AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

McDowell Grove Forest Preserve

Mud Lake & Mud Lake Trail via West Branch DuPage River Trail

3.4 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 8 min

Mud Lake & Mud Lake Trail via West Branch DuPage River Trail is a 3.4-mile out-and-back in McDowell Grove Forest Preserve near Naperville, IL. The route reaches Mud Lake at the turnaround, 1.7 miles in. It is mostly level, with 0 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi679 – 702 ft3.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: West Branch DuPage River Trail 41.78394, -88.18021
Nearest town Naperville, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Mud Lake & Mud Lake Trail via West Branch DuPage River Trail

3.4 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 8 min

Elevation 678–701 ft

Out & Back · McDowell Grove Forest Preserve

Trailhead: West Branch DuPage River Trail · 41.78394, -88.18021

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

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on West Branch DuPage River Trail, heading NE.
  2. 100 ftBear left, heading NE.
  3. 1.1 miTurn left, heading NW.
  4. 0.5 miTurn left onto Mud Lake Trail, heading NW.
  5. 0.1 miReach Mud Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  6. 0.1 miTurn right onto West Branch DuPage River Trail, heading E.
  7. 0.5 miTurn left, heading W.
  8. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  9. 1 miArrive 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-trail-out-back-5-km

Trail surface

28% gravel8% grass4% paved60% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:40 AMSunset 6:54 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.6 mi in (~39 min). Leave by 5:55 PM for the 6:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:48 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from West Branch DuPage River Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Naperville, Illinois