McDonald Woods Forest Preserve
McDonald Woods Lake & McDonald Woods Lake Trail
2 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 42 min
McDonald Woods Lake & McDonald Woods Lake Trail is a 2-mile out-and-back in McDonald Woods Forest Preserve near Millburn, IL. The route reaches McDonald Woods Lake at the turnaround, 0.8 miles in. It is mostly level, with 53 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
McDonald Woods Lake & McDonald Woods Lake Trail
2 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 42 min
Elevation 737–780 ft
Out & Back · McDonald Woods Forest Preserve
Trailhead: 42.42659, -88.01855
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:39 AM · sunset 6:53 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.1 miSharp right, heading SE.
- 200 ftBear right, heading S.
- 50 ftBear left, heading S.
- 0.2 miBear left onto McDonald Woods Lake Trail, heading SW.
- 50 ftSharp right onto McDonald Lake Trail, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn left onto McDonald Woods Lake Trail, heading S.
- 0.4 miPass McDonald Woods Lake.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading S.
- 500 ftReach McDonald Woods Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.6 miTurn right onto McDonald Lake Trail, heading E.
- 50 ftSharp left onto McDonald Woods Lake Trail, heading E.
- 50 ftBear right, heading E.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
- 250 ftSharp left, heading NW.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.1 mi in (~3 min). Leave by 6:30 PM for the 6:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:11 PM — 10 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Fourth Lake–McDonald Woods Lake, 3 lakes 7.6 mi · ▲ 108 ft
- Sand Lake–McDonald Woods Lake, 3 lakes 7.9 mi · ▲ 107 ft
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