AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Giant City State Park

Quail Pond–Deer Pond, 4 lakes

6.4 mi · ▲ 540 ft · 2 hr 24 min

Quail Pond–Deer Pond, 4 lakes is a 6.4-mile out-and-back in Giant City State Park near Stone Fort, IL. The route passes Campground Pond, Allen Pond and Deer Pond before reaching Quail Pond at the turnaround, 3.1 miles in. It climbs 540 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 65/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi551 – 738 ft6.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Horse Trail 37.60818, -89.18432
Nearest town Stone Fort, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Quail Pond–Deer Pond, 4 lakes

6.4 mi · ▲ 540 ft · 2 hr 24 min

Elevation 552–737 ft

Out & Back · Giant City State Park

Trailhead: Horse Trail · 37.60818, -89.18432

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:44 AM · sunset 6:59 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Horse Trail, heading NE.
  2. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Red Cedar Trail, heading E.
  3. 50 ftContinue straight onto Horse Trail, heading E.
  4. 50 ftContinue straight onto Red Cedar Trail, heading E.
  5. 0.7 miPass Campground Pond.
  6. 0.5 miTurn right, heading S.
  7. 50 ftPass Allen Pond.
  8. 0.4 miPass Deer Pond.
  9. 0.9 miBear left, heading NW.
  10. 450 ftReach Quail Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  11. 450 ftBear right onto River to River Trail, heading SE.
  12. 1.4 miTurn left onto Red Cedar Trail, heading NE.
  13. 1.2 miContinue straight onto Horse Trail, heading W.
  14. 50 ftContinue straight onto Red Cedar Trail, heading W.
  15. 50 ftContinue straight onto Horse Trail, heading W.
  16. 0.5 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/quail-pond-quail-pond-out-back-6-lakes-12-km

Trail surface

100% dirt

Weather

Sunrise 6:44 AMSunset 6:59 PM

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Horse Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Stone Fort, Illinois