Pierce Lake via Willow Creek Trail
3.1 mi · ▲ 29 ft · 1 hr 3 min
Pierce Lake via Willow Creek Trail is a 3.1-mile out-and-back in Rock Cut State Park near Harlem, IL. The route reaches Pierce Lake at the turnaround, 1.5 miles in. It is mostly level, with 29 ft of elevation gain. It scores 8/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Pierce Lake via Willow Creek Trail
3.1 mi · ▲ 29 ft · 1 hr 3 min
Elevation 758–812 ft
Out & Back · Rock Cut State Park
Trailhead: 42.34118, -89.01184
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:42 AM · sunset 6:59 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Woodward Way, heading E.
- 0.2 miSharp right onto Zenith Parkway, heading NW.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Willow Creek Trail, heading NE.
- 0.6 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 200 ftBear right, heading SE.
- 0.5 miBear right, heading SE.
- 250 ftReach Pierce Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.5 miBear left, heading NW.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 0.6 miTurn left, heading W.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Zenith Parkway, heading W.
- 50 ftSharp left, heading W.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Woodward Way, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 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 surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.9 mi in (~22 min). Leave by 6:17 PM for the 6:59 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:36 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Perryville Path 12.4 mi · ▲ 109 ft
- Perryville Path 3.6 mi · ▲ 140 ft
- Willow Creek Trail 6 mi · ▲ 167 ft
- Willow Creek Trail 3.3 mi · ▲ 28 ft
- Perryville Path 2.3 mi · ▲ 82 ft
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Hikes near Harlem, Illinois