Redwing Slough–Boomerang Slough, 4 lakes
4.5 mi · ▲ 110 ft · 1 hr 33 min
Redwing Slough–Boomerang Slough, 4 lakes is a 4.5-mile out-and-back in Spears Woods near Willow Springs, IL. The route passes Boomerang Slough and Hidden Pond Slough before reaching Redwing Slough at the turnaround, 2.3 miles in. It is mostly level, with 110 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Redwing Slough–Boomerang Slough, 4 lakes
4.5 mi · ▲ 110 ft · 1 hr 33 min
Elevation 611–743 ft
Out & Back · Spears Woods
Trailhead: 41.73215, -87.87820
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:39 AM · sunset 6:52 PM
Transit-accessible: Archer & Willow Springs stop 113 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.2 miSharp right, heading S.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
- 50 ftBear right, heading E.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Yellow Single Track Trail, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Tan Unpaved Trail, heading E.
- 200 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 0.2 miPass Boomerang Slough.
- 300 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 350 ftTurn left onto Orange Unpaved Trail, heading E.
- 0.7 miPass Hidden Pond Slough.
- 400 ftBear right onto Brown Unpaved Trail, heading S.
- 0.3 miReach Redwing Slough, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.3 miBear left onto Orange Unpaved Trail, heading NW.
- 0.8 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Tan Unpaved Trail, heading W.
- 200 ftTurn left onto Yellow Single Track Trail, heading NW.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 150 ftSharp left, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading N.
- 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
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: Archer & Willow Springs stop 113 m from the trailhead
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Centennial Yellow Paved Trail & John Husar I&M Canal Paved Trail 13 mi · ▲ 60 ft
- Tan Unpaved Trail & Yellow Single Track Trail 6.1 mi · ▲ 191 ft
- John Husar I&M Canal Black Paved Trail 6.4 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Paw Paw Woods Nature Preserve–Maple Lake, 5 sights 14.7 mi · ▲ 410 ft
- Longjohn Slough–Crawdad Slough, 3 lakes 3.7 mi · ▲ 166 ft
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