Quail Pond–Horse Campground Pond, 4 lakes
6.4 mi · ▲ 740 ft · 2 hr 30 min
Quail Pond–Horse Campground Pond, 4 lakes is a 6.4-mile out-and-back in Giant City State Park near Makanda, IL. The route passes Horse Campground Pond and Deer Pond before reaching Quail Pond at the turnaround, 3.1 miles in. It climbs 740 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 71/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Quail Pond–Horse Campground Pond, 4 lakes
6.4 mi · ▲ 740 ft · 2 hr 30 min
Elevation 516–799 ft
Out & Back · Giant City State Park
Trailhead: 37.58943, -89.19642
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:44 AM · sunset 6:59 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
- 50 ftPass Horse Campground Pond.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Red Cedar Trail, heading E.
- 1.2 miBear left, heading E.
- 0.9 miPass Deer Pond.
- 50 ftSharp left onto River to River Trail, heading N.
- 0.9 miBear left, heading S.
- 450 ftReach Quail Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1 miSharp right onto Red Cedar Trail, heading S.
- 2.1 miTurn right, heading W.
- 350 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 1.2 mi in (~36 min). Leave by 6:02 PM for the 6:59 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:46 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Horse Campground Pond–Deer Pond, 3 lakes 4.4 mi · ▲ 513 ft
- Turkey Pond–Horse Campground Pond, 5 lakes 7.1 mi · ▲ 656 ft
- Makanda Pond–Horse Campground Pond Loop, 7 lakes 10.7 mi · ▲ 1,014 ft
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Hikes near Makanda, Illinois