AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Giant City State Park

Makanda Pond–Horse Campground Pond Loop, 7 lakes

10.7 mi · ▲ 1,014 ft · 4 hr 4 min

Makanda Pond–Horse Campground Pond Loop, 7 lakes is a 10.7-mile loop in Giant City State Park near Makanda, IL. The route passes Horse Campground Pond, Deer Pond, Allen Pond and 2 more. It climbs 1,014 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 71/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi446 – 797 ft11.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 37.58943, -89.19642
Nearest town Makanda, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Makanda Pond–Horse Campground Pond Loop, 7 lakes

10.7 mi · ▲ 1,014 ft · 4 hr 4 min

Elevation 445–799 ft

Loop · Giant City State Park

Trailhead: 37.58943, -89.19642

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:44 AM · sunset 6:59 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
  2. 50 ftPass Horse Campground Pond.
  3. 0.1 miTurn left onto Red Cedar Trail, heading E.
  4. 1.2 miBear left, heading E.
  5. 0.9 miPass Deer Pond.
  6. 50 ftTurn right onto River to River Trail, heading N.
  7. 0.4 miPass Allen Pond.
  8. 150 ftSharp right, heading NE.
  9. 0.2 miSharp left, heading NE.
  10. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Red Cedar Trail, heading NE.
  11. 0.4 miPass Campground Pond.
  12. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Horse Trail, heading NE.
  13. 50 ftContinue straight onto Red Cedar Trail, heading N.
  14. 50 ftContinue straight onto Horse Trail, heading N.
  15. 0.2 miBear right onto Red Cedar Trail, heading SW.
  16. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Horse Trail, heading SW.
  17. 50 ftBear left onto Red Cedar Trail, heading SW.
  18. 1.2 miSharp left onto Horse Trail, heading N.
  19. 0.7 miPass Makanda Pond.
  20. 200 ftTurn right, heading W.
  21. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  22. 0.4 miBear left onto Red Cedar Trail, heading NW.
  23. 100 ftTurn left onto River to River Trail, heading NW.
  24. 0.5 miTurn right onto Red Cedar Trail, heading S.
  25. 0.2 miTurn right onto River to River Trail, heading S.
  26. 0.1 miBear left onto Red Cedar Trail, heading NE.
  27. 3 miSharp left, heading SE.
  28. 350 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/makanda-pond-loop

Trail surface

85% dirt11% grass4% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:44 AMSunset 6:59 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.2 mi in (~36 min). Leave by 6:02 PM for the 6:59 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:46 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Makanda, Illinois