AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Hawk Hollow Forest Preserve

Mallard Lake Bicycle Trail & Meadowlark Trail via North Central DuPage Regional Trail

8.4 mi · ▲ 56 ft · 2 hr 50 min

Mallard Lake Bicycle Trail & Meadowlark Trail via North Central DuPage Regional Trail is an 8.4-mile out-and-back in Hawk Hollow Forest Preserve near Ontarioville, IL. It is mostly level, with 56 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi764 – 817 ft9.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.99108, -88.15709
Nearest town Ontarioville, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Mallard Lake Bicycle Trail & Meadowlark Trail via North Central DuPage Regional Trail

8.4 mi · ▲ 56 ft · 2 hr 50 min

Elevation 764–816 ft

Out & Back · Hawk Hollow Forest Preserve

Trailhead: 41.99108, -88.15709

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:40 AM · sunset 6:53 PM

Transit-accessible: Lake & Walnut stop 488 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
  2. 0.4 miTurn right, heading E.
  3. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  4. 0.9 miBear right, heading SE.
  5. 0.3 miTurn left onto Mallard Lake Bicycle Trail, heading S.
  6. 0.8 miBear right onto North Central DuPage Regional Trail, heading SW.
  7. 0.9 miSharp left onto Meadowlark Trail, heading S.
  8. 1.1 miReach Mallard Lake Bicycle Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  9. 1.1 miSharp right onto North Central DuPage Regional Trail, heading E.
  10. 0.9 miBear left onto Mallard Lake Bicycle Trail, heading E.
  11. 0.8 miTurn right, heading NW.
  12. 0.3 miBear left, heading NW.
  13. 0.9 miTurn right, heading NW.
  14. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  15. 450 ftArrive 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/mallard-lake-bicycle-trail-meadowlark-trail-out-back-13-km-f8d3

Trail surface

38% paved26% gravel19% grass17% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:40 AMSunset 6:53 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.2 mi in (~79 min). Leave by 5:14 PM for the 6:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:29 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Lake & Walnut stop 488 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Ontarioville, Illinois