Glacial Park Conservation Area
McCullom Lake & Petersen Park Beach via McHenry County Prairie Trail
14.7 mi · ▲ 273 ft · 5 hr 2 min
McCullom Lake & Petersen Park Beach via McHenry County Prairie Trail is a 14.7-mile out-and-back in Glacial Park Conservation Area near Wonder Center, IL. The route passes McCullom Lake before reaching Petersen Park Beach at the turnaround, 7.4 miles in. It climbs 273 ft. It scores 17/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
McCullom Lake & Petersen Park Beach via McHenry County Prairie Trail
14.7 mi · ▲ 273 ft · 5 hr 2 min
Elevation 757–870 ft
Out & Back · Glacial Park Conservation Area
Trailhead: 42.41853, -88.34514
Weather Sep 20: Heavy rain, high 66°F / low 60° · precip 85% · wind 13 mph · sunrise 6:39 AM · sunset 6:56 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading E.
- 0.7 miTurn right, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
- 2.2 miBear right onto McHenry County Prairie Trail, heading SE.
- 4.4 miPass Petersen Park Beach.
- 250 ftReach McCullom Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 4.4 miBear left, heading NW.
- 2.2 miTurn right, heading S.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading W.
- 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 surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.4 mi in (~110 min). Leave by 4:46 PM for the 6:56 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:59 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Drinking water at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- McHenry County Prairie Trail 15.7 mi · ▲ 163 ft
- McHenry County Prairie Trail 15.7 mi · ▲ 163 ft
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