AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

McDowell Grove Forest Preserve

Mud Lake–Route 59 Path, 3 sights

10.9 mi · ▲ 26 ft · 3 hr 39 min

Mud Lake–Route 59 Path, 3 sights is a 10.9-mile out-and-back in McDowell Grove Forest Preserve near Warrenville, IL. The route reaches Mud Lake. It is mostly level, with 26 ft of elevation gain, and mostly gravel. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi679 – 732 ft11.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: West Branch DuPage River Trail 41.79584, -88.18534
Nearest town Warrenville, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Mud Lake–Route 59 Path, 3 sights

10.9 mi · ▲ 26 ft · 3 hr 39 min

Elevation 678–732 ft

Out & Back · McDowell Grove Forest Preserve

Trailhead: West Branch DuPage River Trail · 41.79584, -88.18534

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

Transit-accessible: 1415 W Diehl Rd stop 730 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
  2. 50 ftContinue straight onto West Branch DuPage River Trail, heading W.
  3. 0.7 miPass Mud Lake.
  4. 2.1 miSharp left onto Illinois Prairie Path Aurora Branch, heading NE.
  5. 2.3 miTurn right, heading SW.
  6. 0.2 miTurn right onto Route 59 Path, heading SW.
  7. 0.3 miReach Mud Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  8. 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  9. 0.2 miTurn left onto Illinois Prairie Path Aurora Branch, heading N.
  10. 2.3 miSharp right onto West Branch DuPage River Trail, heading NE.
  11. 2.8 miTurn left, heading SW.
  12. 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/mud-lake-mud-lake-out-back-4-sights-18-km

Trail surface

68% gravel30% paved1% dirt1% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:40 AMSunset 6:54 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.0 mi in (~50 min). Leave by 5:44 PM for the 6:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:58 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: 1415 W Diehl Rd stop 730 m from the trailhead
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from West Branch DuPage River Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Warrenville, Illinois