Fourth Lake Forest Preserve

McDonald Woods Lake & McDonald Woods Lake Trail via Millennium Trail

13.7 mi · ▲ 161 ft · 4 hr 39 min

McDonald Woods Lake & McDonald Woods Lake Trail via Millennium Trail is a 13.7-mile out-and-back in Fourth Lake Forest Preserve near Druce Lake, IL. The route reaches McDonald Woods Lake. It is mostly level, with 161 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi738 – 801 ft14.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.37218, -87.98361
Nearest town Druce Lake, IL

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

McDonald Woods Lake & McDonald Woods Lake Trail via Millennium Trail

13.7 mi · ▲ 161 ft · 4 hr 39 min

Elevation 737–799 ft

Out & Back · Fourth Lake Forest Preserve

Trailhead: 42.37218, -87.98361

Weather Sep 22: sunrise 6:40 AM · sunset 6:51 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 450 ftTurn left, heading W.
  3. 50 ftBear right, heading W.
  4. 0.8 miSharp left, heading NW.
  5. 0.9 miTurn right, heading SW.
  6. 0.4 miTurn right, heading NW.
  7. 0.2 miBear right, heading NW.
  8. 50 ftTurn right onto Millennium Trail, heading NW.
  9. 2.9 miTurn left, heading NE.
  10. 0.8 miPass McDonald Woods Lake.
  11. 0.9 miTurn right onto McDonald Lake Trail, heading NE.
  12. 50 ftSharp left onto McDonald Woods Lake Trail, heading NE.
  13. 50 ftReach McDonald Woods Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  14. 50 ftSharp right onto McDonald Lake Trail, heading NE.
  15. 50 ftTurn left onto McDonald Woods Lake Trail, heading NE.
  16. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Millennium Trail, heading SE.
  17. 1 miBear right, heading E.
  18. 2.9 miTurn left, heading SE.
  19. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  20. 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
  21. 0.4 miTurn left, heading SE.
  22. 0.9 miSharp right, heading SE.
  23. 0.8 miBear left, heading SE.
  24. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  25. 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 surface

49% gravel2% boardwalk49% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:40 AMSunset 6:51 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.6 mi in (~112 min). Leave by 4:39 PM for the 6:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:58 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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