Sand Ridge State Forest Sunset Point via Red Diamond Trail
13.8 mi · ▲ 140 ft · 4 hr 40 min
Sand Ridge State Forest Sunset Point via Red Diamond Trail is a 13.8-mile out-and-back in Sand Ridge State Forest near Forest City, IL. The route reaches Sand Ridge State Forest Sunset Point at the turnaround, 6.9 miles in. It is mostly level, with 140 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 80/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Sand Ridge State Forest Sunset Point via Red Diamond Trail
13.8 mi · ▲ 140 ft · 4 hr 40 min
Elevation 487–543 ft
Out & Back · Sand Ridge State Forest
Trailhead: 40.39087, -89.84731
Weather Sep 20: Light drizzle, high 76°F / low 65° · precip 53% · wind 12 mph · sunrise 6:46 AM · sunset 7:02 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading N.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading E.
- 1.6 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 2 miTurn right, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Red Diamond Trail, heading W.
- 2.3 miTurn left, heading S.
- 0.3 miReach Sand Ridge State Forest Sunset Point, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 2.5 miTurn right, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
- 2 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 1.6 miTurn left, heading W.
- 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 surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.1 mi in (~76 min). Leave by 5:26 PM for the 7:02 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:33 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Red Diamond Trail 15.6 mi · ▲ 166 ft
Get outside more
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Hikes near Forest City, Illinois