AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Greene Valley Forest Preserve

Whalon Lake–Lake Carleton, 4 lakes

11.5 mi · ▲ 137 ft · 3 hr 54 min

Whalon Lake–Lake Carleton, 4 lakes is an 11.5-mile out-and-back in Greene Valley Forest Preserve near Woodridge, IL. The route passes Lake Carleton, Lake Harriet and Whalon Lake. It is mostly level, with 137 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi640 – 758 ft12.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.75809, -88.04599
Nearest town Woodridge, IL
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Whalon Lake–Lake Carleton, 4 lakes

11.5 mi · ▲ 137 ft · 3 hr 54 min

Elevation 640–758 ft

Out & Back · Greene Valley Forest Preserve

Trailhead: 41.75809, -88.04599

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:39 AM · sunset 6:53 PM

Transit-accessible: Center & Carlton/Plaza stop 77 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 50 ftPass Lake Carleton.
  3. 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
  4. 50 ftPass Lake Harriet.
  5. 300 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  6. 250 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  7. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  8. 0.1 miBear right, heading SW.
  9. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  10. 0.9 miBear left, heading SE.
  11. 0.5 miTurn right, heading S.
  12. 1.5 miContinue straight onto Oak Spur Trail, heading N.
  13. 0.8 miBear left, heading S.
  14. 0.9 miPass Whalon Lake.
  15. 0.4 miTurn left onto DuPage River Trail, heading W.
  16. 0.4 miSharp right, heading S.
  17. 0.3 miSharp right, heading W.
  18. 350 ftTurn right, heading W.
  19. 50 ftReach Whalon Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  20. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  21. 0.4 miTurn right, heading E.
  22. 0.4 miTurn right, heading N.
  23. 1.2 miBear right onto Oak Spur Trail, heading N.
  24. 0.8 miContinue straight onto Greene Trail, heading NW.
  25. 1.5 miTurn left, heading E.
  26. 0.5 miBear right, heading N.
  27. 0.9 miTurn right, heading N.
  28. 50 ftBear left, heading N.
  29. 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
  30. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  31. 250 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  32. 250 ftTurn right, heading N.
  33. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/whalon-lake-lake-harriet-out-back-5-sights-17-km

Trail surface

53% paved40% gravel7% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:39 AMSunset 6:53 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 5.3 mi in (~131 min). Leave by 4:22 PM for the 6:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:21 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Center & Carlton/Plaza stop 77 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Woodridge, Illinois