AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Half Day Forest Preserve

Miceli Pond & Half Day Pond via Des Plaines River Trail

6.1 mi · ▲ 54 ft · 2 hr 4 min

Miceli Pond & Half Day Pond via Des Plaines River Trail is a 6.1-mile out-and-back in Half Day Forest Preserve near Half Day, IL. The route passes Half Day Pond before reaching Miceli Pond at the turnaround, 2.8 miles in. It is mostly level, with 54 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi640 – 709 ft7.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Red Trail 42.21337, -87.93294
Nearest town Half Day, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Miceli Pond & Half Day Pond via Des Plaines River Trail

6.1 mi · ▲ 54 ft · 2 hr 4 min

Elevation 639–708 ft

Out & Back · Half Day Forest Preserve

Trailhead: Red Trail · 42.21337, -87.93294

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:39 AM · sunset 6:53 PM

Transit-accessible: Milwaukee & Woodlands stop 144 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
  2. 50 ftPass Half Day Pond.
  3. 50 ftBear right onto Red Trail, heading N.
  4. 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
  5. 50 ftSharp left onto Des Plaines River Trail, heading NW.
  6. 1.1 miTurn left, heading W.
  7. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NW.
  8. 150 ftBear left, heading W.
  9. 50 ftBear right, heading W.
  10. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Vernon Hills High School Drop-off Loop, heading SW.
  11. 0.1 miTurn right, heading SW.
  12. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  13. 0.1 miTurn left, heading W.
  14. 0.5 miSharp left, heading S.
  15. 0.1 miPass Miceli Pond.
  16. 0.1 miBear right, heading S.
  17. 300 ftTurn left, heading S.
  18. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  19. 350 ftTurn left onto Doug Dusthminer Drive, heading S.
  20. 250 ftReach Miceli Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  21. 300 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  22. 300 ftBear left, heading E.
  23. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  24. 300 ftBear left, heading E.
  25. 0.2 miSharp right, heading NE.
  26. 0.5 miTurn right, heading SW.
  27. 0.1 miTurn right, heading SW.
  28. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  29. 250 ftContinue straight onto Vernon Hills High School Drop-off Loop, heading N.
  30. 0.7 miBear left, heading E.
  31. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  32. 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
  33. 0.1 miTurn right onto Des Plaines River Trail, heading E.
  34. 1.1 miSharp right, heading SE.
  35. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  36. 50 ftContinue straight onto Red Trail, heading S.
  37. 0.1 miBear left, heading SE.
  38. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/miceli-pond-miceli-pond-out-back-4-lakes-10-km-94cf

Trail surface

35% gravel34% paved2% boardwalk29% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:39 AMSunset 6:53 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.4 mi in (~59 min). Leave by 5:34 PM for the 6:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:05 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Milwaukee & Woodlands stop 144 m from the trailhead
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Red Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Half Day, Illinois