AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Wesseln Lake–Pine Lake, 17 lakes

9.1 mi · ▲ 56 ft · 3 hr 4 min

Wesseln Lake–Pine Lake, 17 lakes is a 9.1-mile out-and-back near Pyatts, IL. The route passes Crystal Lake, Ring Lake, Hook Lake and 16 more. It is mostly level, with 56 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 73/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi420 – 469 ft9.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 38.00610, -89.42210
Nearest town Pyatts, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Wesseln Lake–Pine Lake, 17 lakes

9.1 mi · ▲ 56 ft · 3 hr 4 min

Elevation 420–470 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 38.00610, -89.42210

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:44 AM · sunset 7:00 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 50 ftPass Crystal Lake.
  3. 50 ftPass Ring Lake.
  4. 0.3 miTurn left, heading W.
  5. 50 ftPass Hook Lake.
  6. 50 ftPass Chain Lakes.
  7. 450 ftTurn left, heading W.
  8. 300 ftTurn right onto Lost Forty Trail, heading NW.
  9. 50 ftPass Reed Lake.
  10. 0.1 miBear left onto Split Lakes Tral, heading W.
  11. 50 ftPass Marsh Lake.
  12. 0.5 miReach Wesseln Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  13. 0.5 miTurn left onto Lost Forty Trail, heading NE.
  14. 0.3 miPass Marsh Lake.
  15. 100 ftTurn left, heading W.
  16. 0.5 miPass Oak Lake.
  17. 50 ftPass Ash Lake.
  18. 50 ftPass Elm Lake.
  19. 150 ftSharp left, heading S.
  20. 0.3 miPass Heron Lake.
  21. 100 ftTurn right, heading W.
  22. 3.2 miPass Beehive Lake.
  23. 50 ftPass Plum Lake.
  24. 50 ftPass Wesseln Lake.
  25. 200 ftTurn right, heading E.
  26. 1.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
  27. 0.4 miPass Blackberry Lake.
  28. 0.3 miPass Pine Lake.
  29. 0.3 miPass Chain Lakes.
  30. 0.2 miPass Serene Lake.
  31. 50 ftPass Chain Lakes.
  32. 250 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  33. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  34. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
  35. 0.2 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/wesseln-lake-pine-lake-out-back-42-lakes

Trail surface

100% dirt

Weather

Sunrise 6:44 AMSunset 7:00 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.3 mi in (~7 min). Leave by 6:32 PM for the 7:00 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:22 PM — 4 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Pyatts, Illinois