McHenry County Prairie Trail
8.3 mi · ▲ 135 ft · 2 hr 50 min
McHenry County Prairie Trail is an 8.3-mile out-and-back near Crystal Lake, IL. It is mostly level, with 135 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
McHenry County Prairie Trail
8.3 mi · ▲ 135 ft · 2 hr 50 min
Elevation 739–894 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: McHenry County Prairie Trail · 42.21612, -88.31609
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:39 AM · sunset 6:56 PM
Transit-accessible: Virginia & Main stop 92 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on McHenry County Prairie Trail, heading S.
- 4 miTurn left, heading S.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading SW.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 0.2 miReach McHenry County Prairie Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 150 ftSharp left, heading NE.
- 3.9 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 1.3 mi in (~33 min). Leave by 6:03 PM for the 6:56 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:45 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: Virginia & Main stop 92 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
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Hikes near Crystal Lake, Illinois