AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Blackwell Forest Preserve

Silver Lake–McKee Marsh, 9 lakes

10.5 mi · ▲ 55 ft · 3 hr 32 min

Silver Lake–McKee Marsh, 9 lakes is a 10.5-mile out-and-back in Blackwell Forest Preserve near Warrenville, IL. The route passes Herrick Lake, East Pond, Front Pond and 5 more. It is mostly level, with 55 ft of elevation gain, and mostly gravel. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi699 – 771 ft11.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Danada-Herrick Lake Regional Trail 41.82662, -88.14582
Nearest town Warrenville, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Silver Lake–McKee Marsh, 9 lakes

10.5 mi · ▲ 55 ft · 3 hr 32 min

Elevation 698–772 ft

Out & Back · Blackwell Forest Preserve

Trailhead: Danada-Herrick Lake Regional Trail · 41.82662, -88.14582

Weather Sep 22: Overcast, high 61°F / low 54° · precip 4% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 6:41 AM · sunset 6:52 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
  2. 50 ftPass Herrick Lake.
  3. 50 ftTurn left onto Danada-Herrick Lake Regional Trail, heading N.
  4. 1 miPass East Pond.
  5. 50 ftPass Front Pond.
  6. 200 ftContinue straight onto Illinois Prairie Path Aurora Branch, heading W.
  7. 0.3 miPass Silver Lake.
  8. 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
  9. 50 ftTurn left onto St. James Farm Bike Trail, heading NW.
  10. 50 ftContinue straight onto West Branch DuPage River Trail, heading N.
  11. 0.4 miPass Sand Pond.
  12. 50 ftPass White Pine Pond.
  13. 200 ftTurn left, heading W.
  14. 0.4 miPass Sand Pond.
  15. 1.9 miPass McKee Marsh.
  16. 1.2 miReach Silver Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  17. 3.5 miBear left, heading SE.
  18. 0.4 miContinue straight onto St. James Farm Bike Trail, heading NE.
  19. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  20. 50 ftTurn left onto Illinois Prairie Path Aurora Branch, heading NE.
  21. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Danada-Herrick Lake Regional Trail, heading S.
  22. 1 miTurn right, heading E.
  23. 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/silver-lake-mckee-marsh-out-back-10-lakes

Trail surface

79% gravel21% paved

Weather

OvercastTemperature 61°F54°
Precip4%Wind6 mphUV5Humidity87%
Rained 2.3″ 2 days ago (5″ over the last week) · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperature
65°50°
Sunrise 6:41 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 6:52 PM
Wed 62°56°
Thu 70°58°
Fri 64°58°
Sat 59°57°
Sun 58°56°
Mon 72°55°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 6:32 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 6:52 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 7:19 PM.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Danada-Herrick Lake Regional Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Warrenville, Illinois