AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Rock Cut State Park

Pierce Lake via Perryville Path

5.4 mi · ▲ 191 ft · 1 hr 54 min

Pierce Lake via Perryville Path is a 5.4-mile out-and-back in Rock Cut State Park near Harlem, IL. The route passes Pierce Lake before reaching Pierce Lake at the turnaround, 2.7 miles in. It is mostly level, with 191 ft of elevation gain. It scores 3/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi761 – 873 ft5.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Perryville Path 42.35539, -89.00752
Nearest town Harlem, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Pierce Lake via Perryville Path

5.4 mi · ▲ 191 ft · 1 hr 54 min

Elevation 762–874 ft

Out & Back · Rock Cut State Park

Trailhead: Perryville Path · 42.35539, -89.00752

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:42 AM · sunset 6:59 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Perryville Path, heading S.
  2. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Willow Creek Trail, heading E.
  3. 0.2 miBear right, heading SE.
  4. 150 ftBear right, heading S.
  5. 100 ftSharp left, heading S.
  6. 0.3 miTurn right, heading SE.
  7. 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
  8. 0.6 miBear left onto Lone Rock Trail, heading E.
  9. 0.1 miPass Pierce Lake.
  10. 150 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  11. 200 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  12. 200 ftBear right, heading NW.
  13. 0.2 miBear left, heading S.
  14. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  15. 250 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  16. 50 ftSharp left, heading NE.
  17. 0.3 miReach Pierce Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  18. 0.3 miSharp right, heading SE.
  19. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  20. 250 ftTurn left, heading S.
  21. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  22. 0.2 miBear left, heading SW.
  23. 200 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  24. 0.2 miBear right, heading W.
  25. 0.6 miTurn right, heading N.
  26. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  27. 0.3 miSharp right, heading NW.
  28. 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
  29. 150 ftBear left onto Willow Creek Trail, heading W.
  30. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Perryville Path, heading W.
  31. 0.6 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/pierce-lake-pierce-lake-out-back-9-km

Trail surface

56% dirt42% paved2% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:42 AMSunset 6:59 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.4 mi in (~10 min). Leave by 6:29 PM for the 6:59 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:23 PM — 4 min before dark.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Perryville Path Trailhead

Hikes near Harlem, Illinois