Monks Mound via Park Drive is a 5.2-mile out-and-back in Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site near State Park Place, IL. The route reaches Monks Mound at the turnaround, 2.6 miles in. It is mostly level, with 64 ft of elevation gain, and mostly grass. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi410 – 505 ft5.3 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 38.65930, -90.05799
Nearest town State Park Place, IL
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Monks Mound via Park Drive
5.2 mi · ▲ 64 ft · 1 hr 46 min
Elevation 410–507 ft
Out & Back · Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site
Trailhead: 38.65930, -90.05799
Weather Sep 22: sunrise 6:49 AM · sunset 6:59 PM
Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading N.
- 250 ftSharp left, heading W.
- 1.7 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading S.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Park Drive, heading E.
- 0.3 miReach Monks Mound, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading S.
- 1.7 miSharp right, heading E.
- 150 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
79% grass21% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:49 AMSunset 6:59 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.6 mi in (~62 min). Leave by 5:37 PM for the 6:59 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:16 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Car visible from the viewpoint
Good to know
- Drinking water at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Get outside more
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