Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area

Overview Sunset Point–Marsh Loop, 5 sights

9.4 mi · ▲ 54 ft · 3 hr 10 min

Overview Sunset Point–Marsh Loop, 5 sights is a 9.4-mile out-and-back in Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area near Divine, IL. The route reaches Overview Sunset Point. It is mostly level, with 54 ft of elevation gain. It scores 23/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi515 – 558 ft9.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.38572, -88.29647
Nearest town Divine, IL

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Overview Sunset Point–Marsh Loop, 5 sights

9.4 mi · ▲ 54 ft · 3 hr 10 min

Elevation 514–556 ft

Out & Back · Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area

Trailhead: 41.38572, -88.29647

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:39 AM · sunset 6:56 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 1.8 miTurn right, heading SW.
  3. 0.6 miBear left onto Marsh Loop, heading SW.
  4. 0.3 miTurn right onto Tall Grass Nature Trail, heading N.
  5. 0.3 miTurn right, heading SW.
  6. 450 ftSharp left onto Prairie View Trail, heading NW.
  7. 1.3 miBear left onto Overview Trail, heading NE.
  8. 250 ftPass Overview Sunset Point.
  9. 0.3 miReach Overview Sunset Point, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  10. 0.3 miBear right onto Prairie View Trail, heading SW.
  11. 1.3 miSharp right, heading N.
  12. 450 ftTurn left onto Tall Grass Nature Trail, heading E.
  13. 0.3 miTurn left onto Marsh Loop, heading E.
  14. 0.3 miBear right, heading E.
  15. 0.6 miTurn left, heading E.
  16. 1.8 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

42% grass8% gravel50% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:39 AMSunset 6:56 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 6:36 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 6:56 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 7:23 PM.

More sunset hikes nearby

More from this trailhead