AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Forest Preserve District of Cook County

Watersmeet Woods–Harms Woods, 10 groves

10.7 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 3 hr 34 min

Watersmeet Woods–Harms Woods, 10 groves is a 10.7-mile out-and-back in Forest Preserve District of Cook County near Lake View, IL. The route passes Skokie Lagoon #1, Hibbard Woods, Erickson Woods and 5 more. It is mostly level, with 0 ft of elevation gain, and mostly gravel. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi607 – 627 ft12.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail 42.10285, -87.75809
Nearest town Lake View, IL
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Watersmeet Woods–Harms Woods, 10 groves

10.7 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 3 hr 34 min

Elevation 609–625 ft

Out & Back · Forest Preserve District of Cook County

Trailhead: North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail · 42.10285, -87.75809

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:38 AM · sunset 6:52 PM

Transit-accessible: Hibbard & Ash stop 545 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading SE.
  2. 50 ftPass Skokie Lagoon #1.
  3. 150 ftPass Hibbard Woods.
  4. 0.2 miPass Erickson Woods.
  5. 1 miSharp left, heading SW.
  6. 0.3 miPass Watersmeet Woods.
  7. 0.3 miContinue straight onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading NW.
  8. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading NW.
  9. 0.1 miContinue straight onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading SW.
  10. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading SW.
  11. 450 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading W.
  12. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading W.
  13. 450 ftTurn right onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading S.
  14. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading S.
  15. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading S.
  16. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading SW.
  17. 0.1 miPass Blue Star Memorial Woods.
  18. 300 ftBear left, heading W.
  19. 0.3 miContinue straight onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading SW.
  20. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading SW.
  21. 50 ftBear left onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading SW.
  22. 50 ftTurn right onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading SW.
  23. 0.4 miPass Harms Woods East.
  24. 50 ftPass Harms Woods.
  25. 0.4 miContinue straight onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading S.
  26. 150 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading S.
  27. 0.6 miBear left onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading S.
  28. 100 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading S.
  29. 0.3 miBear right onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading SE.
  30. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading SE.
  31. 0.1 miContinue straight onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading SE.
  32. 450 ftTurn left onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading S.
  33. 450 ftPass Linne Woods.
  34. 0.2 miContinue straight onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading S.
  35. 50 ftBear right onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading S.
  36. 0.5 miTurn right onto North Branch Tan Unpaved Trail, heading W.
  37. 0.2 miBear left, heading S.
  38. 350 ftReach Watersmeet Woods, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  39. 0.2 miTurn left onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading W.
  40. 0.5 miBear left onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading N.
  41. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading N.
  42. 0.2 miTurn right onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading SE.
  43. 400 ftBear left, heading S.
  44. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading S.
  45. 0.1 miContinue straight onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading N.
  46. 50 ftBear left onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading N.
  47. 0.3 miContinue straight onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading NE.
  48. 100 ftBear right onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading E.
  49. 0.6 miContinue straight onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading E.
  50. 100 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading E.
  51. 0.8 miTurn left onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading N.
  52. 50 ftBear right onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading N.
  53. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading N.
  54. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading N.
  55. 0.5 miContinue straight onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading NW.
  56. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading N.
  57. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading N.
  58. 50 ftTurn left onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading N.
  59. 450 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading N.
  60. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading N.
  61. 450 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading NW.
  62. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading NW.
  63. 0.1 miContinue straight onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading N.
  64. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading N.
  65. 0.6 miSharp left, heading W.
  66. 0.5 miTurn left, heading NE.
  67. 0.5 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/watersmeet-woods-harms-woods-out-back-15-groves-20-km

Trail surface

74% gravel21% paved3% dirt2% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:38 AMSunset 6:52 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.4 mi in (~106 min). Leave by 4:46 PM for the 6:52 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:53 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Hibbard & Ash stop 545 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Lake View, Illinois