Sunset hikes near Ottawa, il

A short walk out, the whole show, and back at your car before dark. Times are estimates at a relaxed pace; give yourself extra buffer, especially with kids or in a group.

1. Fox River & I & M Canal State Trail 0.5 mi away

   Leave by 6:11 PM

   1. Leave trailhead6:11 PM
   2. Sunset6:56 PM
   3. Head back7:11 PM
   4. At your car7:36 PM
   5. Dark7:24 PM

   Back at your car by 7:36 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   1.0 mi to the viewpoint · 50 min of walking

2. Forebay & North Head Race via I & M Canal State Trail 6.9 mi away

   Leave by 6:12 PM

   1. Leave trailhead6:12 PM
   2. Sunset6:56 PM
   3. Head back7:11 PM
   4. At your car7:35 PM
   5. Dark7:23 PM

   Back at your car by 7:35 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   1.0 mi to the viewpoint · 48 min of walkingTrailhead visible from the viewpoint

3. Marseilles Lock & Marseilles Pool 6.4 mi away

   Leave by 6:20 PM

   1. Leave trailhead6:20 PM
   2. Sunset6:56 PM
   3. Head back7:11 PM
   4. At your car7:26 PM
   5. Dark7:23 PM

   Back at your car by 7:26 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   0.6 mi to the viewpoint · 30 min of walking

4. French Canyon–Wildcat Canyon - west platform, 4 viewpoints 9.9 mi away

   Leave by 6:32 PM

   1. Leave trailhead6:32 PM
   2. Sunset6:57 PM
   3. Head back7:12 PM
   4. At your car7:20 PM
   5. Dark7:24 PM

   Back at your car by 7:20 PM — 5 min before dark.

   0.2 mi to the viewpoint · 12 min of walkingCar visible from the viewpoint

5. I & M Canal State Trail 9.8 mi away

   Leave by 6:05 PM

   1. Leave trailhead6:05 PM
   2. Sunset6:57 PM
   3. Head back7:12 PM
   4. At your car7:44 PM
   5. Dark7:24 PM

   Back at your car by 7:44 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   1.3 mi to the viewpoint · 64 min of walking

6. North Head Race & I & M Canal State Trail 9.3 mi away

   Leave by 6:08 PM

   1. Leave trailhead6:08 PM
   2. Sunset6:56 PM
   3. Head back7:11 PM
   4. At your car7:38 PM
   5. Dark7:23 PM

   Back at your car by 7:38 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   1.1 mi to the viewpoint · 56 min of walking

7. Ottawa Canyon Waterfall–Ottawa Canyon, 3 viewpoints 7.6 mi away

   Leave by 6:26 PM

   1. Leave trailhead6:26 PM
   2. Sunset6:57 PM
   3. Head back7:12 PM
   4. At your car7:23 PM
   5. Dark7:24 PM

   Back at your car by 7:23 PM — 1 min before dark.

   0.4 mi to the viewpoint · 22 min of walking

8. LaSalle County Nuclear Station Cooling Pond 13.3 mi away

   Leave by 6:18 PM

   1. Leave trailhead6:18 PM
   2. Sunset6:55 PM
   3. Head back7:10 PM
   4. At your car7:28 PM
   5. Dark7:23 PM

   Back at your car by 7:28 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   0.7 mi to the viewpoint · 36 min of walkingTrailhead visible from the viewpoint

9. North 41st Road 13.5 mi away

   Leave by 6:35 PM

   1. Leave trailhead6:35 PM
   2. Sunset6:56 PM
   3. Head back7:11 PM
   4. At your car7:13 PM
   5. Dark7:24 PM

   Back at your car by 7:13 PM — 11 min before dark.

   0.1 mi to the viewpoint · 4 min of walkingTrailhead visible from the viewpoint

10. North 3050th Road 13.4 mi away

    Leave by 6:05 PM

    1. Leave trailhead6:05 PM
    2. Sunset6:55 PM
    3. Head back7:10 PM
    4. At your car7:40 PM
    5. Dark7:23 PM

    Back at your car by 7:40 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

    1.2 mi to the viewpoint · 61 min of walking

11. White Ash & Northern Red Oak via Saint Louis Canyon Trail 10.6 mi away

    Leave by 6:04 PM

    1. Leave trailhead6:04 PM
    2. Sunset6:57 PM
    3. Head back7:12 PM
    4. At your car7:45 PM
    5. Dark7:24 PM

    Back at your car by 7:45 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

    1.1 mi to the viewpoint · 180 ft climb · 66 min of walking

12. Sac Canyon–Kickapoo Canyon, 3 viewpoints 10.7 mi away

    Be there by 6:37 PM

    1. Be there6:37 PM
    2. Sunset6:57 PM
    3. Dark7:24 PM

    Your car is right there — dark at 7:24 PM.

    The viewpoint is right at the trailhead