AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Park

Lake Le-Aqua-Na–Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Park Beach, 6 sights

5.3 mi · ▲ 280 ft · 1 hr 54 min

Lake Le-Aqua-Na–Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Park Beach, 6 sights is a 5.3-mile out-and-back in Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Park near Lena, IL. The route passes Lake Le-Aqua-Na and Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Park Beach. It climbs 280 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 55/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi820 – 978 ft5.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Sweet Gum Trail 42.41791, -89.83107
Nearest town Lena, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Lake Le-Aqua-Na–Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Park Beach, 6 sights

5.3 mi · ▲ 280 ft · 1 hr 54 min

Elevation 820–979 ft

Out & Back · Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Park

Trailhead: Sweet Gum Trail · 42.41791, -89.83107

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:45 AM · sunset 7:02 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Sweet Gum Trail, heading S.
  2. 50 ftPass Lake Le-Aqua-Na.
  3. 50 ftPass Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Park Beach.
  4. 1.6 miReach Lake Le-Aqua-Na, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  5. 0.4 miBear left onto Whitetail Trail, heading NE.
  6. 0.2 miContinue straight onto North/South Trail Link, heading NW.
  7. 0.7 miSharp right onto High Point Trail, heading N.
  8. 0.8 miSharp left, heading S.
  9. 0.9 miTurn right onto Sweet Gum Trail, heading SW.
  10. 0.8 miArrive 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/lake-le-aqua-na-lake-le-aqua-na-state-park-beach-out-back-6-sights-9-km

Trail surface

65% dirt35% grass

Weather

Sunrise 6:45 AMSunset 7:02 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.4 mi in (~62 min). Leave by 5:40 PM for the 7:02 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:17 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Sweet Gum Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Lena, Illinois