AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Skokie Lagoons South

Watersmeet Woods–Harms Woods, 15 groves

13.6 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 4 hr 32 min

Watersmeet Woods–Harms Woods, 15 groves is a 13.6-mile out-and-back in Skokie Lagoons South near Skokie Highlands, IL. The route passes Skokie Lagoon #6, Skokie Lagoon #5, Skokie Lagoon #4 and 8 more before reaching Linne Woods at the turnaround, 6.8 miles in. It is mostly level, with 0 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi610 – 643 ft16.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: North Branch Black Paved Trail 42.12882, -87.77453
Nearest town Skokie Highlands, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Watersmeet Woods–Harms Woods, 15 groves

13.6 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 4 hr 32 min

Elevation 609–642 ft

Out & Back · Skokie Lagoons South

Trailhead: North Branch Black Paved Trail · 42.12882, -87.77453

Weather Sep 22: sunrise 6:39 AM · sunset 6:50 PM

Dogs allowed on leash · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on North Branch Black Paved Trail, heading SE.
  2. 50 ftPass Skokie Lagoon #6.
  3. 50 ftPass Skokie Lagoon #5.
  4. 0.9 miPass Skokie Lagoon #4.
  5. 0.3 miPass Skokie Lagoon #3.
  6. 150 ftContinue straight onto Tower Road Access Road, heading W.
  7. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Black Paved Trail, heading W.
  8. 50 ftContinue straight onto Tower Road Access Road, heading W.
  9. 100 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Black Paved Trail, heading SW.
  10. 200 ftPass Erickson Woods.
  11. 50 ftContinue straight onto Tower Road Access Road, heading W.
  12. 50 ftBear left onto North Branch Black Paved Trail, heading W.
  13. 0.1 miContinue straight onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading W.
  14. 50 ftBear left onto Tower Road Boat Launch Access Road, heading W.
  15. 350 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading W.
  16. 250 ftContinue straight onto Tower Road Boat Launch Access Road, heading SW.
  17. 200 ftBear right, heading W.
  18. 50 ftBear left onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading W.
  19. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading W.
  20. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading S.
  21. 100 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading S.
  22. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading S.
  23. 0.1 miContinue straight onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading SE.
  24. 150 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading S.
  25. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading S.
  26. 150 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading S.
  27. 0.7 miPass Skokie Lagoon #1.
  28. 350 ftPass Hibbard Woods.
  29. 100 ftTurn left, heading S.
  30. 350 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading S.
  31. 0.9 miBear left, heading S.
  32. 50 ftSharp right onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading S.
  33. 0.2 miPass Watersmeet Woods.
  34. 0.2 miContinue straight onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading SE.
  35. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading SE.
  36. 100 ftBear right onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading SW.
  37. 50 ftBear left onto North Branch Purple Paved Spur, heading SW.
  38. 50 ftTurn right onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading SE.
  39. 0.1 miContinue straight onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading W.
  40. 0.1 miContinue straight onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading SW.
  41. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading SW.
  42. 450 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading W.
  43. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading W.
  44. 50 ftBear left onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading W.
  45. 450 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading SW.
  46. 400 ftPass Blue Star Memorial Woods.
  47. 0.1 miBear left, heading W.
  48. 0.3 miContinue straight onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading SW.
  49. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading SW.
  50. 50 ftBear left onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading S.
  51. 50 ftTurn right onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading S.
  52. 0.3 miPass Harms Woods East.
  53. 50 ftPass Harms Woods.
  54. 0.4 miContinue straight onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading S.
  55. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading S.
  56. 250 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading SE.
  57. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading SE.
  58. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading SE.
  59. 200 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading SE.
  60. 0.6 miBear left onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading S.
  61. 100 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading S.
  62. 0.3 miBear right onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading SE.
  63. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading SE.
  64. 0.1 miContinue straight onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading SE.
  65. 0.1 miTurn right, heading SE.
  66. 200 ftPass Linne Woods.
  67. 250 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  68. 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
  69. 0.1 miReach Watersmeet Woods, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  70. 0.1 miBear left, heading S.
  71. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  72. 450 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  73. 0.1 miBear left, heading S.
  74. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading E.
  75. 0.1 miContinue straight onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading SE.
  76. 50 ftBear left onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading SE.
  77. 0.3 miContinue straight onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading W.
  78. 50 ftBear right onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading W.
  79. 0.6 miContinue straight onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading SW.
  80. 150 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading W.
  81. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading SW.
  82. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading SW.
  83. 250 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading W.
  84. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading W.
  85. 0.7 miTurn left onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading E.
  86. 50 ftBear right onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading E.
  87. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading E.
  88. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading E.
  89. 0.4 miContinue straight onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading N.
  90. 450 ftBear right onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading NW.
  91. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading N.
  92. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading N.
  93. 450 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading NW.
  94. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading NW.
  95. 0.1 miContinue straight onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading N.
  96. 0.1 miTurn left onto North Branch Purple Paved Spur, heading N.
  97. 50 ftBear right onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading NW.
  98. 50 ftBear left onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading NW.
  99. 100 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading NW.
  100. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading NW.
  101. 0.4 miSharp left, heading NE.
  102. 50 ftBear right onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading NE.
  103. 0.9 miContinue straight onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading N.
  104. 350 ftTurn left, heading N.
  105. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  106. 0.8 miContinue straight onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading E.
  107. 150 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading E.
  108. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading E.
  109. 150 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading E.
  110. 0.1 miContinue straight onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading E.
  111. 100 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading E.
  112. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading E.
  113. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Yellow Unpaved Trail, heading E.
  114. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  115. 50 ftBear left onto Tower Road Boat Launch Access Road, heading NE.
  116. 200 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading E.
  117. 250 ftContinue straight onto Tower Road Boat Launch Access Road, heading E.
  118. 350 ftBear right onto North Branch Red Paved Trail, heading E.
  119. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Black Paved Trail, heading E.
  120. 0.1 miBear right onto Tower Road Access Road, heading E.
  121. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Black Paved Trail, heading E.
  122. 300 ftContinue straight onto Tower Road Access Road, heading E.
  123. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Black Paved Trail, heading E.
  124. 50 ftContinue straight onto Tower Road Access Road, heading E.
  125. 50 ftContinue straight onto North Branch Black Paved Trail, heading E.
  126. 0.9 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-17-groves-22-km

Trail surface

55% paved44% gravel1% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:39 AMSunset 6:50 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.2 mi in (~29 min). Leave by 6:01 PM for the 6:50 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:35 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Hikes near Skokie Highlands, Illinois