AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Forest Preserve District of Cook County

Mary Mix McDonald Woods–Skokie Lagoon #5, 16 lakes

4.5 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 30 min

Mary Mix McDonald Woods–Skokie Lagoon #5, 16 lakes is a 4.5-mile out-and-back in Forest Preserve District of Cook County near Glencoe, IL. The route passes Skokie Lagoon #4, Skokie Lagoon #5, Skokie Lagoon #6 and 11 more before reaching Mary Mix McDonald Woods at the turnaround, 2.2 miles in. It is mostly level, with 0 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi620 – 643 ft5.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: North Branch Black Paved Trail 42.11826, -87.76680
Nearest town Glencoe, IL
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Mary Mix McDonald Woods–Skokie Lagoon #5, 16 lakes

4.5 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 30 min

Elevation 622–642 ft

Out & Back · Forest Preserve District of Cook County

Trailhead: North Branch Black Paved Trail · 42.11826, -87.76680

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:38 AM · sunset 6:52 PM

No dogs on part of this route · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on North Branch Black Paved Trail, heading N.
  2. 50 ftPass Skokie Lagoon #4.
  3. 0.6 miTurn right, heading E.
  4. 50 ftPass Skokie Lagoon #5.
  5. 250 ftTurn left, heading N.
  6. 0.4 miPass Skokie Lagoon #6.
  7. 0.5 miPass Skokie Lagoon #7.
  8. 400 ftPass Southeast Pond.
  9. 300 ftTurn right onto North Branch Blue Paved (North) Spur, heading N.
  10. 0.3 miPass Prarie Lake.
  11. 50 ftPass Skokie River Corridor.
  12. 50 ftPass Chicago Botanic Gardens Beach.
  13. 50 ftPass South Lake.
  14. 100 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  15. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  16. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  17. 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
  18. 50 ftPass East Lake.
  19. 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
  20. 100 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  21. 50 ftSharp right, heading NW.
  22. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  23. 50 ftPass Great Basin.
  24. 50 ftPass Sunken Pool.
  25. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Blue Paved (Non-FPCC) Trail, heading NW.
  26. 50 ftPass Circular Pool.
  27. 50 ftPass Japanese Garden Lake.
  28. 150 ftBear right, heading NW.
  29. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  30. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  31. 0.2 miTurn left onto McDonald Woods Trail, heading NE.
  32. 150 ftReach Mary Mix McDonald Woods, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  33. 150 ftTurn right onto North Branch Blue Paved (Non-FPCC) Trail, heading N.
  34. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
  35. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  36. 50 ftBear left, heading N.
  37. 150 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  38. 50 ftSharp left, heading NE.
  39. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  40. 100 ftBear right, heading E.
  41. 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
  42. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  43. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  44. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  45. 0.3 miContinue straight onto North Branch Blue Paved (North) Spur, heading S.
  46. 50 ftTurn left onto North Branch Black Paved Trail, heading S.
  47. 250 ftBear right, heading S.
  48. 0.5 miTurn left, heading S.
  49. 0.4 miTurn right, heading E.
  50. 0.6 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/mary-mix-mcdonald-woods-skokie-lagoon-5-out-back-17-lakes

Trail surface

58% paved3% gravel1% dirt38% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:38 AMSunset 6:52 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.5 mi in (~37 min). Leave by 5:55 PM for the 6:52 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:44 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • No dogs on part of this route
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Hikes near Glencoe, Illinois