Glacial Park Conservation Area

McHenry County Prairie Trail

9.9 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 3 hr 19 min

McHenry County Prairie Trail is a 9.9-mile out-and-back in Glacial Park Conservation Area near Ringwood, IL. It is mostly level, with 27 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi768 – 837 ft10.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.42238, -88.30695
Nearest town Ringwood, IL

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

McHenry County Prairie Trail

9.9 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 3 hr 19 min

Elevation 768–835 ft

Out & Back · Glacial Park Conservation Area

Trailhead: 42.42238, -88.30695

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

Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 150 ftTurn left onto McHenry County Prairie Trail, heading N.
  3. 5 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  4. 5 miTurn right, heading S.
  5. 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

99% dirt1% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:40 AMSunset 6:54 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.7 mi in (~17 min). Leave by 6:17 PM for the 6:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:26 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead