AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Nachusa Grasslands

Lost Lake & Big Jump Prairie

4.4 mi · ▲ 217 ft · 1 hr 35 min

Lost Lake & Big Jump Prairie is a 4.4-mile out-and-back in Nachusa Grasslands near Carthage, IL. The route reaches Lost Lake. It is mostly level, with 217 ft of elevation gain. It scores 61/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi699 – 804 ft4.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Big Jump Prairie 41.92183, -89.34107
Nearest town Carthage, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Lost Lake & Big Jump Prairie

4.4 mi · ▲ 217 ft · 1 hr 35 min

Elevation 700–804 ft

Out & Back · Nachusa Grasslands

Trailhead: Big Jump Prairie · 41.92183, -89.34107

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:43 AM · sunset 7:00 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Big Jump Prairie, heading NW.
  2. 1.5 miTurn left, heading S.
  3. 0.4 miReach Lost Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  4. 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
  5. 0.3 miTurn right, heading SE.
  6. 0.5 miTurn right, heading E.
  7. 1.6 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/lost-lake-out-back-f078

Weather

Sunrise 6:43 AMSunset 7:00 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 6:40 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 7:00 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 7:28 PM.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Hikes near Carthage, Illinois