AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Tipton Park

Laura's Gardens–Birky Pond, 9 sights

14.2 mi · ▲ 80 ft · 4 hr 46 min

Laura's Gardens–Birky Pond, 9 sights is a 14.2-mile out-and-back in Tipton Park near Barnes, IL. The route passes Eagle Creek Retention Pond, Tipton Lake, Tipton Pond and Laura's Gardens before reaching Birky Pond at the turnaround, 7.1 miles in. It is mostly level, with 80 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi771 – 853 ft16.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Constitution Trail Bloomer Line Branch 40.50284, -88.90349
Nearest town Barnes, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Laura's Gardens–Birky Pond, 9 sights

14.2 mi · ▲ 80 ft · 4 hr 46 min

Elevation 771–853 ft

Out & Back · Tipton Park

Trailhead: Constitution Trail Bloomer Line Branch · 40.50284, -88.90349

Weather Sep 22: sunrise 6:44 AM · sunset 6:55 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Constitution Trail Bloomer Line Branch, heading W.
  2. 1.1 miPass Eagle Creek Retention Pond.
  3. 50 ftPass Tipton Lake.
  4. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  5. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  6. 250 ftBear right, heading W.
  7. 200 ftBear right, heading W.
  8. 150 ftPass Tipton Pond.
  9. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  10. 0.1 miTurn left, heading W.
  11. 1.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  12. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  13. 150 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  14. 1.4 miPass Laura's Gardens.
  15. 0.1 miTurn right onto Constitution Trail Illinois Central Branch, heading W.
  16. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Constitution Trail Collegiate Branch, heading N.
  17. 0.3 miTurn left, heading SW.
  18. 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
  19. 0.6 miTurn left, heading N.
  20. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  21. 0.2 miTurn right onto Cardinal Court, heading NW.
  22. 50 ftTurn left onto Gregory Street, heading NW.
  23. 0.1 miTurn right onto Constitution Trail Collegiate Branch, heading W.
  24. 1 miPass Birky Pond.
  25. 350 ftTurn left, heading N.
  26. 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
  27. 150 ftContinue straight onto Country Financial Trail, heading N.
  28. 50 ftReach Laura's Gardens, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  29. 200 ftTurn left onto Constitution Trail Collegiate Branch, heading N.
  30. 0.1 miTurn left, heading N.
  31. 1 miTurn left onto Gregory Street, heading S.
  32. 0.1 miTurn right onto Cardinal Court, heading S.
  33. 50 ftTurn left onto Constitution Trail Collegiate Branch, heading S.
  34. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  35. 250 ftTurn left, heading S.
  36. 0.6 miSharp left, heading SE.
  37. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  38. 150 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  39. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Constitution Trail Illinois Central Branch, heading E.
  40. 0.3 miTurn left onto Constitution Trail Bloomer Line Branch, heading S.
  41. 1.5 miTurn left, heading E.
  42. 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
  43. 1.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
  44. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  45. 0.1 miBear right, heading E.
  46. 250 ftBear left, heading E.
  47. 200 ftBear left, heading E.
  48. 200 ftTurn right, heading E.
  49. 0.7 miArrive back at the trailhead.

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

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/lauras-gardens-birky-pond-out-back-13-lakes

Trail surface

96% paved4% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:44 AMSunset 6:55 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 6.2 mi in (~154 min). Leave by 4:00 PM for the 6:55 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:43 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Constitution Trail Bloomer Line Branch Trailhead

Hikes near Barnes, Illinois