Monks Mound via Park Drive is a 3.4-mile out-and-back in Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site near Fairmont City, IL. The route reaches Monks Mound. It is mostly level, with 63 ft of elevation gain, and mostly grass. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi413 – 505 ft · steepest grade: 17%3.5 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 38.65929, -90.07438
Nearest town Fairmont City, IL
Directions
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Monks Mound via Park Drive
3.4 mi · ▲ 63 ft · 1 hr 10 min
Elevation 415–507 ft
Out & Back · Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site
Trailhead: 38.65929, -90.07438
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:47 AM · sunset 7:02 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading S.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading N.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Park Drive, heading E.
- 0.3 miReach Monks Mound, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Major Street, heading S.
- 50 ftBear left, heading S.
- 300 ftBear right, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading W.
- 0.7 miTurn left, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 0.2 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
64% grass36% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:47 AMSunset 7:02 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.3 mi in (~32 min). Leave by 6:10 PM for the 7:02 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:48 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Car visible from the viewpoint
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Get outside more
A wild hike near Fairmont City, emailed to you once a week.
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