Sterne's Woods Park

Moraine View Viewpoint & McHenry County Prairie Trail

13 mi · ▲ 256 ft · 4 hr 28 min

Moraine View Viewpoint & McHenry County Prairie Trail is a 13-mile out-and-back in Sterne's Woods Park near McHenry, IL. The route reaches Moraine View Viewpoint. It climbs 256 ft and is mostly paved. It scores 5/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi761 – 935 ft13.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: McHenry County Prairie Trail 42.33604, -88.27886
Nearest town McHenry, IL

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Moraine View Viewpoint & McHenry County Prairie Trail

13 mi · ▲ 256 ft · 4 hr 28 min

Elevation 761–934 ft

Out & Back · Sterne's Woods Park

Trailhead: McHenry County Prairie Trail · 42.33604, -88.27886

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

Transit-accessible: McHenry Metra Station stop 389 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on McHenry County Prairie Trail, heading SW.
  2. 3.8 miTurn left, heading SE.
  3. 1.3 miTurn right, heading W.
  4. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  5. 0.2 miTurn right onto Oak View Trail, heading S.
  6. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  7. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
  8. 100 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  9. 200 ftTurn right, heading S.
  10. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  11. 100 ftBear left, heading SW.
  12. 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
  13. 50 ftTurn right onto Moraine View Trail, heading W.
  14. 200 ftPass Moraine View Viewpoint.
  15. 250 ftBear right, heading SW.
  16. 50 ftSharp left, heading SW.
  17. 100 ftBear right, heading S.
  18. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
  19. 500 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  20. 250 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  21. 0.5 miTurn left, heading W.
  22. 100 ftReach Moraine View Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  23. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  24. 0.5 miTurn left, heading E.
  25. 250 ftTurn right, heading E.
  26. 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
  27. 400 ftTurn right, heading N.
  28. 150 ftSharp right, heading NE.
  29. 500 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  30. 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
  31. 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
  32. 100 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  33. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  34. 200 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  35. 100 ftTurn left onto Oak View Trail, heading NE.
  36. 0.2 miBear right, heading N.
  37. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  38. 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
  39. 50 ftTurn left onto McHenry County Prairie Trail, heading E.
  40. 1.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  41. 3.7 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

78% paved21% dirt1% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:40 AMSunset 6:54 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 6.5 mi in (~166 min). Leave by 3:48 PM for the 6:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:52 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: McHenry Metra Station stop 389 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from McHenry County Prairie Trail Trailhead