AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

McHenry County Prairie Trail

8.4 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 2 hr 49 min

McHenry County Prairie Trail is an 8.4-mile out-and-back near McHenry, IL. It is mostly level, with 27 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 3/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi761 – 814 ft8.5 mi

Getting there

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

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McHenry County Prairie Trail

8.4 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 2 hr 49 min

Elevation 761–813 ft

Out & Back

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 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  4. 4.2 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/mchenry-county-prairie-trail-out-back-15-km-d815

Trail surface

97% paved3% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:40 AMSunset 6:54 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.5 mi in (~60 min). Leave by 5:34 PM for the 6:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:08 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

Hikes near McHenry, Illinois