AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Forest Preserve District of Cook County

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

6.4 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 2 hr 10 min

Mary Mix McDonald Woods–Skokie Lagoon #5, 16 lakes is a 6.4-mile out-and-back in Forest Preserve District of Cook County near Glencoe, IL. The route passes Skokie Lagoon #5, Skokie Lagoon #6, Skokie Lagoon #7 and 11 more. It is mostly level, with 53 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi620 – 686 ft8.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.12572, -87.77139
Nearest town Glencoe, IL
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

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

6.4 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 2 hr 10 min

Elevation 622–684 ft

Out & Back · Forest Preserve District of Cook County

Trailhead: 42.12572, -87.77139

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 at the trailhead, heading NW.
  2. 50 ftPass Skokie Lagoon #5.
  3. 50 ftTurn right onto North Branch Black Paved Trail, heading N.
  4. 0.3 miPass Skokie Lagoon #6.
  5. 0.6 miPass Skokie Lagoon #7.
  6. 450 ftPass Southeast Pond.
  7. 300 ftTurn right onto North Branch Blue Paved (North) Spur, heading NW.
  8. 0.3 miPass Prarie Lake.
  9. 50 ftPass Skokie River Corridor.
  10. 50 ftPass Chicago Botanic Gardens Beach.
  11. 50 ftPass South Lake.
  12. 100 ftPass East Lake.
  13. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  14. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  15. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  16. 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
  17. 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
  18. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  19. 50 ftPass Great Basin.
  20. 50 ftSharp right, heading NW.
  21. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  22. 50 ftPass Sunken Pool.
  23. 50 ftPass Circular Pool.
  24. 50 ftPass Japanese Garden Lake.
  25. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Blue Paved (Non-FPCC) Trail, heading NW.
  26. 150 ftBear right, heading N.
  27. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  28. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  29. 0.2 miPass Mary Mix McDonald Woods.
  30. 250 ftBear right onto McDonald Woods Trail (South Trail Loop), heading NE.
  31. 250 ftBear left onto McDonald Woods Trail (North Trail Loop), heading N.
  32. 50 ftTurn right onto North Branch Blue Paved Trail, heading N.
  33. 100 ftContinue straight onto Chicago Botanic Gardens Access Road, heading N.
  34. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Blue Paved Trail, heading N.
  35. 50 ftContinue straight onto Chicago Botanic Gardens Access Road, heading N.
  36. 50 ftBear right onto North Branch Blue Paved Trail, heading N.
  37. 1.7 miReach Mary Mix McDonald Woods, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  38. 1.7 miBear left onto Chicago Botanic Gardens Access Road, heading W.
  39. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Blue Paved Trail, heading W.
  40. 50 ftContinue straight onto Chicago Botanic Gardens Access Road, heading NW.
  41. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Blue Paved Trail, heading NW.
  42. 100 ftTurn left onto McDonald Woods Trail (North Trail Loop), heading NW.
  43. 50 ftBear right onto McDonald Woods Trail (South Trail Loop), heading W.
  44. 250 ftBear left onto North Branch Blue Paved (Non-FPCC) Trail, heading W.
  45. 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
  46. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  47. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  48. 200 ftTurn right, heading W.
  49. 50 ftSharp left, heading W.
  50. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  51. 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
  52. 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
  53. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  54. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  55. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  56. 0.3 miContinue straight onto North Branch Blue Paved (North) Spur, heading W.
  57. 50 ftTurn left onto North Branch Black Paved Trail, heading W.
  58. 250 ftBear right, heading S.
  59. 0.9 miTurn left, heading SW.
  60. 50 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/mary-mix-mcdonald-woods-skokie-lagoon-5-out-back-17-lakes-8132

Trail surface

52% paved29% gravel2% boardwalk1% dirt16% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:38 AMSunset 6:52 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.2 mi in (~79 min). Leave by 5:13 PM for the 6:52 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:25 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

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Glencoe, Illinois