Prairie Trail via Willow Creek Trail
6.1 mi · ▲ 192 ft · 2 hr 8 min
Prairie Trail via Willow Creek Trail is a 6.1-mile out-and-back in Rock Cut State Park near Harlem, IL. It is mostly level, with 192 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 17/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Prairie Trail via Willow Creek Trail
6.1 mi · ▲ 192 ft · 2 hr 8 min
Elevation 758–891 ft
Out & Back · Rock Cut State Park
Trailhead: 42.34531, -89.01061
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:42 AM · sunset 6:59 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Willow Creek Trail, heading SE.
- 0.3 miSharp left, heading NW.
- 250 ftSharp right, heading E.
- 0.9 miTurn right, heading E.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading N.
- 0.5 miSharp right onto Prairie Trail, heading NE.
- 0.3 miReach Prairie Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.3 miSharp left, heading N.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading W.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading W.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.9 miSharp left, heading W.
- 250 ftSharp right onto Willow Creek Trail, heading W.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading W.
- 0.1 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.6 mi in (~15 min). Leave by 6:24 PM for the 6:59 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:28 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Car visible from the viewpoint
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Perryville Path 11.9 mi · ▲ 273 ft
- Perryville Path 11.8 mi · ▲ 270 ft
- Perryville Path 3.2 mi · ▲ 189 ft
- Perryville Path 3.1 mi · ▲ 146 ft
- Willow Creek Trail 2.9 mi · ▲ 29 ft
- Willow Creek Trail 2.8 mi · ▲ 29 ft
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