AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Forest Glen County Preserve

Vermillion River–Hawk Hill Trail, 3 sights

7.4 mi · ▲ 691 ft · 2 hr 49 min

Vermillion River–Hawk Hill Trail, 3 sights is a 7.4-mile out-and-back in Forest Glen County Preserve near Meeks, IL. The route reaches Vermillion River. It climbs 691 ft, with sections as steep as 15% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 76/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi492 – 676 ft · steepest grade: 15%7.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: River Ridge Back Pack Trail 40.01655, -87.57571
Nearest town Meeks, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Vermillion River–Hawk Hill Trail, 3 sights

7.4 mi · ▲ 691 ft · 2 hr 49 min

Elevation 492–675 ft

Out & Back · Forest Glen County Preserve

Trailhead: River Ridge Back Pack Trail · 40.01655, -87.57571

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:37 AM · sunset 6:53 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on River Ridge Back Pack Trail, heading E.
  2. 3.3 miPass Vermillion River.
  3. 50 ftContinue straight onto Tall Tree Trail, heading SE.
  4. 450 ftContinue straight onto River Ridge Back Pack Trail, heading SE.
  5. 0.1 miBear left onto Hawk Hill Trail, heading E.
  6. 0.1 miBear right, heading NE.
  7. 300 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  8. 250 ftReach Vermillion River, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  9. 250 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  10. 0.2 miBear right onto River Ridge Back Pack Trail, heading SW.
  11. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Tall Tree Trail, heading W.
  12. 450 ftContinue straight onto River Ridge Back Pack Trail, heading NW.
  13. 3.3 miArrive 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/vermillion-river-hawk-hill-trail-out-back-4-sights

Trail surface

100% dirt

Weather

Sunrise 6:37 AMSunset 6:53 PM

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from River Ridge Back Pack Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Meeks, Illinois