McCullom Lake–Petersen Park Beach, 3 beaches
15.6 mi · ▲ 164 ft · 5 hr 17 min
McCullom Lake–Petersen Park Beach, 3 beaches is a 15.6-mile out-and-back in Sterne's Fen Nature Preserve near McCullom Lake, IL. The route passes McCullom Lake and Petersen Park Beach. It is mostly level, with 164 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 4/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
McCullom Lake–Petersen Park Beach, 3 beaches
15.6 mi · ▲ 164 ft · 5 hr 17 min
Elevation 742–898 ft
Out & Back · Sterne's Fen Nature Preserve
Trailhead: McHenry County Prairie Trail · 42.36140, -88.28140
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:40 AM · sunset 6:54 PM
Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on McHenry County Prairie Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftPass McCullom Lake.
- 50 ftPass Petersen Park Beach.
- 1.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading E.
- 4.2 miTurn left, heading S.
- 1.3 miTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Oak View Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 200 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 500 ftBear left, heading S.
- 100 ftBear right onto Moraine View Trail, heading S.
- 100 ftBear right, heading SW.
- 400 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Fen View Trail, heading W.
- 0.1 miReach McCullom Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Moraine View Trail, heading W.
- 350 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 150 ftBear left, heading W.
- 100 ftBear right, heading NW.
- 500 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 200 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 100 ftTurn left onto Oak View Trail, heading W.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left onto McHenry County Prairie Trail, heading E.
- 1.3 miTurn left, heading N.
- 4.7 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 1 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 3.9 mi in (~97 min). Leave by 4:57 PM for the 6:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:45 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Drinking water at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
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Hikes near McCullom Lake, Illinois