AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

McDonald Woods Forest Preserve

Sand Lake–McDonald Woods Lake, 3 lakes

7.9 mi · ▲ 107 ft · 2 hr 41 min

Sand Lake–McDonald Woods Lake, 3 lakes is a 7.9-mile out-and-back in McDonald Woods Forest Preserve near Millburn, IL. The route passes McDonald Woods Lake before reaching Sand Lake at the turnaround, 3.9 miles in. It is mostly level, with 107 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi738 – 804 ft8.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.42659, -88.01855
Nearest town Millburn, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Sand Lake–McDonald Woods Lake, 3 lakes

7.9 mi · ▲ 107 ft · 2 hr 41 min

Elevation 737–803 ft

Out & Back · McDonald Woods Forest Preserve

Trailhead: 42.42659, -88.01855

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 ftTurn right, heading E.
  3. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  4. 0.1 miSharp right, heading SE.
  5. 200 ftBear right, heading S.
  6. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  7. 0.2 miBear left onto McDonald Woods Lake Trail, heading SW.
  8. 50 ftSharp right onto McDonald Lake Trail, heading SW.
  9. 50 ftTurn left onto McDonald Woods Lake Trail, heading S.
  10. 0.4 miPass McDonald Woods Lake.
  11. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Millennium Trail, heading S.
  12. 1 miBear right, heading E.
  13. 0.7 miSharp right, heading S.
  14. 450 ftTurn right, heading S.
  15. 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  16. 0.7 miTurn right, heading NW.
  17. 0.3 miTurn right, heading NW.
  18. 100 ftReach Sand Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  19. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  20. 0.3 miTurn left, heading SE.
  21. 0.7 miTurn left, heading SE.
  22. 500 ftTurn left, heading S.
  23. 0.8 miTurn left, heading N.
  24. 1.7 miTurn right onto McDonald Lake Trail, heading N.
  25. 50 ftSharp left onto McDonald Woods Lake Trail, heading N.
  26. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  27. 0.2 miBear right, heading NE.
  28. 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
  29. 250 ftSharp left, heading NE.
  30. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NE.
  31. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  32. 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-mcdonald-woods-lake-out-back-4-lakes

Trail surface

33% gravel21% paved46% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:39 AMSunset 6:53 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.9 mi in (~71 min). Leave by 5:22 PM for the 6:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:19 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 Millburn, Illinois