AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
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Blackwell Forest Preserve

Silver Lake–White Pine Pond, 8 lakes

15.2 mi · ▲ 26 ft · 5 hr 5 min

Silver Lake–White Pine Pond, 8 lakes is a 15.2-mile out-and-back in Blackwell Forest Preserve near Wheaton, IL. The route passes Rathje Pond, East Pond, Front Pond and 4 more. It is mostly level, with 26 ft of elevation gain, and mostly gravel. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi699 – 764 ft15.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Illinois Prairie Path 41.86416, -88.11302
Nearest town Wheaton, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Silver Lake–White Pine Pond, 8 lakes

15.2 mi · ▲ 26 ft · 5 hr 5 min

Elevation 698–766 ft

Out & Back · Blackwell Forest Preserve

Trailhead: Illinois Prairie Path · 41.86416, -88.11302

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:40 AM · sunset 6:53 PM

Transit-accessible: Wheaton stop 35 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Illinois Prairie Path, heading W.
  2. 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
  3. 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
  4. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  5. 250 ftTurn left, heading W.
  6. 50 ftTurn left onto Illinois Prairie Path Aurora Branch, heading SW.
  7. 0.3 miPass Rathje Pond.
  8. 3 miPass East Pond.
  9. 0.3 miPass Front Pond.
  10. 0.4 miPass Silver Lake.
  11. 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
  12. 50 ftTurn left onto St. James Farm Bike Trail, heading W.
  13. 50 ftContinue straight onto West Branch DuPage River Trail, heading W.
  14. 0.4 miPass Sand Pond.
  15. 50 ftPass White Pine Pond.
  16. 200 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  17. 0.4 miPass Sand Pond.
  18. 1.6 miTurn right onto Bobolink Trail, heading N.
  19. 1.1 miReach Silver Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  20. 1.1 miTurn left onto West Branch DuPage River Trail, heading W.
  21. 2 miBear left, heading S.
  22. 0.4 miContinue straight onto St. James Farm Bike Trail, heading E.
  23. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  24. 50 ftTurn left onto Illinois Prairie Path Aurora Branch, heading E.
  25. 4 miTurn right onto Illinois Prairie Path, heading N.
  26. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  27. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  28. 250 ftTurn right, heading N.
  29. 100 ftTurn right, heading N.
  30. 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-white-pine-pond-out-back-13-lakes-24-km

Trail surface

89% gravel10% paved1% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:40 AMSunset 6:53 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.6 mi in (~63 min). Leave by 5:30 PM for the 6:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:11 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Wheaton stop 35 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Illinois Prairie Path Trailhead

Hikes near Wheaton, Illinois