AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Glacial Park Conservation Area

McHenry County Prairie Trail

14.5 mi · ▲ 136 ft · 4 hr 54 min

McHenry County Prairie Trail is a 14.5-mile out-and-back in Glacial Park Conservation Area near Ringwood, IL. It is mostly level, with 136 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 1/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi768 – 869 ft14.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: McHenry County Prairie Trail 42.39130, -88.29460
Nearest town Ringwood, IL
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Directions

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McHenry County Prairie Trail

14.5 mi · ▲ 136 ft · 4 hr 54 min

Elevation 768–870 ft

Out & Back · Glacial Park Conservation Area

Trailhead: McHenry County Prairie Trail · 42.39130, -88.29460

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

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on McHenry County Prairie Trail, heading N.
  2. 7.3 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  3. 7.2 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-23-km-d381

Trail surface

100% dirt

Weather

Sunrise 6:40 AMSunset 6:54 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.1 mi in (~27 min). Leave by 6:07 PM for the 6:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:35 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from McHenry County Prairie Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Ringwood, Illinois