AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Blackwell Forest Preserve

White Pine Pond & Sand Pond via Illinois Prairie Path Aurora Branch

4.3 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 1 hr 27 min

White Pine Pond & Sand Pond via Illinois Prairie Path Aurora Branch is a 4.3-mile out-and-back in Blackwell Forest Preserve near Warrenhurst, IL. The route passes White Pine Pond before reaching Sand Pond at the turnaround, 2.1 miles in. It is mostly level, with 27 ft of elevation gain, and mostly gravel. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi689 – 732 ft4.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.81056, -88.20764
Nearest town Warrenhurst, IL
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

White Pine Pond & Sand Pond via Illinois Prairie Path Aurora Branch

4.3 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 1 hr 27 min

Elevation 689–732 ft

Out & Back · Blackwell Forest Preserve

Trailhead: 41.81056, -88.20764

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:39 AM · sunset 6:55 PM

Transit-accessible: Ferry & Route 59 stop 433 m from the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 50 ftTurn right onto Illinois Prairie Path Aurora Branch, heading NE.
  3. 1.7 miSharp left onto Batavia Road Sidepath, heading NW.
  4. 50 ftSharp right onto Butterfield Road Sidepath, heading NW.
  5. 0.2 miPass White Pine Pond.
  6. 300 ftBear left onto West Branch DuPage River Trail, heading N.
  7. 0.2 miPass Sand Pond.
  8. 300 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  9. 100 ftReach White Pine Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  10. 0.3 miBear right onto Butterfield Road Sidepath, heading E.
  11. 0.2 miSharp left onto Batavia Road Sidepath, heading SW.
  12. 50 ftSharp right onto Illinois Prairie Path Aurora Branch, heading SW.
  13. 1.7 miTurn left, heading SW.
  14. 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/white-pine-pond-sand-pond-out-back-4-lakes-7-km

Trail surface

87% gravel13% paved

Weather

Sunrise 6:39 AMSunset 6:55 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.6 mi in (~40 min). Leave by 5:56 PM for the 6:55 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:51 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Ferry & Route 59 stop 433 m from the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Warrenhurst, Illinois