AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

South Lake via McHenry County Prairie Trail

6.1 mi · ▲ 109 ft · 2 hr 5 min

South Lake via McHenry County Prairie Trail is a 6.1-mile out-and-back near Algonquin, IL. The route reaches South Lake at the turnaround, 3 miles in. It is mostly level, with 109 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi810 – 896 ft6.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.18130, -88.29337
Nearest town Algonquin, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

South Lake via McHenry County Prairie Trail

6.1 mi · ▲ 109 ft · 2 hr 5 min

Elevation 810–896 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 42.18130, -88.29337

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:39 AM · sunset 6:56 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
  2. 0.1 miBear left, heading SW.
  3. 150 ftBear right, heading N.
  4. 250 ftBear right, heading N.
  5. 200 ftTurn left, heading W.
  6. 0.1 miTurn right onto McHenry County Prairie Trail, heading N.
  7. 2.7 miReach South Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  8. 2.7 miTurn left, heading E.
  9. 0.1 miTurn right, heading E.
  10. 200 ftBear left, heading S.
  11. 250 ftBear left, heading SE.
  12. 150 ftBear right, heading NE.
  13. 450 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/south-lake-out-back-10-km-f47a

Trail surface

87% paved13% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:39 AMSunset 6:56 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.1 mi in (~4 min). Leave by 6:32 PM for the 6:56 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:14 PM — 10 min before dark. Trailhead visible from the viewpoint

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