John T McNaughton Park

Lake Butterfield–Lake Zuercher Loop, 4 sights

4.1 mi · ▲ 360 ft · 1 hr 33 min

Lake Butterfield–Lake Zuercher Loop, 4 sights is a 4.1-mile loop in John T McNaughton Park near Marquette Heights, IL. The route passes Lake Zuercher, Lake Butterfield and Lake Butterfield. It climbs 360 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade. It scores 19/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi476 – 623 ft · steepest grade: 18%4.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 40.58281, -89.60379
Nearest town Marquette Heights, IL

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Lake Butterfield–Lake Zuercher Loop, 4 sights

4.1 mi · ▲ 360 ft · 1 hr 33 min

Elevation 476–625 ft

Loop · John T McNaughton Park

Trailhead: 40.58281, -89.60379

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:45 AM · sunset 7:01 PM

Dogs allowed on leash · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
  3. 0.4 miSharp right, heading N.
  4. 0.1 miBear left, heading NE.
  5. 0.3 miPass Lake Zuercher.
  6. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  7. 50 ftTurn right onto Horse Trail, heading W.
  8. 250 ftPass Lake Butterfield.
  9. 0.2 miPass Lake Butterfield.
  10. 200 ftTurn left onto Potawatomi, heading W.
  11. 0.4 miSharp right onto Ameren High Lines Road, heading W.
  12. 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
  13. 1.4 miTurn left, heading S.
  14. 150 ftContinue straight onto Potawatomi Trail, heading S.
  15. 0.1 miBear left, heading SW.
  16. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SE.
  17. 50 ftBear left, heading SE.
  18. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  19. 150 ftBear right, heading S.
  20. 100 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  21. 250 ftBear left, heading SE.
  22. 250 ftBear right, heading SE.
  23. 0.3 miTurn left, heading S.
  24. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  25. 50 ftThe loop closes back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail surface

9% dirt91% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:45 AMSunset 7:01 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.3 mi in (~36 min). Leave by 6:05 PM for the 7:01 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:50 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Parking lot at the trailhead