Old Faithful–Weldon Springs Lake, 5 sights
3.5 mi · ▲ 62 ft · 1 hr 12 min
Old Faithful–Weldon Springs Lake, 5 sights is a 3.5-mile out-and-back in Weldon Springs State Park near Ospur, IL. The route passes Weldon Springs Lake and Weldon Springs Lake before reaching Old Faithful at the turnaround, 1.7 miles in. It is mostly level, with 62 ft of elevation gain. It scores 49/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Old Faithful–Weldon Springs Lake, 5 sights
3.5 mi · ▲ 62 ft · 1 hr 12 min
Elevation 648–721 ft
Out & Back · Weldon Springs State Park
Trailhead: Salt Creek Backpack Trail · 40.11870, -88.91846
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:42 AM · sunset 6:58 PM
- Start on Salt Creek Backpack Trail, heading E.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Whitetail Ski Trail, heading SE.
- 0.7 miTurn right onto School House Trail, heading W.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 50 ftPass Weldon Springs Lake.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading W.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Lakeside Nature Trail, heading NE.
- 0.1 miPass Weldon Springs Lake.
- 0.5 miReach Old Faithful, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.7 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 250 ftSharp left, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right onto School House Trail, heading S.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 0.7 miContinue straight onto Salt Creek Backpack Trail, heading E.
- 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.4 mi in (~37 min). Leave by 6:01 PM for the 6:58 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:50 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Trailhead visible from the viewpoint
More from Salt Creek Backpack Trail Trailhead
- School House Trail & Whitetail Ski Trail 2 mi · ▲ 57 ft
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