Sterne's Fen Nature Preserve

McHenry County Prairie Trail & Oak View Trail

11.9 mi · ▲ 138 ft · 4 hr 2 min

McHenry County Prairie Trail & Oak View Trail is an 11.9-mile out-and-back in Sterne's Fen Nature Preserve near McHenry, IL. It is mostly level, with 138 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 5/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi761 – 899 ft12.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: McHenry County Prairie Trail 42.34178, -88.27637
Nearest town McHenry, IL

Directions

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McHenry County Prairie Trail & Oak View Trail

11.9 mi · ▲ 138 ft · 4 hr 2 min

Elevation 761–900 ft

Out & Back · Sterne's Fen Nature Preserve

Trailhead: McHenry County Prairie Trail · 42.34178, -88.27637

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:40 AM · sunset 6:54 PM

Transit-accessible: McHenry stop 188 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 300 ftContinue straight onto McHenry County Prairie Trail, heading S.
  3. 4.1 miTurn left, heading S.
  4. 1.3 miTurn right, heading S.
  5. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  6. 0.2 miTurn right onto Oak View Trail, heading SE.
  7. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  8. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
  9. 50 ftBear right onto McHenry County Prairie Trail, heading SW.
  10. 150 ftSharp left, heading SW.
  11. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  12. 250 ftReach McHenry County Prairie Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  13. 200 ftTurn left, heading S.
  14. 50 ftSharp right, heading S.
  15. 150 ftBear left, heading SE.
  16. 50 ftTurn right onto Oak View Trail, heading SE.
  17. 0.2 miBear right, heading NE.
  18. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  19. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NE.
  20. 50 ftTurn left onto McHenry County Prairie Trail, heading NE.
  21. 1.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  22. 4.1 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

90% paved8% dirt2% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:40 AMSunset 6:54 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.4 mi in (~59 min). Leave by 5:35 PM for the 6:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:07 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: McHenry stop 188 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from McHenry County Prairie Trail Trailhead