McHenry County Prairie Trail
9.2 mi · ▲ 54 ft · 3 hr 6 min
McHenry County Prairie Trail is a 9.2-mile out-and-back near McHenry, IL. It is mostly level, with 54 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 3/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
McHenry County Prairie Trail
9.2 mi · ▲ 54 ft · 3 hr 6 min
Elevation 748–813 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: McHenry County Prairie Trail · 42.34620, -88.27994
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:39 AM · sunset 6:56 PM
Transit-accessible: McHenry Metra Station stop 397 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on McHenry County Prairie Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading S.
- 4.2 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 4.6 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 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 2.9 mi in (~73 min). Leave by 5:23 PM for the 6:56 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:22 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: McHenry Metra Station stop 397 m from the trailhead
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Drinking water at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from McHenry County Prairie Trail Trailhead
- Camelback Kame–McCullom Lake, 3 beaches 15.8 mi · ▲ 330 ft
- Moraine View Viewpoint & McHenry County Prairie Trail 14.5 mi · ▲ 285 ft
- McCullom Lake & Petersen Park Beach via McHenry County Prairie Trail 2.3 mi · ▲ 0 ft
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Hikes near McHenry, Illinois