Van Patten Woods Forest Preserve
Sterling Lake–Pines Dunes Yellow Viewpoint, 5 sights
7.8 mi · ▲ 82 ft · 2 hr 38 min
Sterling Lake–Pines Dunes Yellow Viewpoint, 5 sights is a 7.8-mile out-and-back in Van Patten Woods Forest Preserve near Schaufel Corners, IL. The route passes Pines Dunes Yellow Viewpoint, Sterling Lake and Sterling Lake before reaching Ames Pit at the turnaround, 3.9 miles in. It is mostly level, with 82 ft of elevation gain, and mostly gravel. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Sterling Lake–Pines Dunes Yellow Viewpoint, 5 sights
7.8 mi · ▲ 82 ft · 2 hr 38 min
Elevation 666–797 ft
Out & Back · Van Patten Woods Forest Preserve
Trailhead: 42.48494, -87.97093
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:39 AM · sunset 6:53 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading E.
- 200 ftSharp left onto Pines Dunes Yellow Loop, heading W.
- 0.9 miPass Pines Dunes Yellow Viewpoint.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading E.
- 50 ftBear left, heading E.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Millennium Trail, heading E.
- 0.9 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Des Plaines River Trail, heading SE.
- 0.4 miPass Sterling Lake.
- 300 ftContinue straight onto Blue Loop, heading S.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading SW.
- 0.3 miPass Sterling Lake.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading S.
- 300 ftTurn right onto Yellow Loop, heading S.
- 0.2 miPass Ames Pit.
- 450 ftReach Sterling Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
- 300 ftTurn right onto Blue Loop, heading N.
- 0.9 miContinue straight onto Des Plaines River Trail, heading NE.
- 0.5 miTurn left onto Millennium Trail, heading N.
- 1 miBear right, heading W.
- 50 ftBear left, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Pines Dunes Yellow Loop, heading W.
- 0.9 miSharp right, heading W.
- 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 surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.2 mi in (~6 min). Leave by 6:27 PM for the 6:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:14 PM — 7 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Drinking water at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Pines Dunes Yellow Viewpoint via Pines Dunes Yellow Loop 4.5 mi · ▲ 82 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Schaufel Corners, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Schaufel Corners, Illinois