AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Fourth Lake Forest Preserve

Sand Lake–Central Marsh, 3 lakes

9.8 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 3 hr 16 min

Sand Lake–Central Marsh, 3 lakes is a 9.8-mile out-and-back in Fourth Lake Forest Preserve near Third Lake, IL. The route passes Central Marsh before reaching Sand Lake at the turnaround, 4.7 miles in. It is mostly level, with 0 ft of elevation gain, and mostly gravel. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi758 – 804 ft10.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.37753, -88.03323
Nearest town Third Lake, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Sand Lake–Central Marsh, 3 lakes

9.8 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 3 hr 16 min

Elevation 759–803 ft

Out & Back · Fourth Lake Forest Preserve

Trailhead: 42.37753, -88.03323

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:39 AM · sunset 6:53 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 50 ftContinue straight onto Millennium Trail, heading SE.
  3. 250 ftTurn left, heading E.
  4. 50 ftPass Central Marsh.
  5. 3.7 miTurn right, heading W.
  6. 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  7. 0.7 miTurn right, heading NW.
  8. 0.2 miPass Sand Lake.
  9. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
  10. 50 ftSharp left, heading NW.
  11. 100 ftBear right, heading NW.
  12. 0.2 miReach Sand Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  13. 0.2 miBear left, heading NW.
  14. 50 ftSharp right, heading NW.
  15. 100 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  16. 0.3 miTurn left, heading SE.
  17. 0.7 miTurn left, heading SE.
  18. 0.1 miTurn left, heading SE.
  19. 2.3 miBear right, heading SE.
  20. 0.5 miTurn right, heading SW.
  21. 0.9 miBear left, heading NW.
  22. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/sand-lake-central-marsh-out-back-3-lakes

Trail surface

68% gravel20% paved3% boardwalk9% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:39 AMSunset 6:53 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.7 mi in (~91 min). Leave by 5:02 PM for the 6:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:39 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Third Lake, Illinois