604, -88.27886

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:40 AM · sunset 6:54 PM

Transit-accessible: McHenry Metra Station stop 389 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on McHenry County Prairie Trail, heading SW.
  2. 3.8 miTurn left, heading SE.
  3. 1.3 miTurn right, heading W.
  4. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  5. 0.2 miTurn right onto Oak View Trail, heading S.
  6. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  7. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
  8. 100 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  9. 200 ftTurn right, heading S.
  10. 500 ftBear left, heading SW.
  11. 100 ftBear right onto Moraine View Trail, heading W.
  12. 100 ftBear right, heading W.
  13. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
  14. 0.2 miBear right, heading W.
  15. 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
  16. 300 ftContinue straight onto Kettle View Trail, heading S.
  17. 0.4 miReach McHenry County Prairie Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  18. 0.4 miTurn left, heading S.
  19. 0.1 miBear left, heading E.
  20. 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
  21. 200 ftContinue straight onto Moraine View Trail, heading E.
  22. 250 ftTurn right, heading E.
  23. 350 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  24. 150 ftBear left, heading E.
  25. 100 ftBear right, heading E.
  26. 500 ftTurn left, heading N.
  27. 200 ftTurn right, heading N.
  28. 100 ftTurn left onto Oak View Trail, heading N.
  29. 0.2 miBear right, heading E.
  30. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  31. 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
  32. 50 ftTurn left onto McHenry County Prairie Trail, heading NE.
  33. 1.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  34. 3.7 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

77% paved22% dirt1% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:40 AMSunset 6:54 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.9 mi in (~46 min). Leave by 5:48 PM for the 6:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:55 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: McHenry Metra Station stop 389 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from McHenry County Prairie Trail Trailhead